As high gas prices started prompting consumers to take a second look at electric cars, 26 states saw increases in the number of electric vehicle registrations during the first quarter of 2026, according to new data released by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation on July 1.
The Alliance, which lobbies in Washington for nearly all major carmakers, including General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, said in its quarterly Get Connected report that EVs represented 6.3% of U.S. auto sales through the first three months of 2026, which was a 6.5% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2025. The group said California led the country in EV registrations in the first quarter of 2026, with 17.5% of its new vehicle registrations going to plug-in models. Only two other states have EV registration rates above 10% at the start of 2026, with Washington coming in at 15.2% and Nevada at 11.6%.
The USA TODAY Cars team took a look at the states that had the most electric cars in the first quarter of 2026.
1. California
Q1 2026 EV percentage: 17.5%Change from Q1 2025: -6.17%
What they said: The California Air Resources Board says in a post on its website that “since 1990, the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation has required automakers to deliver zero-emission vehicles, like electric-, plug-in hybrid-electric, and fuel-cell electric vehicles, to the California market. Most recently, the ZEV Regulation was included in the Advanced Clean Cars Program, which combined several vehicle standards into a single coordinated effort.”
2. Washington
Q1 2026 EV percentage: 15.17%Change from Q1 2025: -4.56%
What they said: The Washington State Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “accelerated adoption of electric vehicles is integral to reducing the transportation sector’s emissions and advancing the state’s emission reduction goals.”
3. Nevada
Q1 2026 EV percentage: 11.62%Change from Q1 2025: -3.62%
What they said: The Nevada Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that it is planning to spend $38 million in federal money on EV chargers.
4. Oregon
Q1 2026 EV percentage: 9.37%Change from Q1 2025: -6.6%
What they said: The Oregon Department of Transportation says in a post on its website “electrifying our transportation system is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move Oregon towards a cleaner future.”
5. Hawaii
Q1 2026 EV percentage: 8.41%Change from Q1 2025: -2.7%
What they said: The Hawaii Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that it launched a Road Usage Charge for light-duty electric car drivers in 2025 because “as more drivers in Hawaiʻi choose more fuel-efficient, hybrid, or all-electric vehicles, revenues from motor fuel taxes and other vehicle registration fees have declined, resulting in less funding to maintain Hawaiʻi’s roads, bridges and infrastructure.”
Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.
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