New EV Sales Slide in February, but High Fuel Prices May Shift Consumer Sentiment: Report

A Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle charges at a shopping mall parking lot in Torrance, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2024. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesSales of new electric vehicles (EVs) trended sharply lower in February versus the prior year, but a wave of new EV launches scheduled for 2026—and painful prices at the gas pump—could spur increased demand for electric automobiles, according to a new report.There were just under 69,000 new EVs sold in February, automotive industry insights and technology provider Cox Automotive said in its monthly EV market report, released on March 16. Sales were down by nearly 27 percent from February 2025, though they ticked up by 5.8 percent from January.