daily · Electrification

EIA: US EV electricity use reached nearly 14 billion kWh in first half of 2026, growth slows to 8%

The EIA estimates light-duty electric vehicles used nearly 14 billion kWh in the first half of 2026, up 8% from the second half of 2025. That is down from 13-24% growth in recent six-month periods, after federal EV tax credits ended Sept. 30, 2025.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published October 5, 2026 · Updated 10/5/2026

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that light-duty electric vehicles in the United States consumed 8% more electricity in the first six months of 2026 than in the last half of 2025, according to a Today in Energy article published September 30, 2026. That is down from the 13-24% growth EIA saw in recent six-month periods.

Total light-duty EV electricity use has more than doubled since the first half of 2023, and came to nearly 14 billion kilowatthours in the first half of 2026, EIA says.

EIA ties the slowdown to weaker EV sales after federal tax credits expired. The New Clean Vehicle Credit and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit ended on September 30, 2025, and new EV sales in the first half of 2026 were down 19% from the second half of 2025.

The figures are modeled estimates. EIA does not collect EV charging data on its traditional surveys. It estimates use for on-road light-duty vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less with a recently finalized model based on external data, and publishes the series in its Monthly Energy Review. Both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are included. EIA notes EVs were about 2% of registered light-duty vehicles in 2024, the most recent year of available data.

Official source: U.S. Energy Information Administration ↗