New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state has surpassed 250,000 electric vehicle (EV) registrations, a milestone he attributes to growing consumer trust in EV reliability and expanded charging infrastructure.
“Over the course of my administration, our policies have taken driving electric from a futuristic concept to a practical choice for drivers – reflected by the exponential growth in registrations,” Murphy said. “By continuing to expand charging infrastructure and cater to consumer preferences by incentivizing electric vehicle purchases, we will reduce the impact of cumulative transportation emissions on our climate for future generations.”
According to data from the Murphy administration, more than 254,444 EVs are now registered with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. This marks a significant increase compared to three years ago. The state currently offers over 1,700 fast charging ports and 3,300 Level 2 charging ports available to the public, with several hundred new chargers being added annually.
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) expressed support for efforts that encourage consumers to switch to electric vehicles through incentives but opposes any mandate requiring exclusive use of EVs or banning gasoline-powered vehicles. Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, highlighted that these gains were achieved without imposing mandates on vehicle choice.
The Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey questioned claims about rising consumer confidence in EVs. They pointed out that hybrid vehicles—those powered by both an electric motor and gasoline engine—outsold plug-in EVs during this period by 16 percent.
“The Governor crows about 'consumer confidence' in electric vehicles (EV) by citing the increased number of EVs registered since December 2024,” said Eric DeGesero, executive vice president of the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey.
“This includes battery electric vehicles (BEV) that use no gasoline and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) which use some gasoline but are primarily powered by electricity. He failed to mention that sales of hybrids – cars that run on an electric motor powered by gasoline and have no plug – outsold BEVs during this same period by 16%."
Hybrid electric vehicles combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor whose battery is charged automatically; they do not require plugging in. Plug-in hybrid vehicles have larger batteries that can be charged externally for longer all-electric operation before switching to gas power. Battery-only EVs operate solely on electricity and must be plugged in for recharging.
DeGesero reported registration figures as of June 30: 217,989 hybrids; 189,603 BEVs; and 55,858 PHEVs.
“It appears consumers aren’t as confident in EVs as the Governor contends,” DeGesero said Tuesday.
