The California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative announced Tuesday that California has sold over 100,000 plug-in vehicles since the cars were introduced to the Golden State four years ago.
California residents represent 40 percent of U.S. customers who have bought plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) between December 2010 and August 2014, according to PC Magazine. This percentage translates to 102,440 plug-ins.
"California's plug-in electric vehicle market is ramping up, and we expect to see significant growth over the next ten years as customers realize how economical and convenient they are," said Christine Kehoe, executive director of the group.
Kehoe added that California not only has more PEVs than any other state, but more than any other country, San Jose Mercury News reported. Automakers, advocates and policy experts have said California achieved this success due to state rebates and other innovative policies.
Despite California's success with the vehicles, their cost still poses an obstacle for most residents trying to buy one. California Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign bills in the next few weeks that would make it easier for low and middle-income families to buy environmentally friendly cars. Tenants and people living in apartments would also have an easier time installing charging stations in their buildings.
Automakers that have been providing PEVs in California for the past four years include Nissan, GM, Ford, and Tesla, PC Magazine reported.
Tuesday's announcement follows two years after Brown announced his goal of having 1.5 million zero-emissions vehicles on California roads by 2025.
