U.S. Light-Duty EVs Exceed Rail Systems in Electricity Consumption In 2023

For the first time in 2023, light-duty electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States (U.S.) have consumed more electricity than rail systems according to new estimates by the Electric Power Monthly by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). 

The EIA has recently published experimental estimates of electric consumption of light-duty vehicles (LDVs) at the national, regional, and state levels since 2018. The estimates have shown figures compared with data from electric utilities, which predominantly report on municipal and regional rail systems. In context, railway systems have always been the largest electricity consumers within the transportation sector, where they consume around an average 7,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) since 2003 annually. In a turn of events, LDVs in EV form have overtaken that. 

With EV adoption increasing at a rapid pace, EVs now comprise 16% of all light-duty vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2023. As a result, the estimated annual electricity consumption by EVs reached 7,596 GWh in 2023, which exceeds rail systems and is also nearly five times the amount recorded in 2018. This number reflected the growth of battery electric vehicle (BEV) models with their affordable prices according to EIA. Reflectively, BEVs accounted for 72% of the total electricity consumption by EVs in 2023. 

Notably, California consumed the most electricity for EVs in 2023 with 40% of the national total. This shows the state’s focus on EVs and progressive policies on promoting the transition to electric mobility for the country. Moreover, EV sales could account for 1 in 3 (LDVs) in the U.S., with total sales surpassing 5.5 million annually according to S&P Global analyst Suzanna Massingue. 

With the new estimates by EIA on LDV electricity consumption, the automotive landscape will now have a better understanding of the high demand that buyers have for EVs in the U.S. market. As the U.S. continues to embrace EVs, the increasing influence of EVs on the transportation sector will certainly assist in the country’s goal to reach 56% of all new US vehicles sold to be electric by 2032.

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