The transportation sector has long been the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the United States — and, partially as a result, much of the shift to clean energy has centered on transit. During his time in office, President Joe Biden set a goal of having electric vehicles, or EVs, account for 50% of new car sales by 2030. To incentivize consumers, the Biden administration ratified a $7,500 tax credit for certain EV purchases.
24/7 Wall St. Key Points:
Between 2020 and 2023, the number of electric and hybrid vehicles on American roads surged by over 90%.
According to the latest data, hybrids and EVs account for about 4.3% of all registered passenger vehicles in the United States — but in some parts of the country, these zero- and low-emission vehicles are far more popular than average.
Biden’s policy goals, if achieved, would result in a staggering reduction of harmful air pollution. Electric vehicles create an average of about 2,730 pounds of carbon equivalent emissions per year, hybrid vehicles create about 6,900 pounds, and plug-in hybrids, about 4,760 pounds, according to the Energy Information Administration. Meanwhile, a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle creates nearly 12,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
Notably, however, during his first days in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking Biden’s 2030 EV sales target and cast doubt on the future of the federal tax credit. While the ultimate impact of the Trump administration’s policies remains to be seen, the latest data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that adoption of EVs, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, has picked up substantially in recent years. And Americans in some parts of the country appear far more receptive to leaving internal combustion engines behind than others. (Here is a look at what Trump’s presidency may mean for stocks.)
Using data from the U.S. DOE, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where most drivers are going green. States are ranked on the share of registered light-duty vehicles that are either hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric in 2023. Supplemental population data used to calculate rates of low- and zero-tail pipe emission vehicle ownership are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Hybrids and EVs account for anywhere from 1.2% to 9.1% of all registered passenger vehicles, depending on the state. The highest ranking states on this list are concentrated in the West and in the Northeast, while nearly all of the lowest ranking states are in the South and the Midwest. (Here is a look at the states with the cleanest energy grids.)
Notably, even in states where EVs and hybrids make up a relatively small share of vehicles on the road, adoption of these low- and zero-emission cars and trucks has surged in recent years. In every state, there are now thousands more hybrids and EVs on the road than there were as recently as 2020 — and in one state, there are nearly 1.5 million more. Across the 50 states, the number of registered hybrids and EVs surged by anywhere from 70% to over 200% between 2020 and 2023.
Why it Matters
Several of the executive orders issued in the early days of the second Trump administration suggest that the federal government may soon end certain programs designed to boost electric vehicle sales. Many of these incentives likely help explain the proliferation of EVs on American roads in recent years. If, or to what degree, public interest in EVs and low-emission vehicles continues to grow under the new administration remains to be seen, but in many parts of the country, hybrids and EVs already account for a meaningful share of registered cars and trucks.
50. Mississippi
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.2% of all registered vehicles (33,800 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 3,600 electric vehicles, 2,000 plug-in hybrid, 28,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +95.4% (+16,500 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 11.5 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 5.8 per 1,000 residents in 2020
49. North Dakota
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.3% of all registered vehicles (10,000 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 1,000 electric vehicles, 800 plug-in hybrid, 8,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +104.1% (+5,100 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 12.8 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 6.4 per 1,000 residents in 2020
48. Louisiana
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.4% of all registered vehicles (52,400 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 8,200 electric vehicles, 4,000 plug-in hybrid, 40,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +111.3% (+27,600 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 11.5 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 5.3 per 1,000 residents in 2020
47. Wyoming
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.6% of all registered vehicles (10,300 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 1,100 electric vehicles, 800 plug-in hybrid, 8,400 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +94.3% (+5,000 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 17.6 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 9.1 per 1,000 residents in 2020
46. South Dakota
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.6% of all registered vehicles (14,900 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 1,700 electric vehicles, 1,300 plug-in hybrid, 11,900 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +84.0% (+6,800 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 16.2 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 9.2 per 1,000 residents in 2020
45. Alabama
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.7% of all registered vehicles (82,100 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 13,000 electric vehicles, 5,800 plug-in hybrid, 63,300 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +98.8% (+40,800 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 16.1 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 8.4 per 1,000 residents in 2020
44. Arkansas
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.7% of all registered vehicles (47,300 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 7,100 electric vehicles, 3,200 plug-in hybrid, 37,000 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +90.7% (+22,500 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 15.4 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 8.2 per 1,000 residents in 2020
43. West Virginia
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 1.8% of all registered vehicles (27,000 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 2,800 electric vehicles, 1,800 plug-in hybrid, 22,400 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +104.5% (+13,800 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 15.3 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 7.3 per 1,000 residents in 2020
42. Kentucky
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.1% of all registered vehicles (84,300 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 11,600 electric vehicles, 5,600 plug-in hybrid, 67,100 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +83.3% (+38,300 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 18.6 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 10.3 per 1,000 residents in 2020
41. Nebraska
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.2% of all registered vehicles (43,300 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 6,900 electric vehicles, 3,800 plug-in hybrid, 32,600 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +85.8% (+20,000 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 21.9 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 12.1 per 1,000 residents in 2020
40. South Carolina
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.2% of all registered vehicles (113,000 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 20,900 electric vehicles, 9,000 plug-in hybrid, 83,100 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +97.9% (+55,900 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 21.0 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 11.2 per 1,000 residents in 2020
39. Iowa
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.3% of all registered vehicles (72,300 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 9,000 electric vehicles, 6,100 plug-in hybrid, 57,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +75.1% (+31,000 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 22.5 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 13.1 per 1,000 residents in 2020
38. Tennessee
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.4% of all registered vehicles (157,500 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 33,200 electric vehicles, 11,000 plug-in hybrid, 113,300 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +94.9% (+76,700 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 22.1 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 11.9 per 1,000 residents in 2020
37. Alaska
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 2.5% of all registered vehicles (14,200 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 2,700 electric vehicles, 900 plug-in hybrid, 10,600 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +89.3% (+6,700 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 19.4 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 10.2 per 1,000 residents in 2020
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 7.3% of all registered vehicles (500,500 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 152,100 electric vehicles, 41,200 plug-in hybrid, 307,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +78.6% (+220,300 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 64.1 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 37.3 per 1,000 residents in 2020
1. California
Registered EVs and hybrids in state, 2023: 9.1% of all registered vehicles (3,370,500 total)
Registered low- and zero-emission vehicles by type: 1,256,600 electric vehicles, 410,700 plug-in hybrid, 1,703,200 hybrid
Change in registered EVs and hybrids, 2020-2023: +75.6% (+1,451,000 vehicles)
Number of registered EVs and hybrids adjusted for population: 86.5 per 1,000 residents in 2023, 48.8 per 1,000 residents in 2020
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