ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE ADOPTION GROWS 137% IN FIVE YEARS
Tracking the vehicle population can help a community understand its growing or declining reliance on cars, especially when viewed in relation to trends in public transit (see Transit indicator). Tracking the growth in alternative fuel cars helps illustrate the region’s contribution to statewide goals for reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and promotes dialogue on infrastructure that may be needed to support the growth of alternative fuel cars, such as electric vehicle charging stations or hydrogen fuel stations. This indicator measures the population of light-duty cars and trucks powered by any type of fuel as well as a special focus on gasoline hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, and fuel cell powered vehicles.
TREND
Over the past 15 years, the vehicle population in San Bernardino County increased 46% compared to a 33% increase statewide. That growth has flattened considerably in the last five years, with annual fluctuations between -1% and 1%. As of 2025, there were 1,635,220 vehicles “on the road” in San Bernardino County, which is approximately 17,430 more vehicles than in 2024 and 512,276 more than in 2011.
NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD RELATIVELY STABLE IN RECENT YEARS
Vehicle Population in San Bernardino County, 2011-2025
The rapid adoption of alternative fuel vehicles continued in 2025, with San Bernardino County residents adding 30,812 electric, fuel cell, plug-in hybrid, or gasoline hybrid vehicles in a single year. This represents a one-year growth rate of 22% with the adoption of electric vehicles leading the way, posting one-year growth of 25%. These four fuel types (electric, fuel cell, plug-in hybrid, or gasoline hybrid) made up approximately 10% of the total population of San Bernardino County light-duty cars and trucks in 2025. These four fuel types make up 15% of the total California vehicle population.
STEADY GROWTH IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE ADOPTION
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Population by Type in San Bernardino County, 2021-2025
FOSSIL FUEL-ONLY VEHICLES COMPRISE 90% OF ALL SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY VEHICLES
Vehicle Population by Type of Fuel in San Bernardino County, 2025
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Definitions
Gasoline Hybrid: Hybrid vehicles have both an electric motor and internal combustion engine, therefore use battery-powered electricity and gasoline or diesel in tandem for power.
Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV): Unlike conventional gasoline hybrids, in a plug-in hybrid the batteries can be charged by plugging into an outlet.
Battery Electric (BEV): These vehicles run exclusively on electricity via on-board batteries that are charged by plugging into an outlet or charging station. They have no gasoline engine, longer electric driving ranges compared to plug-in hybrids, and do not produce tailpipe emissions (though there are emissions associated with charging these vehicles).
Fuel Cell (FCEV): A fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. The electricity from the fuel cell then powers an electric motor, which powers the vehicle. The only byproduct of fuel cell electric vehicles is water.