Results show that California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which provides incentive funds that help consumers buy zero-emission battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as the federal rebates, are are major factors in driving market demand. More than two-thirds of respondents indicated that California’s rebate and the federal incentive was very or extremely important in enabling their clean-vehicle purchase. Sales of plug-in electric vehicles in California tripled in 2013 compared to the previous year.

The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), which administers the CVRP and the survey for the ARB, has issued more than $130 million for more than 60,000 rebates since the rebate program began. Currently CCSE is processing more than 3,000 rebates per month.

Currently, more than 40% of the cleanest vehicles in the world are on the roads in California, even though the state constitutes about 10% of the national market for cars.

Between March 2010 when the rebate program began and March 2014, the most recent month for which data was available, roughly 191,000 PEVs were sold in the US, with more than 83,000 of those (43.5%) in California. A clear majority—roughly 70% of California PEV drivers—have taken advantage of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP).

Almost half (47%) of the respondents report incomes ranging from $100,000 to $199,999 per year; 24% report incomes of less than $99,999; 16% report incomes of $200,000 to $299,999; 6% report incomes of $300,000 to $399,999; 2% incomes of $400,000 to $499,999; and 6% incomes of more than $500,000.

37% say the most important factor in buying a PEV was saving money on fuel costs; 21% said reducing environmental impacts; 15% said HOV lane access.

Current survey results were collected beginning in October 2013 and cover California PEV drivers who purchased or leased their vehicles after August 2012. The survey pool consists of CVRP rebate recipients for PEVs, which include both battery-electric vehicles that run exclusively on battery power and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that combine a gas-powered engine with an electric motor. As fuel cell vehicles become commercially available, they also will be included in the surveys and dashboard. Results will be updated on a bi-weekly basis as new survey responses are received.

The online dashboard provides easy interactive access to the survey results including the ability to tailor queries by filtering the data in multiple ways, such as by manufacturer, geography or vehicle technology. Responses to the survey include:

• Primary motivations for vehicle purchase or lease, filtered by vehicle type, manufacturer and location;

• Driver demographic characteristics including age, gender, income, housing type and education;

• Awareness and adoption of special PEV time-of-use electricity utility rates;

• Experience at the dealership, including the availability and importance of services provided by dealers; and

• Relative importance of various information avenues while shopping for a vehicle.

Map showing number of rebates by region. Click to enlarge.

The tool now offers real-time insight and analysis into what drives consumers to purchase or lease plug-in electric vehicles, and thus will provide policy guidance as California continues to expand the zero-emission vehicle market to meet the state’s air quality and climate goals.

CCSE also offers an online map depicting region-specific PEV adoption rates based on the number of rebates issued by ZIP code and type of PEV purchased.

California is part of an eight-state alliance to put 3.3 million ZEVs on the road by 2025. To date, manufacturers have rolled out more than two dozen ZEV models.