San Francisco and California are setting the bar for EV adoption

California's electric vehicle market is far more mature than those in other parts of the country, with San Francisco and other Bay Area cities leading the way.

Yes, but : Expanding access to charging infrastructure "is crucial" to further driving adoption, San Francisco's environment department director, Tyrone Jue, told Axios.

Why it matters: Fossil fuels for transportation are among the biggest drivers of emissions in the city, accounting for 44% of our greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to city data .

• But drivers ultimately won't switch to an EV until it's cheaper and easier than driving a gasoline vehicle, Axios' Joann Muller writes .

By the numbers: In California, the average EV travels 8% more miles than the average gas-powered vehicle, according to BloombergNEF research .

• About 25% of new car sales in the state are EVs, which is closer to the level of adoption in Europe.
• Separately, zero-emissions vehicles made up 37.4% of all new car sales in San Francisco last year, according to data from the California Energy Commission .
• In Q2 2024, about 36% of new vehicle purchases were electric, according to Jue.

The big picture: In the U.S., American drivers travel about 40% fewer miles in EVs than in gasoline cars, according to BloombergNEF's research.

• In Q2, just 8% of new vehicle purchases were electric nationwide, according to estimates from Kelley Blue Book .

Between the lines: A number of factors contribute to higher EV adoption rates in San Francisco and California, Jue told Axios.

• He pointed to the number of statewide incentives, grants and tax credits to make EV purchases and charger installation more affordable.
• Jue also highlighted both the city and state's emissions standards and EV goals, a general desire among residents to reduce their carbon footprints, and more proactive development of charging infrastructure.

What they're saying: Expanding access to charging infrastructure is a "crucial" part of driving further EV adoption, Jue said.

• That's why the city is working to have 1,700 publicly accessible chargers installed by 2030, up from the current 1,100, he said.
• "Enhancing the availability and convenience of charging stations will significantly encourage more residents to switch to electric vehicles," Jue said.

The bottom line: If the rest of the nation follows the Bay Area and California's lead, the U.S. could catch up to the rest of the world in EV mileage.

What we're watching: San Francisco is currently seeking providers for its curbside EV charging pilot .