The EV market share has undoubtedly grown substantially within the last few years. EVs in California, for example, now account for almost 40% of all US EV vehicle registrations, and, in 2022, 18.8% of all new cars sold in California were electric. In addition, Oklahoma has experienced a year-over-year (YOY) growth rate of +111%. How has the EV industry grown in the DMV, though? How will it continue to grow? Unsurprisingly, as statistics from the US Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center suggests, the DMV EV market is on a steady upward trend.
From 2016 to 2021, the EV market share in the DMV climbed steadily, with significant YOY growth rates. In 2016, there were 6,900 total EVs in the DMV, accounting for a mere 0.06% of the total vehicle count. However, by 2021 the number of EVs skyrocketed to 60,000, accounting for 0.5% of the total vehicle count, indicating a growth rate of 768.1%.
Washington, DC leads the DMV in EV adoption, with 3,700 EVs in 2021, accounting for 1.5% of its total vehicle count. Maryland has 25,600 EVs, representing 0.5% of its total vehicle count, while Virginia has 30,700 EVs, accounting for 0.4% of its total vehicle count. DC has also experienced the most significant YOY growth rates between 2020-2021. When considering the percentage of EVs in the entire DMV region, compared to the total number of vehicles, we observe that EVs accounted for 0.5% of the total vehicle count in 2021. This is significantly higher than the 2016 figure of 0.06%. This steady growth has shown no signs of slowing down, and the growth rate may even increase due to increasing accessibility and simplicity of EVs, such as Ford’s newly announced partnership with Tesla and supportive government policies.
The DMV on the National Stage
In terms of the DMV’s contribution to the national EV market, the region has seen a steady increase. In 2021, the DMV accounted for 4.12% of all EVs in the United States, showcasing its growing significance in the broader context of EV adoption. While this is far less than California’s staggering figure of 40%, it must be noted that the DMV consists of comparatively smaller states, a much smaller population, and does not share California’s strong incentives to own EVs. When you normalize the EV count for total vehicle population in each state, a better picture of adoption appears as shown in the above graph.
As you’ll note, Virginia is behind the national average adoption rate, but this number is is not illustrative of the Northern Virginia’s fast-paced EV growth. For example, of the 41,722 full EVs in registered in Virginia in 2021, 85% of these were in the 8 cities/counties closest to Washington DC. EV adoption rates are demonstrably higher in urban communities than rural areas.
Looking Ahead
The increasing number of EVs in the DMV, combined with a higher percentage of EVs in the total vehicle count, shows promising signs for the EV market within the region. As automotive manufacturers increasingly turn their focus toward the production of EVs, policymakers further incentivize EV ownership, and charging infrastructure improves, this growth will not only sustain but may improve rapidly.
Can automotive and battery manufacturers keep up with the growing demand for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles? Will the public charging network be able to support so many vehicles needing a charge? Contact us today to learn more about an EV charging installation for your home, townhome, or business in Northern Virginia, or the metro Maryland area!
