The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that electricity consumption by light-duty electric vehicles grew by 8% in the first half of 2026 compared to the second half of 2025. This growth rate is lower than the 13–24% increases observed in previous six-month periods.
Total electricity usage for these vehicles reached nearly 14 billion kilowatt-hours in the first half of 2026. This figure represents a more than twofold increase since the first half of 2023. The data covers battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less.
The slowdown in consumption growth follows a 19% decline in new electric vehicle sales during the first half of 2026 compared to the second half of 2025. This drop occurred after federal tax credits for new clean vehicles expired on September 30, 2025.
As of 2024, electric vehicles represented 2% of all registered light-duty vehicles in the United States. The EIA calculates these consumption figures using a recently finalized model based on external data sources, as these metrics are not collected through traditional surveys.
