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Electric vehicles took the US auto market by storm in 2022 and for good reason. Demand for zero-emission EVs has never been higher. Check out the top ten best-selling electric vehicles of 2022, and learn why they earned a spot on the list.

What are the best-selling electric vehicles of 2022?

While the broader US auto market slumped this past year, electric vehicles were a bright spot. Automakers more than doubled their investments to catch EV pioneer Tesla and solidify their futures.

Fully electric vehicle sales reached over 800,000 in the United States, nearly doubling from 2021 to reach almost 6% overall market share, according to the latest figures from Motor Intelligence.

A significant reason for the uptick in demand is due to additional EV models available on the market. On top of this, new government incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August, provide buyers with up to $7,500 for new EVs and up to $4,000 for used ones.

Tesla remains on top by a far margin, accounting for 65% of total EV sales in the United States in 2022. However, other automakers that were fast to react to the rapidly evolving market, like Ford, Hyundai, and GM, are beginning to claim their shares.

Ford sold 61,575 electric vehicles in 2022, claiming the second-largest US EV marker. Hyundai and Kia both set sales records last year due to strong demand for their electric models as the brands gear up for an even bigger 2023.

Meanwhile, GM says it had the “#1 mainstream EV in Q3 and Q4” (we assume not counting Tesla) in their most recent sales update. So, what are the best-selling electric vehicles driving the success? Here’s a list of the top ten EVs sold in the United States and why they earned a spot on the list.

#10 Ford F-150 Lightning

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Ford F-150 Lightning Source: Ford

Ford raced its way to becoming the US’s second best-selling EV maker last year by converting its legendary brands into fully electric powerhouses.

It started with the Mustang Mach-E (which also made the list) as Ford later converted its best-selling F-series to meet the demands of the new EV era.

The F-150 Lightning was revealed to the world in May 2021 and, by the end of the year, already had over 200,000 reservations or three years of backlog. After ramping production, the Ford F-150 Lightning became the number one electric truck in the United States in December and best selling since its release in May.

The electric pickup offers ample storage with a 14.1 cubic ft Mega-Power Frunk and advanced capabilities like onboard power that can be used to power home essentials, a campsite, or workstation, etc.

Ford’s electric truck is capable enough for those looking to switch from its gas-powered peers while gaining a massive tech upgrade.

#9 Volkswagen ID.4

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Volkswagen ID.4 Source: VW

Volkswagen sold 20,511 ID.4’s in the United States last year as demand for VW’s first all-electric SUV continued building.

The VW ID.4, based on the MEB platform, began production in 2020 and has since risen to become one of the top-selling EVs as a practical everyday SUV with plenty of range (up to 275 miles EPA estimated range) for your daily travels. With a starting price of less than $40,000, the ID.4 gives you that luxury feel without paying the premium.

On top of this, the EV includes VW’s advanced driver assistance tech called IQ.DRIVE, featuring travel assist, adaptive cruise control, active blind spot monitor, front assist, and more.

Volkswagen’s ID.4 makes a great first EV for those looking for a roomy, safe vehicle for a decent starting price.

#8 Kia EV6

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Kia EV6 Source: Kia

Kia hit the ground running in one of the most impressive brand transformations the auto industry has seen for some time. The automaker’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the Kia EV6, has a sharp style and is fun to drive with surprising performance.

Sitting on The Hyundai Motor Company’s E-GMP platform, the EV6 was revealed by Kia in May 2021. It’s an all-electric sport crossover fit for the modern era.

The Kia EV6 comes with up to 310 miles range, 18 min fast charging (10% to 80%), vehicle-to-load capabilities, and much more. For those who like a little more thrill out of their ride, the Kia EV6 GT comes loaded with 576 hp, enough to beat a Ferrari and Lamborghini in a race.

#7 Hyundai IONIQ 5

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Hyundai IONIQ 5 Source: Hyundai

Hyundai, who owns a controlling interest in Kia, has also successfully broken into the EV market, introducing its “game-changing” IONIQ 5 SUV.

Introduced in February 2021, the bold, futuristic-looking IONIQ 5 has already won several awards, capturing the hearts of many drivers making the switch to fully electric. The IONIQ 5 also sits on the E-GMP platform as Hyundai reimagined every detail for its first dedicated EV.

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 is another practical SUV, like the ID.4 and EV6, with up to 303 miles EPA range for a decent starting price.

#6 Tesla Model X

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Tesla Model X Source: Tesla

Tesla still has a massive lead in terms of production capabilities, and its first SUV, the Model X, continues seeing strong demand despite smaller, more affordable Tesla models being launched.

The Model X is the largest EV in Tesla’s lineup (excluding Cybertruck and Semi) and sports long-range capabilities (348 mile EPA range), AWD dual motor, a sizeable 7-seat interior, 88 cu ft cargo space, and 5,000 lbs towing capacity.

With over 1,020 hp peak power, the Model X Plaid is the quickest accelerating of any SUV (0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds) and still offers 333 EPA estimated range.

For a while, the Model X was the go-to electric family car, but with more cost-effective options hitting the market, many wondered if sales would slow. For now, the Model X continues its reign.

#5 Chevy Bolt EV/EUV

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Chevy Bolt EUV Source: Chevrolet

The Chevy Bolt EV and EUV models had a massive year in 2022 despite resuming production in April due to a recall in 2021.

GM said the Chevy Bolt was the “number 1 mainstream EV in the Q3 and Q4,” ending the year on a high note. With a starting price of just over $25,000, the Bolt EV is the cheapest electric vehicle in the US, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less functional.

The Chevy Bolt EV is quick, fun to drive, and still offers a decent range (259-mile EPA range) which is why it won Electrek’s vehicle of the year in 2022.

#4 Tesla Model S

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Tesla Model S Source: Tesla

The Tesla Model S speaks for itself. It’s super sleek, offers ultra-long-range capabilities (405 miles EPA est), and features unparalleled performance.

The all-electric luxury Model S sedan was a primary driver behind the mainstream EV movement with quick acceleration (0 to 60 in 3.1 seconds), extended range, and confident handling.

It also features ample storage and a modern interior, making it a practical drive and still one of the best luxury EVs on the market, with a starting price of $104,990.

#3 Ford Mustang Mach-E

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Source: Ford

Ford is another legacy automaker that embraced the electric vehicle movement, carrying its iconic Mustang brand into the new EV era.

The Mustang Mach-E was introduced in 2019 and has steadily gained momentum since. The five-seat SUV starts at $46,895, offering a smooth, quiet ride with ample range.

Ford’s Mach-E features a spacious interior, over-the-air software updates, and advanced safety features. Furthermore, with several different trims offering a mix of range and performance capabilities, you are sure to find the right model for you.

#2 Tesla Model 3

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Tesla Model 3 Source: Tesla

Tesla introduced the Model 3 to reduce the entry price to own an electric vehicle without sacrificing range or performance.

Customers began receiving their Model 3s in 2018, and the model quickly became the best-selling electric vehicle at the time. The Tesla Model 3 offers the same Tesla spirit, with plenty of power and superior handling.

The four-door EV is built for safety, achieving a five-star NHTSA rating in every category, quick acceleration (0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds), long-range capabilities (358-mile EPA range), and a starting price of $46,990.

#1 Tesla Model Y

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Tesla Model Y Source: Tesla

The Model 3 was the best-selling electric vehicle, of course, until the Model Y hit the market.

The Tesla Model Y began rolling out in 2020 and has exploded in popularity ever since. After edging out gas-powered vehicles in Europe for the best-selling car title, the Model Y looks to do the same in the United States, already placing among the top ten overall vehicle sales. In fact, the Tesla Model Y is on its way to becoming the top-selling car globally, and for good reason.

Tesla’s Model Y comes with an AWD dual motor, 76 cu ft storage, and 330-mile range, all for a starting price of $65,990.

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This battery pack makes Tesla Roadster 400 lbs lighter, but it ain’t cheap

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This battery pack makes Tesla Roadster 400 lbs lighter, but it ain't cheap

A battery pack manufacturer has released a new solution for Tesla Roadster with aging battery packs. It would slash the car’s weight by about 400 lbs, but it’s not cheap.

In many ways, the Tesla Roadster sparked the electric vehicle revolution.

It was the first commercially available consumer EV with lithium battery cells – enabling over 200 miles of range on a single charge.

The vehicle had comparable or better performance than many other gas-powered vehicles in its segment.

The Roadster had its problem. It was a suboptimal solution as it was still heavily based on the Lotus Elise and not designed from the ground up to be electric, but it did its job as a proof-of-concept.

Tesla only manufactured about 2,000 of them between 2008 and 2011 before moving on to the Model S and other vehicle programs that were built to be electric from the ground up.

Despite being 13 to 16 years old, many Roadsters are still doing well. Electrek’s own Jamie Dow drives his daily. That’s despite Tesla not doing anything with the Roadster program since 2017 when it launched the Roadster 3.0 replacement pack.

Battery technology has improved a lot since then, and a company has decided to take advantage of that and offer a new battery pack for Tesla Roadster owners.

re/cell, a Texas-based supplier of remanufactured battery packs for EVs, has unveiled a new Roadster battery pack that aims to slash hundreds of pounds off of the sports car.

Unlike Tesla’s latest vehicles, which are equipped with skateboard-like platform battery packs, the Roadster has a pack that sits behind the seats in the back and the modules are in the shape seen above.

It does cause problems with balancing the weight of the vehicle.

The pack is able to achieve the Roadster’s peak power output, but it should be a lot more fun to drive by shaving up to 400 lbs off of the car’s original 2,877 lb (1,305 kg) weight.

It does come with a lower energy capacity than the original 53 kWh, but you should be able to achieve very similar range (over 220 miles) thanks to the efficiency gain from the weight loss.

Here are the full specs of re/cell’s new Roadster battery replacement pack:

  • Peak Power Output: 260 kW / 285 kW
  • Weight Savings: up to 400 lbs / 180 kg
  • Volume Savings: 3.7 cu ft / 100 liters
  • Energy Capacity: 38 kWh / 47 kWh
  • Rated Range: 220-240 miles / 350-390 km
  • Cell Type: 18650 / 3500 mAh
  • Cell Configuration: 31p99s / 39p99s

re/cell describes some of the improvements that they were able to make to the pack:

The revolutionary cooling-block design is a single-piece molded core with Palladium-class cooling ribbons for improved cooling and temperature management. The contact area for heat transfer is 50x larger than the cooling tubes used in the original Roadster sheets and the overall surface area for cooling and heating is now more than double. No more vacant cooling voids allowing for hot spots or uneven cooling or heating – the entire cell is now fully encapsulated and temperature controlled!

However, this offer is not going to be for everyone since Roadster owners need to be willing to invest $28,000 in their aging vehicle, which is the price of the pack if you give your existing pack to re/cell.

Interestingly, the company is also thinking about offering other upgrades that can be enabled by space freed up by the new pack.

For example, re/cell believes it would be easier to make the pack capable of DC fast-charging. liquid cooling for the PEM and Motor 

Electrek’s Take

I really enjoyed driving the Roadster 3.0, and I’d be curious to see how much better it would handle with 14% less weight.

There are just no other electric vehicles out there that weigh just 2,400 lbs. Even a Fiat 500e weighs nearly 3,000 lbs.

I can’t wait for small electric sports cars around 2,500 lbs. They should be so much fun and it sounds like this, despite not being designed from the ground up for it, could be an interesting preview.

And there’s not better way to power your electric sports car than with solar. If you want to make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar – whether you’re a homeowner or renter. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, including some who install Tesla products like Powerwalls. They ensure you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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GM is offering $1,000 off select Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EV models for Veterans Day

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GM is offering ,000 off select Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EV models for Veterans Day

GM is honoring those who served our country with a new incentive to go electric. For Veterans Day and through November, GM is offering $1,000 off select Chevy, Cadillac, and GMC EV models. Here’s how you can score some savings this month.

GM EV offers for Veterans Day and November 2024

GM launched a new military appreciation offer this month, offering $1,000 off on select electric models to those who served.

The offer is good on most 2023, 2024, and 2025 electric models from GM’s Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac brands. Electric models included in the deal include the following:

  • 2023, 2024, and 2025 GMC Hummer EV
  • 2023, 2024, and 2025 Cadillac Lyriq
  • 2024, 2025 Chevy Blazer EV
  • 2024, 2025 Chevy Equinox EV
  • 2024, 2025 Chevy Silverado EV
  • 2024, 2025 GMC Sierra EV

Those interested can select their vehicle on GM’s Military Appreciation page. You will then be sent an authorization number, which you can use at a GM dealer.

The program includes Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard members, and Retirees of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. To validate your military status, you will need to register through ID.me.

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Chevy Blazer EV (left), Chevy Equinox EV (middle), Chevy Silverado EV (right) (Source: GM)

GM claims it has “the most inclusive military offer from any car company.” After selling a record 32,000 EVs last quarter, GM topped Ford to become America’s number two seller of electric vehicles.

Earlier today, GM announced EV sales in the US broke the 300,000 mark last month since 2016. The company said the sales surge is due to key new models rolling out.

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Chevy Silverado EV LT trim (Source: Chevrolet)

With the lower-priced 2025 Chevy Equinox EV and Silverado EV LT models now arriving at dealerships, GM is poised to see even more demand going into next year.

For non-military members, GM still offers some of the most affordable EVs on the market. You can use our links below to find the best deals on GM’s all-electric models at a dealer near you.

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Coinbase, a16z and others pour more than $78 million into pro-crypto PAC for 2026 election

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Coinbase, a16z and others pour more than  million into pro-crypto PAC for 2026 election

Crypto donor Chris Larsen on why he's giving millions to the Harris campaign

With one day to go until the U.S. general election, crypto companies have already poured tens of millions of dollars into the upcoming 2026 cycle. The pro-crypto and bipartisan super PAC Fairshake said Monday that the committee and its affiliates have raised $78 million for the 2026 midterm elections.

That $78 million breaks down to more than $30 million raised, plus another $48 million in new commitments from centralized crypto exchange Coinbase and Silicon Valley venture fund Andreessen Horowitz, among other companies.

Early Monday, a16z general partner Chris Dixon, who heads up the fund’s crypto book, published a note explaining why the company contributed another $23 million to Fairshake.

“Regardless of what happens in the 2024 elections, we’re committed to supporting policymakers, irrespective of party affiliation, who will work to establish a practical regulatory framework that protects consumers while allowing the industry to grow,” the letter read.

Dixon added that “supporting a PAC like Fairshake is just one crucial part of the strategy needed to achieve our larger policy goals” and that a16z would continue to meet with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advocate for the industry.

All in, a16z has given $70 million to Fairshake as the VC looks to support the PAC’s larger mission of building a Congress comprised of pro-crypto legislators.

On Wednesday, Coinbase announced it would give another $25 million to Fairshake.

Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission over claims that it engaged in unregistered sales of securities. It’s among Fairshake’s top contributors this cycle. The exchange has given more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliated PACs.

“We know we need to have pro-crypto legislation passed in this country,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Coinbase shares plummeted 15% after the company reported a miss on the top and bottom lines.

Ripple Labs is another major political donor this cycle that has given around $50 million to Fairshake. A spokesperson said the company committed $25 million both this year and last year and intends to remain a strong force in DC for years to come.

Coinbase's legal chief on crypto's 2024 election spending

Fairshake told CNBC it’s raised around $170 million this cycle and disbursed approximately $135 million.

The majority of the group’s funds can be traced to Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz and Ripple Labs. The remaining balance comes from a mix of companies and individual donors. Armstrong, for example, gave $1 million, while the Winklevoss twins put in $5 million.

Fairshake was launched last year by a consortium of crypto firms and is one of the top-spending PACs in 2024, even against oil companies and banks, which have historically been big political contributors. Nearly half of all the corporate money flowing into the election has come from the crypto industry, according to a report from the nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen. 

Fairshake’s spending, which has targeted House and Senate races in the 2024 cycle, is effective. Public Citizen’s report found that of the 42 primary races that attracted money from crypto-backed super PACs, 36 were won by the candidate supported by the crypto industry.

Fairshake’s corporate and individual donors want crypto laws passed in the U.S.

Dixon and others say they’re looking for comprehensive market structure legislation for digital assets and a law to govern stablecoins, tokens pegged to the value of a real-world asset that are now virtually synonymous with U.S. dollar-pegged coins.

“Many industries come to DC asking to roll back rules, and we have come to DC asking to establish them,” Dixon wrote in his post Monday.

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Crypto climbs and bitcoin nears all-time high ahead of U.S. election

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