In China, the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is happening at breakneck speed. In 2024, EV sales in the world’s largest auto market grew by more than 40%, while gasoline-powered vehicle sales plummeted. It’s a clear signal that China is rapidly transitioning away from traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The numbers are staggering: EVs accounted for nearly half of all passenger car sales in China, a trend that’s causing a global ripple effect as automakers scramble to catch up.

But what about the United States? While EV adoption is undoubtedly growing in America, the sales figures tell a very different story. Unlike China, where government policies, infrastructure, and consumer sentiment are driving an EV-dominated future, the U.S. auto market has unique challenges that make a similar trajectory unlikely in the near term – or perhaps even in our lifetime.

China vs. the U.S. – The Numbers Paint a Stark Contrast

In 2024, China sold 31.4 million vehicles, with EVs making up a significant portion of those sales. Meanwhile, gasoline-powered vehicle sales in China fell by 17%, a shift that reflects not just consumer preference but also the government’s aggressive push for new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include battery EVs, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell cars. Subsidies, incentives, and an expansive charging infrastructure have propelled China’s EV industry to global dominance.

In the United States, however, the story is different. According to recent data from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), EVs accounted for just 7.6% of new vehicle sales in the first half of 2024, a modest increase from 5.6% in 2023. Gasoline-powered vehicles still dominate the U.S. market, with ICE cars making up more than 85% of total sales.

Why the disparity? It boils down to three key factors: policy, infrastructure, and consumer habits.

The Policy Gap

China’s rapid EV adoption is largely driven by government intervention. Generous subsidies for EV buyers, strict emissions regulations, and quotas for automakers have all combined to create an environment where EVs are not just an option but, for many, the default choice. Additionally, China’s major cities have policies that restrict the use of gasoline cars, such as license plate lotteries that favor EVs.

In contrast, the U.S. has taken a more piecemeal approach. While federal incentives like the EV tax credit have helped boost EV sales, they lack the scale and consistency of China’s subsidies. Moreover, there’s a political divide over EV adoption in the U.S., with some states, such as California, pushing for aggressive zero-emission goals while others remain focused on traditional energy sources.

The recent Inflation Reduction Act aims to bolster EV production and adoption in the U.S., but its impact has been limited so far. Unlike China, the American market doesn’t have a unified, nationwide push for electrification.

Infrastructure is the Achilles’ Heel of U.S. EV Adoption

Another major hurdle for EV growth in the U.S. is infrastructure. While China has built an extensive network of charging stations to support its EV boom, the U.S. is still playing catch-up. Range anxiety remains a significant barrier for many American consumers, particularly in rural areas where charging stations are few and far between.

In 2024, the U.S. had just over 140,000 public charging stations, compared to more than 5.2 million in China. Even with initiatives to expand the charging network, such as Tesla opening up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, it will take years for the U.S. to match China’s infrastructure capabilities.

Consumer Habits – Bigger Cars, Bigger Challenges

American car buyers also have different preferences compared to their Chinese counterparts. SUVs and trucks dominate the U.S. market, and while EV options in these segments are growing, they still account for a small fraction of total sales. For example, the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and other electric trucks are making waves, but traditional gas-powered trucks like the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado continue to outsell them by a wide margin.

Additionally, EVs remain more expensive upfront than their gasoline counterparts, despite lower long-term operating costs. For many American consumers, particularly in lower-income brackets, the higher sticker price of EVs is a dealbreaker.

Could the U.S. Follow China’s Path?

The big question is whether the U.S. will ever see a time when EV sales overtake gas-powered vehicle sales, as is happening in China. The answer is complicated.

On one hand, automakers are investing heavily in electrification. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis have all announced plans to go fully electric in the coming decades. Meanwhile, Tesla continues to dominate the EV market in the U.S., and newcomers like Rivian and Lucid are challenging the status quo.

On the other hand, systemic barriers remain. The U.S. is geographically vast, with driving habits and infrastructure needs that differ greatly from those in China or Europe. Highways stretch for miles through rural areas, where charging stations are scarce, and many Americans drive longer distances on a daily basis. Until these challenges are addressed, it’s hard to imagine EVs overtaking gas-powered vehicles anytime soon.

Will We See an EV-Dominated Market in Our Lifetime?

While EV sales will undoubtedly continue to grow in the U.S., a complete flip to an EV-dominated market is unlikely in the next few decades. Gasoline-powered vehicles still have a stronghold, thanks to consumer habits, infrastructure limitations, and a lack of unified policy.

However, it’s worth noting that change often happens faster than we expect. Ten years ago, few would have predicted that Tesla would become the most valuable automaker in the world or that traditional automakers would commit to going all-electric. If the U.S. can overcome its infrastructure and policy challenges, we could see a tipping point – though it’s unlikely to happen on the scale or timeline we’re seeing in China.

For now, the U.S. remains a nation of gasoline cars, but the winds of change are blowing. Whether those winds turn into a full-blown EV revolution in our lifetime remains to be seen.