The most popular electric vehicle in Austin isn’t a Tesla, as Giga Texas roars to life

By Emma Freer – Austonia

Electric vehicles are increasingly common in Austin. But which models are most popular?

Although it may seem like Tesla is a shoo-in for the top spot, with its hood ornaments ubiquitous along Lamar Boulevard and Gigafactory sprouting up in Southeast Travis County, the most popular electric vehicle in Austin is the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, which starts at $32,620, according to an iSeeCars analysis of used car sales between July 2020 and last month.

Percentage share of used EVs in Austin

The most popular electric vehicle in Austin is the Nissan LEAF, a relatively affordable model that debuted in 2010. But Tesla claims three of the top five spots.

Karl Brauer, iSeeCars executive analyst, said the Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Bolt are relatively affordable electric vehicles, which is a big part of their appeal. “Price, of course, for any consumer buying a car is always the single most important factor,” he said.

Percentage share of used EVs by metro

Both Houston and Dallas lead Austin in terms of the percentage share of used electric vehicles, although the numbers are small everywhere. The statewide average of 0.4%, according to an analysis by iSeeCars.

But electric vehicles are increasingly popular. More than 3,400 drivers subscribed to Austin’ Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere service, a network of more than 1,000 charging ports, as of last month, according to the utility’s latest quarterly report.

This represents a nearly 11% increase from 2020 and a substantial change over the last decade.

Austin Energy Plug-In EVerywhere subscriptions

The number of subscriptions to Austin Energy’s monthly Plug-In EVerywhere program—$4.17 a month for access to more than 1,000 charging ports—is rising.

Wider adoption seems likely. More car manufacturers, including Mercedes Benz, are announcing plans to shift toward entirely electric fleets, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will debut an affordable, $25,000 model within the next few years.

There are also financial incentives prompting buyers to make the switch, including federal tax credits, a home charging station rebate and more affordable “fuel” costs, according to Austin Energy. A Plug-In EVerywhere subscription costs $4.17 a month, compared to $2.83 state average for a gallon of gas.