More North Carolinians are buying electric vehicles despite an apparent slowdown in production, according to a new report.

Research from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy shows growth in manufacturing investment and employment has ground to a halt in the Tar Heel State. Stan Cross, electric transportation director for the alliance, points to both a stark change in federal policy over the last year and natural decline as the EV market matures.

He said North Carolina is a leader in the Southeast for building out charging stations for EVs. It's the only state in the region to obligate all its funds from the federal electric vehicle charging program, totaling more than $100 million.

"The state’s really doing a phenomenal job," he said, "and their Department of Transportation has done the work to plan effectively, engage community, and deploy what’s likely to be a really great example of a good backbone of fast-charging infrastructure across the state."

Electric vehicle tax credits, previously set to run through 2032, were ended last September following the passage of President Donald Trump’s budget bill. Republicans in Congress argued the tax credits unfairly propped up the EV industry.

After the tax credits expired, EV sales in the Southeast dropped by nearly half, but early indicators show it may be rebounding. However, Cross argued the electric vehicle market is a major area of potential growth and job creation. He urged lawmakers at the federal level to stop the politicization of electric vehicles.

"Congressmen and women who represent districts here in the Southeast need to be really bringing the needs and aspirations of their constituents to Washington," he said, "and making sure that this political hot potato that electric transportation has become cools down. It is to nobody’s interest for EVs to be politicized."

North Carolina saw 22% growth in total electric-vehicle charging ports in 2025.

Source: Public News Service