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CleanTechnica Electric Car Sales

Published on November 5th, 2014 | by Zachary Shahan

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October Electric Car Sales Report (US)

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November 5th, 2014 by Zachary Shahan 

EV Obsession.

Time for another electric car sales report. As you can see in the charts and table below, the Nissan LEAF again led electric car sales in the United States. The Chevy Volt took its routine second position, and the BMW i3 came in third… from available electric car sales data. As I stated last month, I’ve now dropped the Tesla Model S from these reports, since the only sales data we get from Tesla is quarterly global sales. Making month-to-month US sales estimates for Tesla is really too much of a guess.

The Nissan LEAF again saw a notable increase in sales over last October. Sales grew 29%, from 2002 to 2589. The Chevy Volt actually saw its sales fall 29%, from 2022 to 1439. The BMW i3, which wasn’t available last October, had its best month yet, with 1159 sales.

Overall, we actually saw a drop in electric car sales compared to last October (not uplifting). It’s the first time I remember seeing this. It certainly hasn’t happened in any other month this year.

It’s the plug-in hybrid electric car models that really brought down sales. The Ford Energi models were both down (the Ford C-Max Energi 41% and the Ford Fusion Energi 37%), and the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid was down 77%, seeing 479 sales compared to 2092 in October 2013. I wonder how much these lower sales, as well as the Volt’s lower sales, are due to lower supply versus lower demand, if they are at all.

With much less of a potential market, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, BMW i8, and Cadillac ELR actually saw fairly good sales. But 269 cars don’t really make much of a dent in any way, shape, or form.

Every other electric car on the market is essentially a compliance car, so I don’t find it worth discussing them. Who knows how many would sell if the companies manufacturing them actually tried to sell them and produced enough of the cars to meet demand.

It’s disappointing to see the electric car market (minus Tesla) shrinking, when it should really be doubling or tripling, but maybe buyers have been waiting for the VW e-Golf, Kia Soul EV, or waiting for their deliveries of the BMW i3, which I assume is still not being produced enough to meet demand. Of course, Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X sales may also be growing substantially. We just have no quantifiable clue on that matter.

US EV Sales 2014 - October

Source: EV Obsession. Reprinted with permission.

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About the Author

spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.


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  • Gavin Hutchison

    I noticed your YTD numbers for end of October looked a little short so I added up the numbers for the Leaf and Volt from the line graph. Your YTD totals do not include the sales from April 2014.

  • David in Bushwick

    So is cheap gas hurting plug-in sales? These numbers aren’t going in the
    right direction and it makes you wonder what will be the tipping point
    for consumers to say their next car will be a plug-in. Right now, they
    won’t even consider it.
    Future MPG requirements will be a big factor but the new Republican majority can change that. It’s hard to be positive right now…

    • Adrian

      Lithium battery costs have been dropping 16% per year for the past 5 years. Extend that trend out a few years and your optimism should return. The undeniable economics will ultimately carry the day, regardless of what politicians say or do.

  • Kyle Field

    We found a VW dealership that was actually carrying the eGolf (our local shop was giving us the run around) and confirmed that not only did the first two arrive yesterday (which we hope to test drive today)…but they also sent two sales reps to 3 days of training :D That’s great news to me as compared to most dealerships/EVs who generally don’t know anything about anything. BMW has been the one exception, at both dealerships we visited.

    FWIW, my wife has narrowed her search down to Mercedes B-Class ED or the VW eGolf (c’mon VW!!)

  • http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/ Neil Blanchard

    The Kia Soul EV sold / leased cars starting on October 31st, I think?

    • Kyle Field

      Talked to the Kia dealership in Ventura, CA, USA last week and they shared that they’re only going to sell them at 4 dealerships in the US. I don’t know how much of this is BS (I get a lot of that when talking EVs with dealerships…like the chevy guys telling me I could charge a Chevy Spark on the Tesla chargers – you can’t).

      • http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/ Neil Blanchard

        That would be strange, considering they made a advertisement. And in the brief time they have been available, I have heard from at least 8 people in various forums, that they have bought / leased the Soul EV.

        I don’t think that all those people could be going to those four dealers.

        • Kyle Field

          Just sharing what the guy told me. He may have just been bitter that they weren’t one of the dealerships chosen and decided to spout misinformation. Wouldnt be the first time but it was a bummer. Glad it doesn’t feel like the truth because that would suck.

  • Michael G

    Earlier you did a very good description of the adoption of new technology with the Sigmoid curve, (=logistic function) but the key point is that it levels off at the “carrying capacity” or max population. That capacity is nearly impossible to determine in the earliest stages of growth which is where we are. If you had looked at the exponential sales growth of the Prius the first few years you might have expected everyone to have a hybrid by now. For years there were 3-5 month waiting lists. We seem to have leveled off.

    We will only be able to get to where we all want to be when EV car (=battery) prices come down, charging stations are as common as gas stations, landlords and condo associations always provide charging stations, and recharging takes as long as gas refueling.

    I’m disappointed in these figures.

  • Eric Gerber

    At least in California, gas prices have also dropped by almost $1 in the last few months which may be affecting decisions particularly in the PHEV category which competes more directly with ICE cars. Most concerning to me is the drop in the Volt which is actually a pretty nice PHEV.

  • Offgridman

    This could have changed through the month of October but at the end of September Ford had plenty of stock at the dealers in Atlanta and Chattanooga, and they are still pushing their hybrids in the local radio ads in both cities. So sticking with my opinion of last month that those who wanted the Ford brand in these type of cars got them through the summer, and now they are having to do real sales on the comparative superiority of the product. Which also in my opinion they just don’t have, the controls and dashboards are just to cluttered and complicated.
    For people that want a Volt and have done some research the information is out in the main media not just tech and car sites about the improved model coming out next year. So if that is what they have decided on the few months wait at this point would seem worthwhile. Current sales probably involve some who can’t wait, have talked the dealer down in price because of these becoming less appealing, or leases to carry through until the longer range full electrics become available.
    And that last point is probably influencing sales across the brands, there is still market available for the city type or shorter range EV’s, and they are still selling. But with the news being out in mass media that longer range EV’s are going to be out in the next year or two whether from Tesla or GM, or improved models from the other manufacturers. How many are interested in an EV but waiting for the longer range, even if technically they don’t need it but want it for just in case.
    Only time will tell, and all of the information being spread in the media can only help, now if we can get the state governments to put some serious support behind EV’s like California, then the sales will climb.

    • http://zacharyshahan.com/ Zachary Shahan

      Good points. Even a minimum of 3 years out, wonder how much the Model 3 is delaying EV sales.

      • Offgridman

        I probably should have put it as 2-3 years out, but ’14 is so close to being over that’ 17 seems just a couple of years off.
        Imagine that you have heard the news on the elections, unfortunately a lot of the climate deniers held on or got in. Don’t know what that is going to mean for renewables and/or EV policies or support. Maybe if it is considered on just a straight financial basis the republicans can get something done if they are allowed to pretend that it is their own idea. It happened before with the environmental policies, maybe we will get lucky again.

      • Larmion

        I doubt it would be hugely significant.

        Someone who is excited over a model that has still barely left the drawing board is by definition an EV enthousiast. Would someone who is so excited about a product class postpone a purchase by as much as three years, especially when many of today’s offerings are in the same price class and (almost) the same performance band?

        Perhaps more importantly, how many people – EV enthousiast or otherwise – can realistically postpone the purchase of a car by such a long time? Most people buy a new car when (a) the lease is up, (b) the car breaks down or (c) their old vehicle still has some residual value. None of these three scenarios allow you to wait three years.

        • Offgridman

          I don’t know how many others can or want to do it but when I put my reservation on the Tesla Model X at the end of last year I assumed delivery would be at least two years out because even then the reservation number was in the mid eleven thousands. With today’s earnings report saying that initial release is being postponed from the first to the third quarter of next year it looks like my total wait time is going to be closer to three years.
          Of course my buying a new car isn’t happening for any of your three reasons. (a) why lease a car that is the worst value proposition going, pay for something for two years and give it back? (b) when they break down I fix them (c) no one will pay what my used cars are worth to me. At 9,20,28,& 50 years of age they are all running well and suit our needs because I have maintained them, and they were all bought used because up till now that has been how to get the best value in a vehicle.
          I have wanted an electric vehicle for close to two decades, and up until 4-5 years ago had plans to build my own. But with the manufacturers finally getting back to making them decided that when one became available that will let me permanently retire two of my current ones and semi retire the third it will be worth buying new and driving for free on the surplus from my offgrid system. (the fifty year old is just kept for the memories and an occasional fun drive, and will be converted to electric eventually)
          That means 150-200 miles of range, all wheel drive, room for four passengers and 2-4 yards or 500 lbs of cargo, and towing capable. It was looking like Tesla would be the first one there, but with this delay perhaps one of the other manufacturers do this first.
          I don’t know how many people are actually waiting for the Tesla3 to go electric with their driving. But with all of the discussion even in the mainstream media about longer range EV’s to soon be available I bet that there are plenty waiting for them to hit their own personal sweet spot. Whether that be 100, 150, or 200 miles of range, or for larger families a certain number of passengers at a lower price point at one of those ranges. So in the meantime they take care of their current vehicle, or get another used one to cover the one or even a few years until something is available to suit their needs.

      • Bob_Wallace

        3 years out? Grab a 3 year lease. Or purchase a used EV just coming off a lease.

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