U.S. electricity use for electric vehicles increasing at a slower pace in 2026

In-brief analysis

We estimate light-duty electric vehicles in the United States consumed 8% more electricity during the first six months of 2026 than in the last half of 2025 (2H25) in our Monthly Energy Review, down from the 13-24% growth seen in six-month periods in recent years. The slowing electric vehicle electricity consumption growth followed a decline in sales after U.S. federal tax credits expired in September 2025. Overall, U.S. light-duty electric vehicle electricity use has more than doubled since 1H23, totaling nearly 14 billion kilowatthours in 1H26.

Americans drive many different vehicle types. Both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can consume electricity from the grid and are included in our electric vehicle electricity consumption estimates. Internal combustion, hybrid electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles consume other fuels, do not connect to the grid, and are not included in our electric vehicle electricity use data.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

The New Clean Vehicle Credit and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit, which reduced the cost to buy and lease new electric vehicles, ended on September 30, 2025. In 1H26, new electric vehicle sales were down 19% compared with 2H25. New electric vehicle sales are relatively small compared with the total number of vehicles on the road. In 2024, the most recent year of available data, electric vehicles accounted for 2% of all registered light-duty vehicles in the United States.

Our electric vehicle electricity consumption data are estimates for on-road, light-duty vehicles that weigh less than or equal to 8,500 pounds. We do not collect these data on our traditional surveys. Instead, we estimate electric vehicle electricity use with a recently finalized model based on external data sources. Going forward we will continue to estimate these data series in our Monthly Energy Review and State Energy Data System.

Principal contributor: Mickey Francis

Tags: consumption/demand, electricity, vehicles