U.S. EV Electricity Use Growth Slows to 8% in H1 2026
Electricity consumption by light-duty electric vehicles in the U.S. Grew by 8% in the first half of 2026, a marked slowdown from prior half-year growth rates of 13-24%, following a 19% drop in new EV sales after federal tax credits expired.
U.S. EV electricity use growth slowed to 8% in the first half of 2026 following the expiration of federal tax credits. Electricity consumption by light-duty electric vehicles was 8% higher in the first six months of 2026 than in the preceding six months.
This increase represents a significant deceleration. Previous half-year growth rates in recent years ranged from 13% to 24%. The slowdown followed a decline in new vehicle sales after key federal incentives lapsed.
Sales drop follows end of federal incentives
Federal EV tax credits, including the new clean vehicle and qualified commercial clean vehicle credits, ended on September 30, 2025. In the first half of 2026, sales of new electric vehicles fell 19 percent compared to the second half of 2025.
This sales drop contributed directly to the slower growth in electricity demand from the EV fleet. Automakers like Ford Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. Responded to the shifting market by trimming underperforming electric models.
Context of long-term growth and data scope
Despite the recent slowdown, the overall trend shows substantial expansion. U.S. Light-duty electric vehicle electricity use has more than doubled since the first half of 2023. Consumption reached nearly 14 billion kilowatt-hours in the first six months of 2026.
The data comes from a new estimation model recently finalized by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It estimates usage for on-road, light-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less. The figures include both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that charge from the grid.
The model explicitly excludes vehicles that do not draw electricity from the grid. This means internal combustion engine vehicles, conventional hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are not counted in these consumption figures.
As of 2024, electric vehicles accounted for about 2 percent of all registered light-duty vehicles in the United States. Battery electric vehicles specifically made up 6 percent of new vehicle sales in the first half of 2026, down from 7 percent in the first half of 2025.
Industry response and reporting context
The EV load is becoming a more meaningful slice of overall electricity demand, though its growth is not accelerating as fast as before. The high point for recent growth occurred in late 2023.
The EIA data was published in its Monthly Energy Review. The agency plans to continue publishing these related statistics through that publication and its State Energy Data System. The EIA plans to continue publishing related statistics through its Monthly Energy Review and State Energy Data System.
