Electric Vehicle Prices Price History
2011–2025 · Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive
The average transaction price of a new battery-electric vehicle in the United States, tracked from 2011 to 2025. Electric cars started out expensive, got a bit cheaper as the market matured, then suddenly got a lot more expensive when demand surged during the pandemic. The price spike peaked in 2022 when the average EV sold for over $65,000 — well out of reach for most households. Since then, a brutal price war led by Tesla and growing competition from legacy automakers has pulled the average back toward $48,500, making EVs more accessible than they have been in years.
Price in 2011
$44,200.00
Price in 2025
$48,500.00
Total Change
+9.7%
Years Tracked
14
Electric Vehicle Prices Over Time
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- EV prices actually fell steadily from 2011 to 2015, dropping from $44,200 to $39,800, as Tesla ramped production and the Nissan Leaf brought a more affordable option to market. Those early gains in affordability gave people hope that EVs would keep getting cheaper.
- The 2022 price spike to $65,100 was jarring — driven by lithium and battery material shortages, limited inventory, and overwhelming demand that let dealers charge massive markups. Some popular models were selling for $10,000 or more above sticker price.
- The correction since 2022 has been dramatic. Tesla kicked off an aggressive price war in early 2023, and the average EV transaction price has fallen roughly 25% in under three years, from $65,100 to about $48,500 by 2025.
- Despite recent price drops, EVs are still about $1,000 cheaper than the average new car overall in 2025 when you factor in federal tax credits. That is a huge shift from just a few years ago when EVs carried a substantial premium over gas-powered vehicles.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (USD) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | $44,200.00 | — |
| 2012 | $42,800.00 | -3.2% |
| 2013 | $41,500.00 | -3.0% |
| 2014 | $40,200.00 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | $39,800.00 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | $40,100.00 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | $41,200.00 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | $42,500.00 | +3.2% |
| 2019 | $45,600.00 | +7.3% |
| 2020 | $49,800.00 | +9.2% |
| 2021 | $53,400.00 | +7.2% |
| 2022 | $65,100.00 | +21.9% |
| 2023 | $52,800.00 | -18.9% |
| 2024 | $50,200.00 | -4.9% |
| 2025 | $48,500.00 | -3.4% |
Sources & Methodology
Average transaction price for new battery-electric vehicles sold in the United States, as tracked by Kelley Blue Book and Cox Automotive. Prices reflect what buyers actually paid at the point of sale, including destination charges and dealer markups or discounts, but excluding federal and state EV tax credits. The dataset covers only fully battery-electric vehicles and excludes plug-in hybrids.
Primary source: Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.