The California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative said that over 100,000 electric vehicles have been sold in California.
While the number is still a small percentage compared to the 1.7 million light cars that were purchased in the state in 2013 alone, the achievement is still considered by electric vehicle supporters as an important milestone for the industry.
"We've clearly gotten beyond the point where this is just a boutique item for enthusiasts," said California Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols. The Air Resources Board is one of the members of the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative.
The California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative is a private-public partnership that seeks to promote the usage of electric transportation for both public and private use. The collaborative also tracks the sales of electric vehicles in the state through the data that it receives from the Air Resources Board and market research company Baum & Associates.
About 40 percent of sales of electric vehicles in the United States can be traced to California, with sales in the state steadily increasing.
In 2012, 6,197 electric vehicles were sold in California, such as the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, and 14,701 plug-in hybrid vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt.
The sales figures saw significant growth for 2013, with the number of electric vehicles sold in California jumping to 21,963 and the number of hybrid plug-in vehicles sold in the state increasing to 20,235.
The growth continues for this year, with 15,251 electric vehicles and 16,239 plug-in hybrid vehicles already sold in California through the first eight months.
Electric vehicles made up only 1.3 percent of new vehicle sales in the state last year and plug-in hybrid vehicles made up only 1.2 percent. However, Nichols said that the kind of vehicle has become common enough to increase awareness among potential car buyers, with the buyers showing willingness to give the environment-friendly vehicles a try.
Nichols said that the car manufacturers have carried out their part in creating electric vehicles that appeal to the consumers in their specifications and designs.
"This 100,000 mark is important because it means there's enough of these cars on the road, in the parking lots, for people to see," Nichols added.
Christine Kehoe, an executive director for the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative, said that the group will look to continue to grow the electric vehicle market in California, which she tags as the global leader for electric vehicle usage.
"This is a significant milestone that we see as a way to let consumers know that EVs are a real choice, that it can work in their daily lives," Kehoe said.
