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Heartland U.S. EV Sales To Increase As More Mainstream Models Arrive, Say Analysts

When it comes to the adoption of EVs, availability, along with infrastructure, is the name of the game. Currently, coastal states like California lead the way total EV sales share as a result of its green initiatives. However, this will change as more mainstream electric vehicles become available nationwide, in addition to federal incentives and the growth of the charging infrastructure.

In data collected by S&P Global Mobility, the 22 heartland states currently account for only 15.5 percent of total EV share, yet also account for more than a quarter of all vehicle sales. In terms of BEV (battery electric vehicles) share, the heartland states are dwarfed by California, where Los Angeles and San Francisco alone cover almost 30 percent of total EV sales. Indeed, this data demonstrates a huge gap between inland and coastal areas in the acceptance of electric vehicles.

So what contributes to this discrepancy? The lack of charging stations is certainly an influence, as well as the availability of models that customers would actually buy.

“There was no real option in terms of family friendly, moderately priced CUVs,” said James Martin, associate director of consulting for S&P Global Mobility. “And some models, such as the Hyundai Kona EV, were initially not available in midwestern states – based on OEMs deciding to focus on Section 177 (CARB) states where automakers could accumulate credits. Now automakers are beginning to produce more mainstream electric vehicles. Availability of these vehicles will most likely be a factor in spurring installation of more charging infrastructure.”

This is good news to an automaker like GM, as its portfolio of all-electric vehicles is steadily heating up. Mainstream models about to launch include the Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Chevy Equinox EV and Chevy Blazer EV. Additionally, production of the Cadillac Lyriq is already under way.

The acceptance and increase of EV sales in heartland USA is rising, albeit at a slower pace than excepted. Experts believe it will take more time, and increased availability of these mainstream models, before electrification is embraced nationwide.

“The adoption of BEVs is a long-term process that needs to reach an inflection point similar to the adoption, or acceptance, of Asian-sourced vehicles in the US,” said Tom Libby, associate director of Loyalty Solutions and Industry Analysis at S&P Global Mobility. “That inflection point is when the product becomes generally accepted and it usually occurs when volume and exposure reach a level that influences all the reluctant outliers.”

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As a typical Florida Man, Trey is a certified GM nutjob who's obsessed with anything and everything Corvette-related.

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Comments

  1. No……

    This could hardly be more wrong. Yes, EV sales will increase as the price decrease generally with cheaper models sold at even higher corporate losses, but everyone I know is saying 1 of 2 things

    1, they believe this is a fad and will not be buying an EV, and plan you be buying new ICE vehicles for a long time

    2, believe that ICE will be criminalized, and are trying to get their final ICE car and make sure it last 20 years so they won’t be forced into an EV.

    The word is out on EV’s and most don’t like what their seeing.

    GMA, what’s the point of this article? Can we quit the propaganda? This isn’t China where if you repeat the lie long enough it gets accepted as truth

    Reply
    1. I am hearing those two opinions as well. I understand them because the technology is simply not good enough yet to supplant ICE vehicles. EVs have less range, longer “refueling” times, pricier internals, and a higher MSRP. If they can fix just two out of those five issues, they will have a much better value proposition.

      Reply
      1. four* apparently I can’t count.

        Reply
      2. “Supplant” is the word of the day. Excellent!

        Reply
      3. Well the tech is not bad and still improving. Think where it will be in 15 years.

        Prices of batteries are dropping, ranges are getting longer and charge times are reducing.

        Repair cost are 90% battery as motors and gears are not much different than a Engine is today.

        GM has tackled the battery by using less and larger cells that you can replace to save a battery pack at much lower cost vs replacing the entire package like Tesla.

        The real question is with fast improving tech just how well will values be on a 7 year old car that has old tech? Like a IPhone 7 no one wants one. These are the things no one knows.

        As it is about half the drivers could drive an electric daily today and not have to alter their life style. Once the price continues to decline they will be migrating over.

        Reply
        1. and generation of electrical enrrgy on board in fuel cells will create more flexibility, avoiding long immobilization of the vehicle for the big battery.
          @CR.8

          Reply
          1. Fuel Cells cost are just now low enough noris it easy to put in refueling stations.

            I see it growing in fuel cells first.

            Unlike many I have driven a GM prototype Fuel Cell Vehicle. I loved it but refueling is not easy. Also the cost was still high.

            The new NASA moon program may help lower cost faster as they create new and better systems.

            Reply
    2. Well, there you have it. If everyone you know is saying it, it must be true!

      BTW, speaking of repeating lies, who’s currently President of the U.S.?

      Reply
      1. We don’t have one, all we have is China’s Puppet in our oval office and he’s missing a lot of brain cells. Sad but true. Just sayin….

        Reply
        1. Well, you’ve proven beyond a doubt that at least one person on the planet is missing some brain cells. Sad, but true. Just sayin’….

          Reply
    3. #1 This is not a fad as fads go away. This is not going away.

      #2 They will not criminalize. They will make the gas and oil difficult to get. Just putting more ethanol in gas will kill most older cars. They also could add a tax on older cars making them difficult to own or license. Both of these are already happening overseas.

      #3

      Reply
  2. Dream on!!!! Folks that tow and or drive very long distances for vacation will never adopt this EV fantasy. I will stick with my diesel Suburban with 27 MPGs and 700+ miles of range between fill ups 🙂

    Reply
  3. Just when I think there may be hope for Commiefornia and they do this. The Left Coast suffers from #Brownouts, they are restricted to certain times of the day/night to charge these EVs and they are Out Selling the Flyover states, Really? Are people in that state really that naïve? What happens when it gets to a point when there are too many EVs and their Electrical Grid just can’t handle it? They’re having trouble handling homes, businesses and EVs now…….

    Reply
  4. No interest in EV’s here or by anyone I know.

    If GM is stupid enough to quit making ICE vehicles I will buy something else or restore mine.

    Reply
    1. GM announced last week that ICE will be here for a long time. Even tho they plan electric in all segments in 3 years, they know that ICE will be #1 for at least a decade until Solid State and gen 4/5 battery is affordable to produce at scale.

      Reply
      1. Even then, you think ICE will stand still? Current generation of ICE engines in almost every OEM is a decade old, or older. (5th gen small block 2013, 3rd gen hemi 2009, ecoboost 2010, GM high feature 2012, Toyota HE….. ugghhhhh 2017, but based on 2004 tech 🤪. All before Tesla modle S hit the market)

        Remember that solid state batteries won’t be competing with LS engines. They will be competing with engines that are even lighter, more efficient, likely feature cost saving features that reduce parts and price. So yes, I agree solid state batteries will make EV’s very competitive to todays vehicles…… I’m not positive they will come soon enough to stay competitive.

        Reply
    2. GM should’ve continued making PHEV’s (Plug-in Hybrids) such as the Chevy Volt instead of going “all-in” on EV’s. If they can put a battery in a GM vehicle that has an EV range of 320 miles (Equinox EV), they could’ve cleaned up on PHEV’s. Give the PHEV 200 to 250 miles EV range and a 10 gallon tank for gas at 20+ miles to the gallon and further develop EV battery range in order to eliminate range-anxiety instead of “kowtowing” to the EV movement and Fed regs.

      Good luck finding a new Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV that’s just sitting on a dealer lot waiting for someone to buy it or that doesn’t have a $5k to $10k dealer mark-up (“market adjusted price” aka; gouging the customer). The PRIME is going into its 3rd model year and the darned things can only be purchased in “low emission” states and even there, they’re unicorns.

      Reply
      1. I thought the Eboost mild hybrid wasn’t a bad idea. Rams works fine, not great but fine. If GM put a little though to it I don’t see why they can’t get close to the ford powerboost in terms of efficiency for a much more enticing price.

        Reply
  5. It seems like they just keep trying to push these EV vehicles down our throats, me and the people I know will not buy one of them !!

    Reply
    1. They are not forcing anyone at this time the available EVs are spending about 5 minutes on the dealer lots before someone takes them to their( well if they were puppies) forever homes.

      Reply
      1. There’s barely any Brand New Vehicles on the lot, a long waiting line to get the vehicle you want. I know people that have waiting 6, 8 10 months to get the vehicle of their choice. So it’s NOT just EVs, all Brand New Vehicles only sit on the lot 4, or 5 days. The dealership I deal with only has Program Cars, or used cars in their showroom. No New Vehicles…

        Reply
  6. wishful thinking but what do except from the left thinking individuals at GM ( Mary) .. your brains are situated were the sun don’t shine …..

    Reply
    1. MB is far from a”Left brain” thinking leader. She took full advantage of the DJT White House to maximize truck production, bypass the draconian CAFE/CARB set up by Barkee. Now that sippy cup is in the driver’s seat she must cow tau to the environmentalists or risk being cancelled.

      Reply
      1. GM leadership is way too impulsive right now. In 2021 they stated proclaiming that they would stop producing ICE vehicles by 2035. And now a little over a year later after they realized that they were alienating over half of their customers, they now say they won’t stop producing ICE vehicles. GM needs new leadership that listens to their customers rather than the government and environmentalists. They are a large global corporation that should make it’s own decisions based on customer demands. Grow a spine please!

        Reply
        1. Sorry but spine is not going to fix this. You are fighting globalist that are hell bent on destroying the American industry and pushing for a global government. This is a lot worse than you just having to drive a EV car.

          Yes GM can say we refuse and not invest then find there is no place that will let them sell their cars. Boy that would sure show em!

          It is time to wake up and see the big picture here as GM is not pumping $30 Billion into EV just because they think it feels good. They have no choice with what they face in a market controlled buy people with an agenda.

          I see all the clueless complaints there and it is time to get the real facts and stop acting out in emotional spats that really do nothing.

          We need leadership that will not bow to this in this country and go giving away $20 Billion to third world countries for our sin of industry while China and India get a free pass.

          Anyone who voted for Biden and a select number of liberal republicans are responsible for this.

          Stop blaming GM and blame those who put GM and the auto industry in this spot.

          These people will destroy anyone and any company that stands in their way. Just look at those who call them out now.

          Reply
      2. Really???? Remember when she quit his economy board after only 3 months in office???? She’s highly political.

        Reply
  7. The Market will determine the success or failure of Battery-powered EV’s. Most comment boards where people are free and un-censored to express their right of free speech and not be silenced by some Commie Censor ( like on so-called newspapers that are just disguised, leftist-propaganda rags) are full of 95% NO WAY comments to owning/buying battery-powered EV’s. With short-sighted, politically biased CEO’s like Mary Barra putting all her eggs in one basket regarding EV’s, it will lead directly to another financial failure at the huge corporations they Lord-It over. That will lead them to begging at the Federal Treasury, again, for another bail-out !

    Reply
    1. How many BILLION$$$$$ will it cost “We the People” to Bail them out A-G-A-I-N? I Love the environment as much as the next person, maybe more but you will NEVER, EVER catch me purchasing an EV. I spend 99% of my time in the woods, I actually live in the woods and have NOT seen any EV charging stations on any trees, fence posts, atop any telephone poles, none at super markets, drug stores, strip malls, or anywhere else I go not even gas stations. They take way to long to charge, cost as much, IF not more to pay for a Public Charging Station to re-charge those EVs. The faux range is rated with No Load, only the driver and NOT towing anything, they suck on mileage with passengers and full loads. Except for the nose of most EVs, they all look like cookie cutter vehicles and the look Suck!!! 🤢🤮 Only my opinion….

      Reply
      1. I think Europe should bail gm out this time.

        Reply
      2. The last bailout cost nothing it was all paid back and the newer stronger company that emerged has well compensated the treasury with huge tax windfalls, and highly compensated employees in the US paying US taxes.

        Reply
        1. Awesome, Europe should be all for it then.

          Reply
    2. And with so many of gm’s vehicles made outside of the US in places like China and Korea, I’m sure congress would not give gm the time of day thus time around.

      Reply
  8. Most people here don’t want this. EVs are a nice OPTION and should remain an option, just as ICE should. gm is losing a lot of people, myself included. I went ahead and bought a RAM TRX while I still could and could not be happier, it’s a fantastic vehicle! My wife is looking at a Bronco possibly next year. Later gm, good luck.

    Reply
    1. I’m with you, John. Been a GM owner for most of my life but I also just bought a RAM 1500. Got the Limited diesel and couldn’t be happier. Liked it a lot better than the Silverado or GMC Denali and so far, I’m getting over 30mpg on the highway. I’m sure the Duramax would have done that, too, but there were just too many options that are stuck somewhere in GM’s backorder system (heated and cooled seats for one) that I decided to go a different route. So far, so good. The Gen 3 Ecodiesel is everything it was promised to be.

      Reply
  9. The disparity comes from working people not being able to afford an Ev. The west coast liberals make plenty of money and don’t travel far as they live in the cities and that’s where they stay. I live in the foothills/ mountains in California and you hardly ever see an Ev. Because we don’t have charging stations and we have common sense and we buy what works for our area along with what we can afford. ICE vehicles.

    Reply
    1. The price of the EV will be about the same as they are coming down and ICE is going up. Just look at the ICE prices today and you can hardy buy anything decent for less than $40K. Anything less is come crap box in most cases.

      The average price of a vehicle today in ICE is nearing $50K,

      This deal is bigger than just California. The Global Liberals’ are now calling the shots. The ones that got Biden to send $20Billion in reparations to the third world countries that are just going to have it stolen by some leader in their country.

      Reply
      1. The price of EV’s will be coming down. The average size EV motor-transmission-transaxle combination you can lift and carry and put on your kitchen table. They are die-cast aluminum units with small gears and a rotor and stator the size of two paint cans. However, exchange – repaired units will be very pricy.
        Volume, competition and aftermarket players will keep pricing down.
        Remember when hand held calculators came out in 1972? $300.00+ a copy. Now $5.00+ a copy.
        You might even see throw away electric cars like today’s washers and dryers after 6 years of use.

        Reply
        1. Get a grip.

          The EV motor and gears are not where the major cost is. The main thing that cost is the battery and the cost has significantly dropped for the last ten years and will continue to drop with new tech.

          To help on repair GM has gone to battery’s with larger but replaceable cells vs the Tesla where you have to replace the whole thing.

          The problem I see is with increasing tech now will values be on 5-10 year old cars.

          Like today the IPhone 14 is big money but a 7 year old IPhone 7 that really no one wants because it is old tech.

          R3cycle values will be higher due to the materials used but onlybth3 market will determine this.

          Will GM do a deal like Apple where you can buy from them and keep the so long and own or trade up after a couple years at a similar payment.

          Reply
  10. I am actually shocked how many EV cars we have here in Ohio anymore. They used to be rare but I see multiples on any trip out.

    I know the EV is not popular with enthusiast but the average car buyers are beginning to buy them.

    I am not a fan but I am not going to sit, piss and moan about it as I know where the automakers are at and what they face.

    I see many $h1% and Bi#ch about the coming EV product but non of you have an answer to what the automakers do once ICE is regulated out. Elections will not change it, Kicking and screaming will not change it. Saying you will not buy one or drive one will not change the path that is laid out. Automakers have to plan for the future they are being handed and they have delayed it as long as they could. Power much bigger than GM are behind all this stuff so screaming at GM changes nothing.

    I know this is not a popular thing but they are the cards we are dealt. Right now we need to save what we can in our collector cars and race cars as they are still with us and we need to protect them. We also need to make sure the gas and oils are readily available to keep them running correctly. If they take our gas and oil we will not be able to even enjoy our hobby.

    It is time to get a bit of reality and understand the one battle

    is lost as your complaints are about 10 years too late. But the other battles are yet to be fought. Suck it up and fight for what is left.

    GM and the entire industry is not doing this because they wanted to.

    Much of this us due to who you voted for and you have only yourself in many cases to blame. I will let you sort out who as both parties hold some blame here with certain members.

    Reply
    1. Our next SANE POTUS (1 with a functioning Brain) can undo this 2035 💩, it is NOT a forgone conclusion. I seriously doubt EVs will be the reining vehicles on the road, the cost could break “We the People’s” backs in Tax Increases.
      Personally I believe it is only Tree Huggers think it is. Either way I’m to old to worry about being FORCED to purchase, or drive an EV. I have purchased 3+ dozen brand new GM vehicles since 1972, if forced to purchase a foreign vehicle I will! For now I will keep the 3 ICE vehicles I have, do repairs when needed. Buh Bye GM

      Reply
      1. gm has actively colluded, sorry, lobbied for this EV crap. They have partially directed it in an attempt for more profit. Karen Motors has no real desire for ICE anymore.

        Reply
      2. Sorry but it can not be undone.

        Over 1/3 of the cars sold in this country are under state CARB regulations. The cars sold in many other countries will have to be non ICE.

        The President changing things are not going to change this anymore.

        Automakers can no longer change directions every 4 years. With the investments being made and the the time it is taking to make the changes they had to cave. It is a matter of survival for each automaker. Some may not survive as they can’t afford the change.

        They are all on the same path.

        If you are upset now you should have gotten upset back around 1980 when they started Al, this and eliminating the V8 as the majority engine and the RWD sedan.

        Reply
    2. Sorry, but the free market will have a lot to say about what is bought and not. When the EVs are not being sold in the volumes that these fantasized CEOs predict, they’ll change their tune real quick. In the past companies molded their plans to the needs and wants of the consumers and those that did not found themselves losing market share or their very business (including a particular automaker we all know and love).

      Reply
      1. You just keep on thinking that.

        It is not what people buy it will be what is offered and you will only get what is legal to sell.

        I work in the performance aftermarket and we are all scrambling to find what we can do with EV models.

        Time for you to drink a cup of reality.

        The Free market is not all that free anymore. Just try to tune a Diesel in any of the CARB regulated states. I already saw a multi million dollar fine over a fuel jug. I am not the only one.

        Reply
    3. C8.R
      You are absolutely spot on in your comment.
      Closed door meeting master planners in DC have promulgated EV’s. Just like they did years ago for water resource projects, coal and nuclear power plants, the interstate program, aircraft regulation, workplace safety and health, food and drugs, etc.

      Funny that coal was a favorite child by the master planners 50+ years ago, as well as the atomic age of the fifties. Things and styles change. The EV flavor of the moment is here to stay, just like multi floor mid rise high density apartment buildings made purely of wood. Lastly look at food preparation today. It’s all heat and eat in a microwave oven, or keysroke your dinner in an app to be delivered. Yes, for better or worse electric vehicles are here to stay just like the microwave oven and smart phone. No need to think anymore, the higher powers like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Jeff Zuckerberg et. al., will do that for us.

      Reply
      1. I would leave Elon out on this deal. He is not one of them and today he is a threat as he now has the good on Twitter.

        They have turned on him and are working to discredit and destroy him because he can expose some of what is going on.

        Trump also got elected and got in the way of Hilary to promote their agenda. Unfortunately Trumps action gave them ammo to try to trash him and discredit him.

        The real test is going to be Ron Disantis. He is not one of them and just what will they do to him if he is the one that runs.

        This is why companies are falling in line. If they step out of line bad things are going to happen and you will be destroyed.

        Toyota was flirting with fighting but they caved. VW was trying to go Diesel but they were exposed for cheating on emissions and punished globally.

        Every automaker today is going to have to gobEV or die. Only the terms of the transition are slightly negotiable.

        I am not a tin hat guy or believe in aliens. But I do believe in a force that is working to a global government.

        Reply
  11. Analyst says….I Call B.S…..no one of the middle class patriot Americans wants or can afford these “toys
    G.M. sucks since they went ” WOKE”……….

    Reply
    1. I saw a conservative network run a survey before the election and 61% of the people now belIeve in global warming and believe it is real.

      This number will continue to grow I am afraid as people are believing the web not the facts.

      Just look at the crappy cars they buy now and they think they are great?

      Reply
  12. A google search;
    “There were a total of 275,913,237 vehicles registered in the U.S. in 2020, including 105,135,300 automobiles.”

    Another google search;
    ….total car and light truck sales are approximately 15 million in the United States. U.S. vehicle sales peaked in 2016 at roughly 17.5 million units.

    Another google search; How many batteries are sold in a year?
    “Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers, and portable power tools. Inside a battery, heavy metals react with chemical electrolyte to produce the battery’s power. Aug 23, 2022”

    It’ll be a long time before everything is changed over to EV’s. If 15 million cars and light trucks are to be replaced with EV’s only, that is billions of batteries that need will need raw materials mined, processed and manufactured. 3 billion of AA batteries are just the USA sales. One day it will happen that billions of EV batteries will be manufactured. What we do not have is a crystal ball when it will happen, only target dates.

    Reply
  13. Two different cultures, lifestyles and attitudes between California’s large coastal cities and the Midwest heartland. Even in driving techniques. In California you can be driving the posted speed limit, observing the rules of the road, yet somebody is always on your rear bumper trying to push you to go faster. Also Golden Staters consider driver’s at speed to be hindrances on the road.
    Whereas in the heartland driver’s are courteous, polite and helpful. I have found that most driver’s in California are selfish, self seeking and self centered. This has lead to the state being the price leader in everything. You can still get a nice restaurant meal in the heartland for under $10.00 bucks.

    Reply
    1. What starts in California spreads like a STD on a military base.

      You already have 13 states using Californias regulations and more joining. That is 1/3 of the cars being sold.

      People today are not auto enthusiast. These vehicles are just an appliance to get around.

      Just look at what people buy today. Look at the dropping in Race attendance, also go to the local cruise in and most people are over 60 today.m

      Reply
      1. CR.8

        You are absolutely spot on. Car interest and enthusiasm has been supplanted by digital toys. Just like briefcases have been supplanted by backpacks and hoodies and beanies are the new outwear attire. High density apartment living is in, single family homes with yard care is out. Ordering your goods and food on line is in. Jeans, tee shirts and sneakers are both the business and casual dress standard. Asian and German cars are hip with the young and urban masses, while the redneck and trade worker crowd love American full size pickups. It’s a huge cultural change with the urban masses between the ages of 18 to 45. Tattoos, body armour, beards, colored hair, shaved heads, etc. are in to create shock value and bad a$$ imaging. It’s a new changed world for better or worse.
        Another indicator, look at the demographics of the throngs attending the annual SEMA show. Their ages have advanced forward. Electrics are here to stay as the new big wave along with continuing inflation that has created insane prices in just about everything.

        Reply
  14. Any young person trying to decide on a career, look into chemistry. Graduating Chemical engineers are the highest paid for most industries. It will be big time employment managing and designing batteries of the future. Parents should get there kids interested in any engineering. Do good in math and make science class fun.

    Reply
  15. Shocking. The Hollywood elite from LALA Land & the Techie snobs from SanFran are the bulk of current EV sales. Aren’t they the same jacka$$es donating gobs of their $$$ to the Pols that are shoving this technology down our throats WAY before its time???

    Reply
    1. Those uninformed “elite” ( in their opinions) seem clueless about the drain on the Electrical Grid these energy-hog , battery-powered EV’s produce and how CA has had to ask them not to re-charge during certain situations. SoCal already “steals” their water from others and CA is now having to buy power from States to their North. People in The Heartland will never buy these overpriced, range-limited things in large numbers especially once they realize how dealing with our weather extremes from season to season further limits their range. The only customers will be the usual DemocRAT sheep who iive like sardines packed into large Cities.

      Reply
  16. The California citizen’s have been dealing with $5+ per gallon for a long time. An EV sure looks far better and more economical on a tight budget. Have one EV in the household makes sense.

    Reply

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