Stalled EV and PHEV Sales

The sale of EVs and PHEVs have stalled.

Sales during the 3rd quarter of both PHEVs and EVs were down from the 3rd quarter of last year. (See near bottom of table.)

US Sales of Electric Vehicles, Including HEVs 2015
Month	Hybrid (HEVs)	PHEVs	Battery (BEVs)	Totals	Total PHEV & EV
January	25,312	2,113	3,977	31,402	6,090
February	27,038	2,589	4,435	34,062	7,024
March	33,655	3,020	5,715	42,390	8,735
Total 1Q 2015	86,005	7,722	14,127	107,854	21,849
Total 1Q 2014	101,436	11,249	10,873	123,558	22,122
% YOY 1Q change	(15.21%)	(31.35%)	29.93%	(12.71%)	(1.23%)
——-	——-	——-	——-	——-	——-
April	31,694	3,646	6,037	41,377	9,683
May	40,257	4,416	7,057	51,730	11,473
June	32,330	3,409	6,975	42,714	10,384
Total 2Q 2015	104,281	11,471	20,069	135,821	31,540
Total 2Q 2014	130,882	17,880	14,971	163,733	32,851
% YOY 2Q change	(20.32%)	(35.84%)	34.05%	(17.05%)	(3.99%)
——-	——-	——-	——-	——-	——-
July	35,666	3,836	5,143	44,645	8,979
August	37,633	3,786	5,224	46,643	9,010
September	32,106	3,038	6,704	41,848	9,742
Total 3Q 2015	105,405	10,660	17,071	133,136	27,731
Total 3Q 2014	124,081	15,017	18,159	157,257	33,176
% YOY 3Q change	(15.05%)	(29.01%)	(5.99%)	(15.34%)	(16.41%)
——-	——-	——-	——-	——-	——-
TOTAL 9 MOS 2015	295,691	29,853	51,267		81,120
TOTAL 9 MOS 2014	356,399	44,146	44,003		88,149
% 9 Mos YOY change	(17.03%)	(32.38%)	16.51%		(7.97%)

Source of data: Electric Drive Transportation Association

For the first nine months of 2015, sales of PHEVs were down a significant 32% from 2014, while EV sales increased by 16.5%.

PHEV sales have been down every quarter, year over year (YOY).

Even the sale of hybrids, such as the Prius, were down YOY, and also in every quarter.

Overall, total PHEV and EV sales represented less than one percent, or 0.6%, of total US automobile sales, essentially the same as last year.

These numbers would indicate that the average American would prefer larger vehicles and are not enamored with hybrids just for the sake of cutting CO2 emissions.

The lack of EV sales would seem to indicate that the average American, while intrigued by the glitzy Tesla, are not willing to pay a significant premium for an electric vehicle.

In essence, EVs remain toys for the rich and famous.

Tesla Sedan

It remains to be seen whether Tesla’s Model X will make a difference.

Tesla was supposed to introduce a lower cost EV, with a selling rice of around $35,000 this year, but appears to have delayed its introduction until 2017.

It’s still very much a question whether Tesla, or any other manufacturer, can produce an EV for under $35,000 that will appeal to the average driver.

Both GM, with the Bolt, and Tesla with its model 3, indicate they have plans to begin selling EVs at around $35,000, but it’s not clear when.

Thus far, a great deal of taxpayer money has been spent on subsidies for EVs and PHEVs.

Thus far, the ordinary taxpayer hasn’t reaped any benefits.

Subsidies for PHEVs and EVs aren’t working, and are only benefitting the rich and a small number of environmental activists.

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