Michigan EV registrations jump, but still far from Whitmer’s 2 million goal

• Michigan EV registrations jump but remain far short of Gov. Whitmer’s goal of two million by 2030
• Experts say incentives from automakers and the federal government have helped spur adoption
• But high prices, battery repair costs and range anxiety remain deterrents, and national survey points to declining interest

Electric vehicle adoption has quadrupled over the past three years in Michigan, but the state remains far behind Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's ambitious goal of two million EVs by the end of the decade.

New Secretary of State data show there are 85,666 electric vehicles registered in Michigan, up from 20,001 at around the same point in 2022. There are another 18,141 plug-in hybrid registrations, up from 12,431.

Much of that uptick has occurred in the past year, with the state reporting 35,931 additional EV registrations since June 28, 2024, a 72% increase. 

Experts attribute the jump to federal incentives, which President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to cut, and manufacturer incentives that have removed at least one barrier to entry by providing low- or no-cost home chargers. 

Despite the increase, EVs still account for just 1% of the roughly 8 million vehicle registrations in Michigan, according to the Department of State. 

High purchase prices, battery repair costs and range anxiety remain deterrents for consumers, according to a recent survey by AAA that suggests interest in EVs is waning nationally. 

The firm found that 16% of U.S. drivers are “likely” or “very likely” to buy an EV, down from 25% in 2022. 

“Since we began tracking interest in fully electric vehicles, we’ve seen some variability,” Greg Brannon of AAA said in a statement announcing the results. “While the automotive industry is committed to long-term electrification and providing a diverse range of models, underlying consumer hesitation remains.” 

That could complicate an ongoing EV push by Whitmer, who in 2023 set a long-term goal for the state as part of her MI Healthy Climate Plan: "Build the infrastructure necessary to support two million electric vehicles on Michigan roads by 2030."

The state is currently about 1.9 million EV registrations short of that mark. 

Whitmer’s climate plan depends largely on the construction of public EV chargers, which were already slow to materialize before the Trump administration attempted to freeze federal funding approved under former President Joe Biden. 

The governor has proposed state-level rebates and tax breaks for EV purchases, but lawmakers have rejected those budget proposals multiple times.

Related:

• EV transition a slow go in Michigan. It needs 100,000 chargers, has 3,300 
• Always have a backup plan & other lessons from Bridge Michigan’s EV road trip

Automaker incentives for in-home chargers have helped drive adoption in recent years, said Robert Maxey, general sales manager for the Bob Maxey Ford dealership in Detroit. 

“The EV market has … exponentially gotten better over the last few years for vehicle registration, partly because of chargers," he said. "The infrastructure for chargers has only gotten more usable."

A Ford incentive that offers free home chargers with EV purchases has made the "price point... more attractive for people," he said. 

General Motors, meanwhile, offers its customers a $500 credit for public charging stations. Stellantis customers can choose between a home charging unit or $600 in charging credits when they buy a new battery-electric vehicle. 

Drivers can also claim a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for purchasing a new, qualified plug-in EV or fuel cell electric vehicle, as long as it’s for personal use and primarily used in the U.S. However, federal legislation backed by Trump would end that tax credit next year. 

One selling point for EVs is that they eventually save owners money because charging is less expensive than gas, said Patrick De Haan, an economist for the fuel price tracking service GasBuddy.  

Electric vehicles typically cost about one-third as much to charge as it does to fill up a gas tank, and one-fifth the price for drivers who have a charger at home, he said. 

“If you're going to a Tesla supercharger constantly, it could be 1/3 of the price, somewhere in the ballpark of $10 to $15 to fill up,” De Haan added. 

A cost analysis by DTE Energy, one of the state’s largest electricity providers, similarly found that operating an EV can mean significant savings. 

A Ford Escape Platinum would cost about $189 a month to fill up with gas, according to DTE. The Ford Mustang Mach E would cost about $76 to charge a month. The Ford Escape, a plug-in hybrid, would cost about half of that, $47. 

But Maxey, the Ford dealer, said range anxiety remains a concern. One of the most common concerns he hears from customers is, “What do I do when I go up north?”  

His response is simple: “You have to find a charger.” 

“If you do take a Mach-E or a Lightning F-150 up north, you have to just navigate your way and charge,” he said. 

Last year, Bridge Michigan sent Environmental Reporter Kelly House, Business Reporter Paula Gardner and Digital Marketing Associate Asha Lewis on a five-day EV road trip around Lake Michigan from Holland, through Menominee in the Upper Peninsula. 

They found that the lack of charging stations around the state was an “... occasional source of stress when it came to fueling.” 

The trio rented a Chevy Bolt from Hertz and ended up spending over 27 hours charging the car for a total of $108. When compared to a conventional car that gets 25 mpg, the trip would cost roughly $175, with gas at about $3.75 a gallon.