Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids comprised 7.8 percent of U.S. light-vehicle sales in April 2021, up from a record-high 5.2 percent share in 2020 (Ward’s Automotive, hybridcars.com, CAR Research). Even with this rapid expansion in U.S. BEV and hybrid sales, electric and electrified vehicles make up only a tiny fraction (1.9 percent) of the nearly 290 million vehicles in use in this country. BEVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs)—vehicles that run either entirely or part-time without using gasoline—make up just 0.6 of U.S. vehicles in use. However, increases in EV adoption are alarming legislators in Washington, D.C., and many state capitols because drivers of these vehicles do not pay fuel taxes that fund road construction and maintenance.

Join Center for Automotive Research for their next webinar:

Bridging the Gap to Safe Autonomous Systems

Wednesday, June 9, 2021, |  11:30 AM ET

The semiconductor shortage impacting the automotive industry has left companies and countries scrambling for solutions.

Submit your entries for the automotive industry's only award dedicated to lightweighting and sustainability:

The 2021 Altair Enlighten Awards

Presented annually with CAR, this year the Altair Enlighten Award will honor the greatest sustainability and ightweighting advancements that show a successful commitment in reducing the carbon footprint, mitigating water and energy consumption, as well as successful efforts in material reuse and recycling.