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Sales of electric vehicles continue to rise but low gasoline prices are threatening to stall progress.

From January through September of this year, sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) reached a听. That鈥檚 a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2013. That figure is also nearly triple the 31,377 PHEVs and BEVs sold in 2012.

There are now 255,766 plug-in and full electric vehicles on U.S. roads. It鈥檚 far from President Barack Obama鈥檚 goal of putting听, but the sector is finally picking up steam.

Including hybrids, which are much more established than electric vehicles, the 鈥渆lectric drive market share鈥� now makes up 3.59 percent of the total car market in the United States, according to the听. ()

The growing market share for electric vehicles is largely attributable to declining costs. Electric vehicles are quickly becoming more affordable, and vehicle sales are rising correspondingly.

In 2013, the Nissan Leaf听听by $6,500, to $28,800. The 2014 Chevy Volt is also selling听, with a starting price of $34,995. The thrifty听听is now selling at $22,995, or $6,130 less than it used to.

Ford is the most recent price cutter. The Detroit automaker announced that its听听will now sell for $6,000 less, coming in at $29,995. That鈥檚 after a $4,000 price reduction in 2013. 听

Most of these prices are still relatively high compared to conventional combustion engine cars, but there is also a $7,500 federal tax credit to help defray costs. That allows the lower-end Mitsubishi i-MiEV to sell for $15,495 after rebate. Then there are a slew of state tax incentives that could help buyers further.

But car companies may also be cutting EV prices because demand for them remains relatively听听compared to the broader auto market. Growth in sales may be brisk, but it is starting from a low base.

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To make matters worse for the sector, gasoline prices are rapidly dropping due to the slump in crude oil prices. Gas prices across the country averaged听听on Oct. 23 --16 percent lower than the $3.68 per gallon average around the听.

Ironically, President Obama鈥檚 goal for putting 1 million electric vehicles on the road by next year is being slightly undermined by one of the signature achievements of his presidency: the historic听听he put in place in his first term. His administration is requiring automakers meet an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016, and 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Automakers have responded by making traditional combustion engine vehicles much more efficient. This reduces the pain at the pump for the average driver, but it also shrinks the benefit that drivers gain by purchasing electric vehicles instead of conventional ones. ()

The U.S. does not have the most hospitable environment for EVs compared to other countries. Just take a look at Norway, arguably the听听for electric vehicles, according to The Energy Collective. That is because gasoline prices are high, electricity prices are low, electric vehicles are exempted from steep taxes placed on other cars, and Norway has invested heavily in public charging stations for EVs. Add in additional benefits for electric vehicle owners, such as being exempt from parking fees and tolls, and EVs become as affordable as traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

And the receptive environment has yielded success 鈥� EVs captured听听of the auto market in Norway in September, and four EV models are among the country鈥檚 top 20 selling cars.

But for the United States, many of those conditions are not replicable. Congress can鈥檛 even bring itself to index the federal gas tax to inflation, which has been stagnant at听听since 1993, let alone raise it. In Norway, steep taxes mean a gallon of gasoline costs听, the most expensive on the planet.

The EV market will continue to grow in the United States, but it may quite a long time before an electric vehicle becomes a best seller.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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