It's no secret that California is considerably more enthusiastic about electric cars than the rest of the nation.
Policies put in place to promote plug-in cars--and a population willing to embrace new technology--make the Golden State the friendliest place for electric cars in the nation.
But how do California electric-car sales actually compare to those of the rest of the country?
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Just over five years after the first modern electric cars went on sales in large numbers, California accounts for one-third to one-half of U.S. plug-in electric car sales, according to data from the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative advocacy group.
California accounted for about 55 percent of plug-in car sales in January 2016, with 3,692 sales in the state out of a national total of 6,713.
Since January 2011, the California PEV Collaborative estimates 407,378 plug-in electric cars were sold in the U.S.--with 184,657 of those sold in California.
California vs national electric car sales, January 2016 (graphic by California PEV Collaborative)
Given California's aggressive electric-car policies, it's not surprising such a large portion of plug-in vehicles are sold there.
For one, California is by far the largest state in the U.S. with a zero-emission vehicle mandate that requires automakers to sell electric cars within its borders. (Other states have adopted its mandate, but the Golden State pioneered it.)
This has led to a range of "compliance cars" built solely to comply with the law.
ALSO SEE: Carpool-Lane Access: Very Important For Electric-Car Adoption, It Turns Out (Nov 2015)
California also has a robust electric-car incentive program.
It previously offered rebates of $2,500 for new battery-electric cars and $1,500 for plug-in hybrids, but beginning in March, the amount will vary depending on the buyer's income.
Buyers of battery-electric cars can also still get "white stickers" that allow solo access to carpool lanes.
2015 Chevrolet Volt
A 2015 UCLA study found that this perk alone may have led to the purchase of more than 24,000 plug-in electric cars and hybrids in the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco from 2010 through 2013.
But California officials are pushing for even greater electric-car adoption.
MORE: California Goal: Cut Petroleum Use For Cars In Half By 2030 (Jan 2015)
Governor Jerry Brown has called for cutting petroleum use in vehicles on California roads in half by 2030--a goal that was later turned into legislation.
While California leads the nation in electric-car sales, however, it will need to boost its current sales significantly to meet that target.
[hat tip: Brian Henderson]
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