A new report from Urban Science shows, outside of California, sales of electric vehicles this year are growing fastest in Florida and the Southeastern United States.
While industry sales declined dropped during the first and second quarter of 2022, EV sales in the U.S. continued to grow. Urban Science reports EV sales in the U.S. increased 41% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same timeframe in 2021.
The overall share of EV sales also increased from 3.6% of all U.S. new-vehicle sales in the first half of 2021 to 6.2% during the same period in 2022 — a 72% year-over-year increase.
According to Urban Science, two states are the primary drivers of EV sales in the U.S.: California and Florida.
A third of all EVs sold in the U.S. were sold in California during the first half of 2022, the state-level data collected by Urban Science Data Hub.
Florida follows California
Florida is home to the nation’s second-highest EV sales volume and expanded its margin compared to last year during the first and second quarter. While Florida also ranked second in EV sales volume during the first half of 2021, it edged out New York by a margin of 1,000 units. However, Florida’s lead over New York widened to more than 10,000 units during the first six months of 2022.
Led by Florida’s 64% year-over-year increase in EV sales during the first and second quarter, the Southeast region has become the fastest-growing area for EV sales in the U.S. during the same period with a 52% uptick in EV sales overall.
The figures run counter to the other political and cultural trends in the United States and the broad assumption that blue states have more of a preference for and interest in electric vehicles, which offer a clear benefit to the environment and fighting climate change.
In addition, investments in electric vehicles and other green technologies, figure prominently in measures of environmental, social and governance or ESG trends in investment planning comes with a shift in business, where sustainability and citizenship are no longer seen as philanthropic activities, but as critical the long-term success of business. Corporate strategies employing ESG have been roundly criticized in the conservative media and by political figures such as Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis.
More sites for dealerships
Mitch Phillips, global director of data, Urban Science, said the groundswell of consumer interest continues to build. “We tap the power of our near-real-time industry sales data to give our clients an instantaneous view of EV adoption – down to the narrowest geographic levels — that empowers OEMs and dealers to ensure their stores are prepared to meet test-drive, charging and service demands effectively and efficiently, and in a way that sets them up to thrive in the short- and long-term EV future,” Phillips said.
Urban Science also said its 2022 midyear Automotive Franchise Activity Report, which shows continued stability for the U.S. automotive retail network despite continued inventory shortages during the first six months of the year.
Despite the widely touted move to on-line sales by companies such as Tesla and store closings by other kinds of retailers, the number of auto dealerships in the United States increased slightly during the period between Jan. 1 and July 1, 2022.
As of July 1, 2022, there were five more dealerships or rooftops across in the country compared to the same date in 2021, according to Urban Data, which reported 18,235 this year compared to 18,230 last year. However, the number of franchises — brands a dealership sells — decreased slightly from 31,646 last year to 31,579 during the same period.