The Slow Electric Ascent

The U.S. electric-vehicle market is slowly recovering from the loss of the federal tax credit last fall that tanked sales.

Second-quarter data show that EV market share increased by over 1% compared to the first quarter, the first sequential gain since the third quarter of 2025, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

The trade group’s report shows that 8% of all new light-duty vehicle sales in the quarter were EVs.

In 47 states, plus the District of Columbia, EV market share increased month-over-month, California remaining the EV leader, followed by Washington and Nevada.

In the first half of the year, EVs represented 7% of all new light-duty vehicle sales for a 2% EV market share decline year-over-year. The Alliance said that the first half results “reflect a particularly weak start to the year followed by a stronger second quarter.”

The powertrain mix in the second quarter shifted noticeably. Hybrid market share continued to rise for a 5% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, gas-powered vehicles’ share declined 3% year-over-year, a sharp contrast to the first quarter when its share was flat.

EV sales were helped along in the quarter by an increase in the number of EV models available for sale from 154 to 161 across cars, utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans. Utility vehicles dominated the EV segment, battery-electrics and plug-in hybrids accounting for 75% of sales.

The average transaction price for a new EV was down 4.5% year-over-year in June to $56,238. Manufacturer incentives averaged nearly $7,300 per vehicle, accounting for 13% of the ATP.

Meanwhile, the average used EV listing price rose 7% year-over-year to $38,342 in June.