Powering progress:
EV impact

The role of EVs today in shaping tomorrow

Electric vehicle technology is strengthening America’s industrial base. It’s driving new manufacturing, creating jobs across the supply chain and reducing our reliance on imported oil — all while helping lower emissions and improve national energy security.

True or False:

EVs that rely on a fossil-fueled grid are just as bad for the environment as gas cars.

Charging an EV using electricity from coal power plants is still more efficient than burning refined gasoline. Combustion engines waste up to 70% of energy as heat, while both power plants and EVs use energy far more efficiently, retaining 90% of energy.

True or False:

EVs require less maintenance than gasoline cars.

EVs have about 20 moving components in the drivetrain compared to over 2,000 in internal combustion engine vehicles. This streamlined design eliminates the need for oil changes, spark plugs and transmission fluid replacements, cutting maintenance costs by an average of 30%.

True or False:

EVs are suitable for towing heavy loads.

EVs, particularly trucks and SUVs, are designed for towing. Instant torque provides smooth, reliable power, helping EVs excel under heavy loads.

True or False:

EVs bought in the U.S. are made primarily in other countries.

Over half of the EVs sold in the U.S. in 2022 were assembled in the U.S., and it is estimated that 74.4% of EVs sold in 2024 were made in North America.

True or False:

Buying an EV boosts the U.S. economy and supports job creation.

EV investments have created nearly 200,000 direct American jobs and 900,000 more in related industries, contributing to U.S. economic growth and job creation.

True or False:

Over-the-air (OTA) updates are only for fixing bugs and software issues.

OTA updates do more than fix bugs — they improve performance, enhance safety and add features. Remotely addressing software-related recalls can save the industry $1.5 billion by 2028.

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lower lifetime emissions

The life-cycle emissions of an electric vehicle are typically more than 30% lower than those of a comparable gas-powered car.

100%

domestically produced energy

EVs are powered by 100% domestically produced energy, reducing dependence on foreign oil and keeping energy spending within the U.S.

200,000+

new jobs

Since 2015, manufacturers have announced 201,900 new EV-related jobs across the U.S. and about $200B in concrete investment.

A stronger future with lasting impact

The economic power of EVs

Over 4 million Americans work in the auto industry, with a growing share now focused on EV manufacturing, infrastructure, and services. This expansion of EV-related industries is driving job creation across U.S. manufacturing, technology, and construction.

As of 2024, private companies had announced more than $200 billion in investments for American EV and battery production, expected to create about 240,000 new permanent jobs. More than 50 EV manufacturing sites are already operating, supporting over 50,000 jobs and more than 100 additional projects are currently under construction.

Beyond direct employment, the EV sector is also generating substantial ripple effects — potentially close to 1 million additional jobs across suppliers, logistics, and related industries. Battery recycling alone attracted $7.8 billion in new investments from 2022 to 2024, which has created thousands of skilled, well-paying positions.

Infrastructure growth brings its own economic impact. By October 2024, the U.S. had surpassed 200,000 public charging ports, and reaching the national goal of 500,000 by 2030 is expected to support tens of thousands of additional jobs in planning, installation and maintenance.

These hundreds of billions of dollars in private investment and nearly a quarter-million direct jobs underscore how American EV manufacturing’s rapid expansion is significantly contributing to a resilient and competitive economy that can stand strong in the international arena.

Electric vehicle investments are creating jobs and revitalizing manufacturing centers across America. In 2023 and 2024 alone, private companies announced over $100 billion in new EV projects, expected to create more than 100,000 American jobs. In 2024, employment in EV manufacturing grew by 11.4%, with Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Nevada leading the way in new plants and supplier networks.

Many of these projects are taking shape in familiar factory towns where American cars and trucks have been built for generations. Welders, electricians and engineers are applying their skills to new types of vehicles and technologies, and prodly continue our long tradition of hard-working American manufacturing. From battery factories in the South to charger assembly plants in the Midwest, these new EV manufacturing projects strengthen local economies from coast to coast.

For more than a century, America’s strength in car making has come from its ability to master new technologies and keep improving how things are built — from the assembly line to advanced materials and automation. Electric vehicles are part of that same tradition of problem-solving and engineering progress.

Around the world, more people and companies are investing in new vehicle technologies, including EVs. Those at the forefront of any automotive technology will be the ones guiding the global industry. In the U.S., billions in private EV funding are currently being invested to ensure we expand and modernize factories, onshore American supply chains and safeguard manufacturing jobs. The goal is to protect and build on America’s long record of ingenuity and hard work to ensure our nation stays the place where the best and most modern vehicles are designed, engineered and built.

The societal benefits of EVs

Multiple oil crises have demonstrated the economic and social turmoil that can arise from dependence on foreign oil. As a globally traded commodity, oil prices are susceptible to geopolitical tensions worldwide. Even when conflicts occur on the other side of the earth, they strongly affect Americans at the fuel pump. EVs significantly enhance national security by reducing the U.S. reliance on foreign oil, which constitutes approximately 43% of the nation’s oil consumption.

The shift to EVs, therefore, fosters a broader strategy of American independence. It further encourages billions of dollars in domestic investment from global companies in battery production and supply chains. This reduces reliance on foreign nations for essential electronic components and critical minerals, creating positive ripple effects across numerous technology industries. And as vehicles become increasingly digital and data-driven, leading in EVs allows the U.S. to ensure driver data and individual privacy is handled by American institutions, not foreign powers.

In the long run, EVs represent more than just an advancement in vehicle technology; they are a key component of a new era of American independence and strength.

Building EVs domestically not only provides good-paying, innovative jobs but also ensures the vehicles’ software and hardware protect American drivers by not sending private information or location data to other nations that could misuse it.

With electricity in America being generated virtually 100% domestically, the increased adoption of EVs reduces reliance on imported oil from unstable regions, helping shield Americans from global oil market fluctuations. This strengthens economic resilience and allows for a greater focus on building and enhancing domestic energy infrastructure.

Additionally, EVs can utilize electricity generated from any source. This inherent flexibility allows resilience against disruptions, further strengthening our national security.

The U.S. is seeing a surge in domestic investment in battery production, battery recycling and other related industries. This reduces reliance on foreign nations for essential technology components, onshoring a more resilient American supply chain while creating jobs and minimizing geopolitical supply risks.

EVs for a cleaner environment

EVs offer significant environmental advantages by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing air quality. Over their complete life cycle, from component manufacturing to electricity generation and end-of-life processing, EVs produce 46% fewer emissions than comparable gasoline-powered cars. Moreover, this reduction is expected to increase to 76% by 2035. Since transportation makes up nearly 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, EVs will make a significant impact in lowering nationwide pollution.

One of the most immediate impacts of electric vehicles is the dramatic reduction of harmful local pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. This is because vehicles powered solely by electricity have zero tailpipe emissions. Research indicates a direct correlation between increased EV adoption and measurable improvements in both air quality and respiratory health outcomes. And with the continued expansion of renewable energy sources powering the nation’s electrical grid, the environmental benefits associated with electric vehicles grow each year.

EVs significantly improve local air quality, especially in urban areas, because they produce zero tailpipe emissions. Unlike gasoline cars, EVs don’t release harmful tailpipe pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to smog and respiratory issues. Studies confirm this benefit, linking increased EV adoption to reduced asthma-related emergency visits and projecting substantial reductions in premature deaths in major U.S. cities.

Because the U.S. produces virtually all of its energy domestically, EVs are one of the most effective ways to cut emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, as the U.S. energy mix becomes more sustainable each year, EVs inherently become more sustainable too. Importantly, even when charged with energy from coal-heavy grids, EVs are so efficient that they still result in less than half the annual emissions per vehicle compared to gasoline-powered cars.

Unlike gasoline — consumed and dispersed when burned — the materials inside EV batteries remain physically present. This allows reuse after a vehicle’s life in applications such as energy storage systems. Alternatively, or following reuse, batteries can be recycled: Pilot projects have demonstrated the ability to recover close to 100% of all key materials. As the U.S. recycling industry expands, efficiently reclaiming these resources will create a truly circular and sustainable battery economy on American soil.

Understand EV Policy

Explore the policies driving EV adoption, innovation and sustainability.

Powering progress:EV impact

The role of EVs today in shaping tomorrow

30%

100%

200,000+

A stronger future with lasting impact

The economic power of EVs

The societal benefits of EVs

EVs for a cleaner environment

Understand EV Policy

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Locations

Powering progress:
EV impact