daily · Electrification

EIA estimates EV electricity use grew 8% in first half of 2026

EIA estimates U.S. light-duty electric vehicles used nearly 14 billion kilowatthours in the first half of 2026, 8% more than in the second half of 2025. That is slower growth than in recent six-month periods.

By Greener Numbers Editorial Team · Published September 30, 2026 · Updated 9/30/2026

U.S. light-duty electric vehicles consumed an estimated 8% more electricity in the first six months of 2026 than in the last six months of 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported on September 30. Recent six-month periods had seen growth of 13% to 24%.

Electricity use reached nearly 14 billion kilowatthours in the first half of 2026, more than double the first-half 2023 level. New electric vehicle sales, meanwhile, were 19% lower than in the second half of 2025. These figures compare consecutive six-month periods, not the same period a year earlier.

The electricity estimate covers on-road battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles weighing 8,500 pounds or less. It excludes conventional hybrids, internal combustion vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles, which do not draw electricity from the grid.

EIA uses a model based on external data rather than collecting these consumption figures through its traditional surveys. The estimate describes electricity consumed by this vehicle fleet, not total electricity demand or charging-station capacity.

Source: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=68224

Official source: U.S. Energy Information Administration ↗