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Weekly Roundup: California's Electric Vehicle Surge Surpasses Expectations

Weekly Roundup: California's Electric Vehicle Surge Surpasses Expectations

CA exceeded its EV adoption goal by a significant margin, with over 2.5 million EVs sold since 2010 (1 million more than its 2025 target).

Urbanize Team
January 26, 2026

📅 Today's Story: California has exceeded its electric vehicle (EV) adoption goal by a significant margin, with over 2.5 million EVs sold since 2010, surpassing the target of 1.5 million by 2025. This achievement highlights the state's commitment to sustainable transportation and infrastructure development.

California's Electric Vehicle Surge Surpasses Expectations

via Planetizen

📰 What Happened: California set a goal in 2012 to have 1.5 million electric vehicles on its roads by 2025. However, the state has already exceeded this target, with more than 2.5 million EVs sold as of now. This rapid adoption is partly due to state incentives and investments in charging infrastructure.

🔍 A Closer Look: While California has surpassed its EV adoption goal, it did not meet the 2022 target of 35% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2026. In 2025, only 23% of new vehicles sold were zero-emission. To maintain momentum, Governor Newsom's budget proposes a $200 million EV incentive, alongside existing infrastructure investments.

🧠 Why It Matters: California's progress in EV adoption underscores the state's leadership in sustainable transportation. Meeting and exceeding adoption goals not only reduces emissions but also drives innovation in the automotive sector. Continued investment in incentives and infrastructure will be crucial to maintain this momentum and achieve broader environmental objectives.