The percentage of electric vehicle (EV) sales compared to the rest of the market still hasn’t hit the double-digit mark, but it continues to grow. In the second quarter of this year, EVs accounted for 5.6% of all new vehicle sales. During the same period of 2021, that number was 2.7%.
With new electric vehicles hitting the market and more on the way from nearly every automaker, we’ve hit a tipping point where these vehicles are no longer just “good EVs” but “good cars that happen to be EVs.” Ranges are increasing, with Lucid breaking the 500-mile mark. In addition, the charging infrastructure continues to expand. Road trips in an electric car are no longer a fingers-crossed affair.
So which vehicles are landing in garages? We’ve compiled the best-selling EVs of last year. As you would expect, Tesla still reigns supreme.
1. Tesla Model Y
Total units sold: 172,700
Built on the same platform as the Model 3, the Model Y is Tesla’s answer to the small electric SUV. The taller Tesla not only outsells the Model 3 but is likely on track to be the best-selling EV ever, ousting the Model 3 from that position. It’s definitely not the cheapest electric SUV, but with a range of up to 330 miles (2022 model year), the Tesla brand cachet, and the automaker’s robust charging network the Model Y will likely remain at the top of the EV heap for a few years. See the Tesla Model Y models for sale near you
2. Tesla Model 3
Total units sold: 128,600
Tesla isn’t just leading the EV field with the Model 3 and Model Y; it sold over 100,000 more vehicles than the next competitor. That’s an impressive feat but not surprising considering that Tesla had a huge lead in the EV world over traditional automakers. The Model 3 might not be the promised $35,000 Tesla, but it still sells like gangbusters with a starting price of $46,990 in 2022 and a range rating from 263 to 358 miles. See the Tesla Model 3 models for sale near you
3. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Total units sold: 27,140
The name is the source of some controversy. Ford called an electric SUV a Mustang. While it shares the design language of the current Mustang sports car lineup, it’s still an SUV. But if you can get past that, the Mustang Mach-E is an outstanding electric vehicle with the performance you would expect from the galloping pony. That’s especially true if you opt for the more powerful GT trim level. The Mach-E is doing so well that Ford is no longer taking orders for the rest of 2022. See the Mustang Mach-E models for sale near you
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4. Chevrolet Bolt
Total units sold: 24,828
The Chevy Bolt has the distinction of beating the Tesla Model 3 to market as an EV with about 250 miles of range near a price point of $35,000. Since then, the Bolt has had some troubles, particularly battery issues due to a manufacturing defect that was the fault of its supplier LG Chem. After a vehicle-wide recall and suspension of production, the Bolt is back, and with it, a larger version called the Bolt EUV. A recent price drop now has it starting at $31,500 for a vehicle with a range of 259 miles. It’s no longer eligible for the federal tax credit, but GM likely hopes this new lower price will keep the Bolt in the top five of EV sales. See the Chevrolet Bolt models for sale near you
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5. Volkswagen ID.4
Total units sold: 16,742
While some of us lamented not getting the Volkswagen Golf-inspired ID.3 in the United States, the ID.4 has done well here for Volkswagen as the automaker’s first electric vehicle built on the automaker’s MEB modular platform. The ID.4 small SUV combines the cargo space of an SUV with VW’s version of the future with an updated infotainment system and the ID.Light digital assistant that communicates via an interior-wide matrix of lights. With an available range up to 275 miles (the AWD Pro S tops out at 245 miles of range), the ID.4 is a good start to Volkswagen’s bold move into EVs in the US. See the Volkswagen ID.4 models for sale near you
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6. Nissan Leaf
Total units sold: 14,239
Launched in the U.S. in December of 2010, the Nissan Leaf is the oldest nameplate on the list. Up until the launch of the Tesla Model 3, it was the number one selling EV in the U.S. Its legacy lives on with the latest generation of Leaf launched in 2017. The Leaf is one of the least expensive EVs on the market, too. Available with 40kWh (with 149 miles of range) or 62kWh (with 226 miles of range) capacity battery packs, the Leaf is appealing for urban and suburban drivers. See the Nissan Leaf models for sale near you
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7. Audi e-tron
Total units sold: 10,921
The Audi electric SUV was one of the first modern EVs from the Volkswagen Group to hit the road. On the road, the e-tron looks like any other Audi SUV, but the luxury vehicle houses an electric quattro all-wheel-drive system and a range of 222 miles. For those looking for some extra speed or a more stylish SUV, there are also the performance and Sportback variants. All of these are still eligible for the federal tax credit of $7,500. See the Audi e-tron models for sale near you
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8. Porsche Taycan
Total units sold: 9,419
Porsche built an EV that delivers on the engineering prowess of the brand. In any of its many flavors or body types (sedan or wagon), the Taycan is a proper Porsche through and through. But for all that fun behind the wheel, the Taycan falls short of others when it comes to range, with a maximum of 277-mile EPA ratings across the board for the model year 2022. To combat that, the automaker has used an 800-volt architecture that supports DC fast-charging at speeds up to 270 kW. See the Porsche Taycan models for sale near you
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9. Tesla Model S
Total units sold: 9,100
While not officially the first Tesla (that’s the first-generation Roadster), the Model S completely changed how consumers view EVs. Little has changed to the overall design of the Model S, but in the years since its launch, it’s undergone some impressive technological changes. Currently, it’s available with a controversial yoke control instead of a traditional steering wheel. How that affects 2022 sales is unknown, but we’ll see if this 6-figure EV can keep its spot in the top 10 next year. See the Tesla Model S models for sale near you
10. Hyundai Kona Electric
Total units sold: 8,936
Hyundai’s Kona Electric is similar to the automaker’s gas-powered Kona small SUV, but with an EV powertrain shoved inside. With a range of over 250 miles in a familiar shell, the Kona Electric combines a familiar layout and design that some potential buyers crave more than futuristic designs on other electric vehicles. It also helps that it has a starting price of $34,000 and is still eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. See the Hyundai Kona Electric models for sale near you
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10 Most Popular Electric Cars
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model 3
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Nissan Leaf
- Audi e-tron
- Porsche Taycan
- Tesla Model S
- Hyundai Kona Electric
