The EV market continues to add new offerings. According to Kelley Blue Book, electric vehicle (EV) sales are growing at unprecedented levels: they’ve spiked 72 percent year-over-year, with 147,799 EVs sold in Q4 2021 – a new industry record. As acceptance grows in the general population, clear favorites have begun to emerge. This article will speak to the most popular EVs in 2021 and 2022.

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Best-Selling EVs 2022

Not surprisingly, Tesla holds 4 of the top 10 positions in the EV market – and the two top sellers are well ahead of all other options. In fact, Tesla owns approximately 75% of the total EV market as of 2021 – market domination rarely seen in any sector. (Do you own a Tesla? Learn more about the best Sarasota electrical contractors for installing a personal charging station.)

Here is how sales have played out in the last fiscal year, along with the percentage jump their sales experienced. (Source: Kelley Blue Book)

  1. Tesla Model Y (190,393 sold, an increase of 191%)
  2. Tesla Model 3 (121,877 sold, a decrease of 1%)
  3. Ford Mustang Mach-E (27,140 sold, not available last year)
  4. Chevy Bolt EV/EUV (24,828 sold, an increase of 20%)
  5. Tesla Model X (22,546 sold, an increase of 206%)
  6. Tesla Model S (17,653 sold, an increase of 74%)
  7. VW ID.4 (16,742 sold, not available last year)
  8. Nissan Leaf (14,239 sold, an increase of 49%)
  9. Audi e-tron (10,921 sold, an increase of 52%)
  10. Porsche Taycan (8,745 sold, an increase of 114%)

You may wonder why the Tesla Models X and S fall below the Ford and Chevy offerings, but a quick look at the sticker price will explain their positioning. While the top two Teslas retail at $65,000 and $49,000, respectively, the X and S represent significantly different price points – $120,000 and $105,000 as of this writing.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that the Mustang Mach-E rounds out the top three sellers. After all, a Ford Mustang is a classic American car, and its EV counterpart evokes a bit of that nostalgia. Its price point is just under that of the Tesla Model 3 (at $44,000), but its range is significantly less. The Tesla models offer 330-360 mile ranges while the Ford submission is a full 100 miles less than that.

Of note is the Porsche Taycan, which appears to be the deal of the popular EVs in the luxury category. At $82,000, the price comes in well below the luxury Tesla models – but that price may be deceiving. Those looking to improve range (which in some cases is only 50% of its Tesla competitors) will soon see the sticker price exceed that of the competition. Still, the Porsche does offer some pretty amazing safety and technology features.

The other offerings on the top 10 list represent sold, mid-range vehicles that range from $27,000 to $65,000 in price and offer a range of 220-300 miles per charge. It should be noted that the most affordable Ev on the list, the Nissan Leaf, also represents the lowest mileage range at only 149 miles. Still, for those looking to drive around town and charge overnight, the Leaf is a solid entry point.

Federal Tax Credit Eligibility

While the $7,500 federal tax credit was an incentive for many to purchase these popular EVs, recent events have all but erased this benefit. Forbes reported that as of August 2022, most popular EVs lost their eligibility for the federal tax credit, leaving only 16 of the 65 models still eligible. In addition to the legislation that erased the credit, consumers also learned this week that many manufacturers had raised the base price of their EVs to a level that essentially erased any still-existing tax benefit.

If you are looking to purchase an electric vehicle, be sure to ask the dealers about any currently available rebates, incentives, or tax credits as they are ever-evolving.

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