Compared with conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, battery electric cars are quieter, more responsive and more energy-efficient, produce no exhaust emissions, and generally have lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions; the size of the climate benefit depends on factors including the vehicle, electricity mix, manufacturing and lifetime use. Due to the superior efficiency of electric motors, electric cars also generate less waste heat, thus reducing the need for engine cooling systems that are often large, complicated and maintenance-prone in ICE vehicles.
In 2023, the Tesla Model Y became the world's best-selling car. The Tesla Model 3 became the world's all-time best-selling electric car in early 2020, and in June 2021 it became the first electric car to pass 1million global sales.
The term "electric car" typically refers specifically to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or all-electric cars, a type of electric vehicle (EV) that has an onboard rechargeable battery pack that can be plugged in and charged from the electric grid, or at home with solar panels, and the electricity stored on the vehicle is the only energy source that provides propulsion for the wheels. The term generally refers to highway-capable automobiles, but there are also low-speed electric vehicles with limitations in terms of weight, power, and maximum speed that are allowed to travel on certain public roads. The latter are classified as Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) in the United States, and as electric motorised quadricycles in Europe.
In 1884, Thomas Parker built an electric car in Wolverhampton, England, using his own specially designed high-capacity rechargeable batteries, although the only documentation is a photograph from 1895.
In 1890, Andrew Morrison introduced the first electric car to the United States.
Electricity was among the preferred methods for automobile propulsion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a level of comfort and an ease of operation that could not be achieved by the era's internal combustion cars. The electric vehicle fleet then peaked at approximately 30,000 vehicles.
Six electric cars held the land speed record in the 19th century. The last was the rocket-shaped La Jamais Contente, driven by Camille Jenatzy, which broke the 100km/h (62mph) speed barrier by reaching a top speed of 105.88km/h (65.79mph) in 1899.
Electric cars remained popular until advances in internal-combustion engine (ICE) cars left them behind. At the time, the shorter refueling times and lower production costs of ICE vehicles made them more attractive to consumers than electric cars. A decisive moment came with the 1912 introduction of the electric starter motor that replaced laborious and dangerous methods such as hand-cranking.
Gustave Trouvé's personal electric vehicle (1881), the world's first publicly presented full-scale electric car powered by an improved Siemens motor
In the early 1990s the California Air Resources Board began to push for lower-emissions vehicles, with the ultimate goal of zero-emissions vehicles. Automakers responded with electric models, although they were later withdrawn.
California electric-automaker Tesla Motors began development in 2004 of what became the Tesla Roadster, first delivered to customers in 2008. The Roadster was the first highway-legal all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, and the first production all-electric car to travel more than 320km (200 miles) per charge.
The 2009 Mitsubishi i-MiEV was the first highway-legal series production electric car, and the first to sell more than 10,000 units. The Nissan Leaf, launched in 2010, quickly surpassed it as the best-selling all-electric car.
In 2008, advances in battery technology, and the desire to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and improve urban air quality increased interest in EVs. During the 2010s, EVs in China expanded rapidly with government support.
In July 2019 Motor Trend awarded the Tesla Model S the title "ultimate car of the year". In March 2020 the Tesla Model 3 passed the Nissan Leaf to become the best-selling electric car, with more than 500,000 units delivered; it reached 1million units in June 2021.
In 2021, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation reported that the 187,000 sales of electric vehicles accounted for 6% of US light-duty vehicles. California led the United States with nearly 40% of purchases, followed by Florida with 6%, Texas with 5% and New York with 4.4%.
Economics
EVs typically have a much lower cost of ownership than ICE vehicles. Early differences in purchase cost have shrunk due to intense competitive pressures.
Total cost of ownership
Generally, electricity costs less than petrol per kilometre travelled, although petrol and electricity prices vary dramatically by location, origin and even time of day. Petrol prices are affected by taxes and fuel formulation, while electricity can come from sources such as rooftop solar or the electric grid. EV motors are far more efficient than internal combustion engines, which convert at least 60% of the energy they consume into heat rather than propulsion.
The greater the distance driven per year, the more likely the total cost of ownership for an EV is less than for an equivalent ICE car.
EV drivers can save approximately 50% on maintenance and repair costs because EVs have a simpler mechanical structure and fewer moving parts than ICE vehicles.
Battery replacement
The risk of an out-of-warranty battery replacement represents the greatest source of long-term financial uncertainty for EV owners. Replacement battery packs typically cost between $5,000 and $16,000, depending on the pack size and manufacturer. In large, high-capacity trucks, replacement quotes have been reported to approach $47,000, e.g., for the Long Range Ford F-150 Lightning.
Battery replacement events are rare, and batteries have achieved greater durability than anticipated. EV batteries often outlast vehicle lifetimes with minimal degradation. Industry standard warranties cover batteries for 8 years or 100,000 miles, guaranteeing minimum capacity retention, typically at 70%.
Purchase cost
In 2024, electric cars were typically somewhat more expensive to purchase than ICE cars. That year saw a few categories where new electric cars were cheaper upfront than ICE vehicles. For instance, small EVs in China were roughly half the price of small petrol cars. Electric SUVs became cheaper than petrol ones for the first time in 2024 in China. In 2026, EVs in the UK had become cheaper to buy than petrol cars.
The largest cost item of an electric car is its battery. Battery prices decreased from €605 per kWh in 2010, to €170 in 2017, to €100 in 2019. LFP batteries are cheaper than the more powerful NCM cells.
Survey results showing that for American and European respondents, price is the main barrier to buying an electric vehicle
Across their full life cycle, battery electric cars generally cause substantially fewer greenhouse gas emissions than comparable petrol or diesel cars under present conditions in most regions. They are not emission-free: battery and vehicle production usually causes more emissions than production of a comparable combustion car, but the more efficient drivetrain and lower emissions from supplying electricity normally more than offset this during use.
The size of the advantage depends mainly on vehicle and battery size, energy consumption, the electricity mix and lifetime distance travelled. A 2025 assessment of cars sold in the European Union estimated that battery electric cars produced 73% fewer life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than petrol cars, while a vehicle-level study covering the 2023 United States light-duty market estimated a 65% reduction relative to combustion vehicles. These figures are not universal values, because they describe different vehicle markets and depend on assumptions about future electricity generation, battery production, vehicle life and real-world energy use.
In a peer-reviewed prospective assessment of 5,000 paired vehicle configurations across 16 regions, battery electric cars had a lower carbon footprint than hybrid cars in 99% of cases, with mean reductions of 32% to 47% across different energy-transition pathways. Multi-country studies find that exceptions occur mainly where electricity is highly carbon-intensive or a car is driven too little to recover the additional emissions from battery production. Across recent assessments, this emissions break-even point ranged from about 17,000 to 70,000km depending on the vehicles and assumptions; after that point the cumulative climate advantage normally increases with further driving. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change therefore identifies electric vehicles powered by low-emissions electricity as the land-based transport technology with the greatest potential for reducing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
Other environmental effects
Electric cars produce no tailpipe exhaust emissions during operation, reducing local exposure to nitrogen oxides and exhaust particles. Tyre and road wear particles remain, while regenerative braking generally reduces brake wear.
A lower carbon footprint does not mean that an electric car has lower impacts in every environmental category. In a comprehensive German government study, a representative battery electric compact car first registered in 2020 performed better than a petrol car for greenhouse gas emissions and cumulative energy demand, but worse for acidification, aquatic eutrophication and fine-particle formation over its life cycle. These disadvantages were driven mainly by battery production and coal-based electricity and declined in scenarios with cleaner electricity and manufacturing. Battery electric cars also require additional materials such as lithium and graphite and, depending on battery chemistry, nickel and cobalt. Smaller and lighter vehicles, appropriately sized and long-lived batteries, cleaner cell production and high-quality recycling reduce both climate and resource impacts.
Replacing a combustion car with an electric one therefore usually produces a substantial and growing climate benefit, but it does not remove the environmental costs of manufacturing cars, road use or motorised travel. Where practical, walking, cycling, public transport and reducing unnecessary travel can further reduce energy use and environmental impacts beyond those achieved by changing the powertrain.
Performance
Drivetrain
Typical "skateboard" layout with the battery as floor and a motor at one or both axles
Electric motors provide high power-to-weight ratios. Electric motors can provide high torque from a standing start. Most EVs use fixed-ratio gearboxes and have no clutch.
Electric cars can achieve faster acceleration than commercial ICE cars, due to reduced drivetrain frictional losses and the motor's uniform torque at low speeds.
Energy efficiency of electric cars in towns and on motorways according to the DoE
Internal combustion engines have thermodynamic limits on efficiency, expressed as the fraction of energy used to propel the vehicle compared to energy produced by burning the fuel. Petrol engines effectively use only 15% of the fuel's energy to move the vehicle or to power accessories; diesel engines can reach on-board efficiency of 20%; electric vehicles convert over 77% of the electrical energy to the wheels. This is partially offset by power required to move the heavy batteries.
Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines in converting energy into propulsion. Some cars with dual motors use one motor for most driving and the second motor for increased power. Regenerative braking, which is most common in electric vehicles, can recover as much as one fifth of the energy normally lost during braking.
Cabin heating and cooling
ICE cars harness waste heat from the engine to provide cabin heating, while electric vehicles use heat pumps or other technologies to control cabin temperature. PTC junction cooling is used, for example, in the 2008 Tesla Roadster.
Some models heat the cabin while the car is plugged in, such as the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Renault Zoe,.
EVs such as the Citroën Berlingo Electrique use an auxiliary heating system such as petrol-fueled units. Cabin cooling can be augmented with solar powerexternal batteries and USB fans or coolers, or by allowing outside air to flow through the car when parked; two models of the 2010 Toyota Prius offer this feature.
EV safety issues are addressed by international standard ISO 6469. This document is divided into three parts:
Energy storage, i.e. the battery
Functional safety and protection against failures
Electrical hazards
Research published in the British Medical Journal in 2024 reported that between 2013 and 2017 in the United Kingdom, electric cars killed pedestrians at twice the rate of ICE vehicles because "they are less audible to pedestrians in urban areas". Some jurisdictions require EVs to generate sounds when moving.
Weight
The batteries make EVs heavier than a comparable ICE vehicle. In a collision, the occupants of a heavy vehicle will, on average, suffer fewer and less serious injuries than the occupants of a lighter vehicle; therefore, the additional weight brings safety benefits to the occupant, while increasing harm to others. On average, an accident will cause about 50% more injuries to the occupants of a 2,000lb (900kg) vehicle than those in a 3,000lb (1,400kg) vehicle. Heavier cars are more dangerous to people outside the car if they hit a pedestrian or another vehicle.
Stability
The battery in skateboard configuration lowers the center of gravity, increasing driving stability, lowering the risk of an accident through loss of control. Additionally, a lower center of gravity provides a greater resistance to roll-over crashes. If there is a separate motor near or in each wheel, this is claimed to be safer due to better handling.
No entry for electric cars (Prague, Czech Republic)
Like their ICE counterparts, electric vehicles can catch fire after a crash or mechanical failure. Plug-in electric vehicle fire incidents have occurred, albeit fewer per distance traveled than ICE vehicles. Some cars' high-voltage systems are designed to shut down automatically in the event of an airbag deployment, and in case of failure firefighters may be trained for manual high-voltage system shutdown. Much more water may be required than for ICE car fires and a thermal imaging camera is recommended to warn of possible re-ignition of battery fires.
Controls
As of 2018[update], most electric cars have similar driving controls to that of a car with a conventional automatic transmission. Even though the motor may be permanently connected to the wheels through a fixed-ratio gear, and no parking pawl may be present, the modes "P" and "N" are often still provided on the selector. In this case, the motor is disabled in "N" and an electrically actuated hand brake provides the "P" mode.
In some cars, the motor will spin slowly to provide a small amount of creep in "D", similar to a traditional automatic transmission car. In many electric cars the creep mode can be turned off if the owner prefers. This assists one pedal driving where the car can often come to a stop by taking a foot off the gas pedal.
When an internal combustion vehicle's accelerator is released, it may slow by engine braking, depending on the type of transmission and mode. EVs are usually equipped with regenerative braking that slows the vehicle and recharges the battery somewhat. Regenerative braking systems also decrease the use of the conventional brakes (similar to engine braking in an ICE vehicle), reducing brake wear and maintenance costs.
Lithium-ion-based batteries are often used for their high power and energy density. Batteries with different chemical compositions are becoming more widely used, such as lithium iron phosphate which is not dependent on nickel and cobalt so can be used to make cheaper batteries and thus cheaper cars.
Comparison of EPA-rated range for model year 2020 electric cars rated up until January 2020
The range of an electric car depends on the number and type of batteries used, and (as with all vehicles), the aerodynamics, weight and type of vehicle, performance requirements, and the weather. Cars marketed for mainly city use are often manufactured with a short range battery to keep them small and light.
Most electric cars are fitted with a display of the expected range. This may take into account how the vehicle is being used and what the battery is powering. However, since factors can vary over the route, the estimate can vary from the actual range. The display allows the driver to make informed choices about driving speed and whether to stop at a charging point en route. Some roadside assistance organizations offer charge trucks to recharge electric cars in case of emergency.
Most electric cars use a wired connection to supply electricity for recharging. Electric vehicle charging plugs are not universal throughout the world. However vehicles using one type of plug are generally able to charge at other types of charging stations through the use of plug adapters.
The Type 2 connector is the most common type of plug, but different versions are used in China and Europe.
Electric cars are usually charged overnight from a home charging station; sometimes known as a charging point, wallbox charger, or simply a charger; in a garage or on the outside of a house. As of 2021[update] typical home chargers are 7kW, but not all include smart charging. Compared to fossil fuel vehicles, the need for charging using public infrastructure is diminished because of the opportunities for home charging; vehicles can be plugged in and begin each day with a full charge. Charging from a standard outlet is also possible but very slow.
Some public charging stations are faster than home chargers, with many supplying direct current to avoid the bottleneck of going through the car's AC to DC converter, as of 2021[update] the fastest being 350kW.
Combined Charging System (CCS) is the most widespread charging standard, whereas the GB/T 27930 standard is used in China, and CHAdeMO in Japan. The United States has no de facto standard, with a mix of CCS, Tesla Superchargers, and CHAdeMO charging stations.
Charging an electric vehicle using public charging stations takes longer than refueling a fossil fuel vehicle. The speed at which a vehicle can recharge depends on the charging station's charging speed and the vehicle's own capacity to receive a charge. As of 2021[update] some cars are 400-volt and some 800-volt. Connecting a vehicle that can accommodate very fast charging to a charging station with a very high rate of charge can refill the vehicle's battery to 80% in 15 to 20 minutes.
Vehicles and charging stations with slower charging speeds may take as long as two hours to refill a battery to 80%. As with a mobile phone, the final 20% takes longer because the systems slow down to fill the battery safely and avoid damaging it.[citation needed]
Some companies are building battery swapping stations, to substantially reduce the effective time to recharge. Some electric cars (for example, the BMW i3) have an optional petrol range extender. The system is intended as an emergency backup to extend range to the next recharging location, and not for long-distance travel.
During peak load periods, when the cost of generation can be very high, electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid capabilities could contribute energy to the grid. These vehicles can then be recharged during off-peak hours at cheaper rates while helping to absorb excess night time generation. The batteries in the vehicles serve as a distributed storage system to buffer power.
A 2022 report from Stanford University questioned the wisdom of charging electric vehicles at night.
As with all lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicle batteries may degrade over long periods of time, especially if they are frequently charged to 100%; however, this may take at least several years before being noticeable. A typical warranty is 8 years or 100,000mi (160,000km), but for non-professional drivers mileage may not be relevant, and the batteries usually last much longer, perhaps 15 to 20 years in the car and then more years in another use.
Currently available electric cars
Share of new cars sold that are battery-electric and plug-in hybrid, 2010 to 2023 for selected countries
Tesla was the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer from December 2019 to 2023. Its Model S was the world's top selling plug-in electric car in 2015 and 2016, its Model 3 has been the world's best selling plug-in electric car for four consecutive years, from 2018 to 2021, and the Model Y was the top selling plug-in car in 2022. The Tesla Model 3 surpassed the Leaf in early 2020 to become the world's cumulative best selling electric car. Tesla produced its 1millionth electric car in March 2020, becoming the first auto manufacturer to do so, and in June 2021, the Model 3 became the first electric car to pass 1million sales. Tesla has been listed as the world's top selling plug-in electric car manufacturer, both as a brand and by automotive group for four years running, from 2018 to 2021. At the end of 2021, Tesla's global cumulative sales since 2012 totaled 2.3million units, with 936,222 of those delivered in 2021.
BYD Auto is another leading electric vehicle manufacturer, with the majority of its sales coming from China. From 2018 to 2023, BYD produced nearly 3.18 million purely plug-in electric car, with 1,574,822 of those were produced in 2023 alone. In the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD surpassed Tesla as the top-selling electric vehicle manufacturer by selling 526,409 battery electric cars, while Tesla delivered 484,507 vehicles.
As of December2021[update], the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance was listed as one of major all-electric vehicle manufacturers, with global all-electric vehicle sales totaling over 1million light-duty electric vehicles, including those manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors since 2009. Nissan leads global sales within the Alliance, with 1million cars and vans sold by July 2023, followed by the Groupe Renault with more than 397,000 electric vehicles sold worldwide through December 2020, including its Twizyheavy quadricycle. As of July2023[update], global sales totaled over 650,000 units since inception.
In 2025, the total number of electric cars on the world's roads was about 75 million. Sales of electric cars in 2025 increased to 21 million. China has the largest electric car fleet in use, with 44million in 2025, more than half (58.9%) of the world's electric car stock.
All-electric cars have oversold plug-in hybrids since 2012.
Evolution of the ratio between global sales of BEVs and PHEVs between 2011 and 2024
Global electric vehicle sales from 2015 to 2024
Public opinion
A 2022 climate survey highlighting European, American, and Chinese car buying preferencesThe same survey showing that if the respondents had to change cars, Chinese respondents are more likely to opt for an electric one
A 2022 survey found that 33% of car buyers in Europe will opt for a petrol or diesel car when purchasing a new vehicle. 67% of the respondents mentioned opting for the hybrid or electric version. More specifically, it found that electric cars are only preferred by 28% of Europeans, making them the least preferred type of vehicle. 39% of Europeans tend to prefer hybrid vehicles, while 33% prefer petrol or diesel vehicles.
Chinese car buyers, are the most likely to buy an electric car at 44%. 38% of Americans would opt for a hybrid car, 33% would prefer petrol or diesel, while only 29% would go for an electric car.
In the EU, 47% of car buyers 65 years or older are likely to purchase a hybrid vehicle. 31% of younger respondents do not consider hybrid vehicles a good option. 35% of younger respondents would rather opt for a petrol or diesel vehicle, and 24% for an electric car instead of a hybrid.
In the EU, 13% of the population do not plan on owning a vehicle at all.[clarification needed]
In a 2023 survey concentrated specifically on electric car ownership in the US, 50% of respondents planning to purchase a future car considered themselves unlikely to seriously consider buying an EV. The survey also found that support for banning the production of non-electric vehicles in the US by 2035 has declined from 47% to 40%.
Tension between electric vehicles owners and traditional petrol vehicle owners have also influenced public perception. Surveys were taken by the market research firm Ipsos in which they found that belief in EV's environmental benefits among Americans has declined from 63% to 58% over two years. Skepticism has risen mainly among those not considering an EV, who are becoming more united in the belief that EVs are not better for the environment. Cultural divides have contributed to the hostility, with EVs often being associated with coastal, urban elites. Misinformation about battery production, tire emissions, and electricity sources has further created negative attitudes among ICE car supporters.
Public perception of electric vehicles varies across different countries and regions even though there is an overall increase in EV interest worldwide. In Europe, environmental concerns are forcing EV adoption, while in the U.S., cost and range anxiety are major barriers and challenges to the purchasing of EVs. In China, government incentives and infrastructure growth have contributed to higher consumer confidence in EVs. The growing awareness of environmental benefits and government support are influencing public attitudes globally. This is gradually increasing the EV adoption rate. Norway is leading the way in EV adoption and consumers are taking advantage of the tax rebate for electric vehicle purchases. 9 of 10 cars sold in Norway are electric due to this generous government incentive and Norway's wide spread charging infrastructure.
Government policies and incentives
A dedicated electric car free charging and parking lot in Oslo
Four out of ten Europeans interviewed for the European Investment Bank climate survey thought subsidies for electric cars should be a priority to fight climate change.
Several national, provincial, and local governments around the world have introduced policies to support the mass-market adoption of plug-in electric vehicles. A variety of policies have been established to provide: financial support to consumers[bettersourceneeded] and manufacturers; non-monetary incentives; subsidies for the deployment of charging infrastructure; electric vehicle charging stations in buildings; and long-term regulations with specific targets.
Timeline of national targets for full ICE phase out or 100% ZEV car sales
Financial incentives for consumers are aiming to make electric car purchase price competitive with conventional cars due to the higher upfront cost of electric vehicles.[citation needed] Depending on battery size, there are one-time purchase incentives such as grants and tax credits; exemptions from import duties; exemptions from road tolls and congestion charges; and exemption of registration and annual fees.
Among the non-monetary incentives, there are several perks such allowing plug-in vehicles access to bus lanes and high-occupancy vehicle lanes, free parking and free charging. Some countries or cities that restrict private car ownership (for example, a purchase quota system for new vehicles), or have implemented permanent driving restrictions (for example, no-drive days), have these schemes exclude electric vehicles to promote their adoption. Several countries, including England and India, are introducing regulations that require electric vehicle charging stations in certain buildings.
Some government have also established long term regulatory signals with specific targets such as zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandates, national or regional CO2 emission regulations, stringent fuel economy standards, and the phase out of internal combustion engine vehicle sales. For example, Norway set a national goal that by 2025 all new car sales should be ZEVs (battery electric or hydrogen). While these incentives aim to facilitate a quicker transition from internal combustion cars, they have been criticized by some economists for creating excess deadweight loss in the electric car market, which may partially counteract environmental gains.
Some experts have criticized the government incentivization of private electric cars. Transport researchers Israel Fabian and Dick Ettema have found that while government incentives can assist in lowering overall carbon emissions, such incentives lead to unequal distribution of resources which can lead to social exclusion and transportation burdens on certain populations.
Geopolitics
The emergence of China as the dominant force in the EV manufacturing sector has made the EV industry a theater of geopolitical strategy and trade friction. China's competitive position, built on vertical integration and overwhelming scale, has led the European Union and the U.S. to implement protective trade measures citing a variety of reasons, such as dumping, state subsidies, production overcapacity, national security, and forced labor. Critics argue that such allegations are a justification for protectionism.
China's competitive advantage is the culmination of a decades-long industrial policy aimed at seizing global leadership in the EV sector. While Western and Japanese automakers primarily focused on refining internal combustion engines, Chinese policymakers focused on EVs with a systematic approach prioritizing technological independence, manufacturing scale, and demand creation. The resulting economies of scale and supply chain advantages allow Chinese manufacturers to offer EVs at a lower cost, putting pressure on established manufacturers.
The export of Chinese EVs has created intense market pressure in Europe and North America, leading to a wave of protectionist measures aimed at shielding domestic industries. The European Commission, following a vote by EU member states on 4 October 2024, to impose definitive countervailing duties (CVDs) on imports of Chinese-manufactured battery electric vehicles. These duties are set to apply by 30 October 2024. These tariffs were levied in response to the competitive distortions alleged to stem from substantial Chinese state subsidies, which are viewed by the EU as potentially violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. China launched a WTO complaint in response.
During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the U.S. imposed a stiff 27.5 percent tariff for Chinese-made cars. In May 2024, the U.S. imposed a higher 100% import tariff on Chinese EVs, designed to effectively block Chinese EV imports from significantly impacting the domestic US market. In August 2024 Canada followed the U.S. by announcing a 100% tariff on imported Chinese electric vehicles, although in 2025 Canada replaced this tariff with a quota following a bilateral agreement with China. As exports to North America and Europe are less profitable, Chinese manufacturers are aggressively focusing their expansion efforts on regions with fewer regulatory hurdles and soaring demand. The manufacturers recalibrated its strategy towards price-sensitive markets like Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Forecasts
Total global EV sales in 2030 were predicted to reach 31.1 million by Deloitte. The International Energy Agency predicted that the total global stock of EVs would reach almost 145 million by 2030 under current policies, or 230 million if Sustainable Development policies were adopted.
As of 2024[update] over 700 million people don’t have electricity, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank and the African Development Bank plan to provide access to electricity to 300 million people in that region by 2030. At this time, there are just over 20,000 electric vehicles and less than 1,000 charging stations in Africa. However, EV manufacturers have already built or are planning to build production plants in 21 African countries.
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↑Liasi, Sahand Ghaseminejad; Golkar, Masoud Aliakbar (2 May 2017). Electric vehicles connection to microgrid effects on peak demand with and without demand response. 2017 Iranian Conference. IEEE. pp.1272–1277. doi:10.1109/IranianCEE.2017.7985237.
↑"ARB Amends ZEV Rule: Standardizes Chargers & Addresses Automaker Mergers" (Press release). California Air Resources Board. 28 June 2001. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010. the ARB approved the staff proposal to select the conductive charging system used by Ford, Honda and several other manufacturers
↑"Charging cars at home at night is not the way to go, Stanford study finds". Stanford Report. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2026. The move to electric vehicles will result in large costs for generating, transmitting, and storing more power. Shifting current EV charging from home to work and night to day could cut costs and help the grid, according to a new Stanford study.
1234567Pontes, José (7 February 2023). "World EV Sales Report — Tesla Model Y Wins 1st Best Seller Title In Record Year". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 10 February 2023. "The top 5 global best selling plug-in electric cars in 2022 were the Tesla Model Y (771,300), the BYD Song (BEV + PHEV) with 477,094, the Tesla Model 3 (476,336), the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (424,031), and the BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV) with 315,236. BYD Han (BEV + PHEV) sales totaled 273,323 units, BYD Yuan Plus 201,744 and VW ID.4 174,092 units."
12345678Jose, Pontes (30 January 2022). "World EV Sales — Tesla Model 3 Wins 4th Consecutive Best Seller Title In Record Year". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 5 February 2022. "The top 3 global best selling plug-in electric cars in 2021 were the Tesla Model 3 (500,713), the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (424,138), and the Tesla Model Y (410,517). Nissan Leaf sales totaled 64,201 units and Chery eQ 68,821 units."
12Jose, Pontes (2 February 2021). "Global Top 20 - December 2020". EVSales.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021. "Global sales totaled 3,124,793 plug-in passenger cars in 2020, with a BEV to PHEV ratio of 69:31, and a global market share of 4%. The world's top selling plug-in car was the Tesla Model 3 with 365,240 units delivered, and Tesla was the top selling manufacturer of plug-in passenger cars in 2019 with 499,535 units, followed by VW with 220,220."
123Jose, Pontes (31 January 2020). "Global Top 20 - December 2019". EVSales.com. Retrieved 10 May 2020. "Global sales totaled 2,209,831 plug-in passenger cars in 2019, with a BEV to PHEV ratio of 74:26, and a global market share of 2.5%. The world's top selling plug-in car was the Tesla Model 3 with 300,075 units delivered, and Tesla was the top selling manufacturer of plug-in passenger cars in 2019 with 367,820 units, followed by BYD with 229,506."
123Jose, Pontes (31 January 2019). "Global Top 20 - December 2018". EVSales.com. Retrieved 31 January 2019. "Global sales totaled 2,018,247 plug-in passenger cars in 2018, with a BEV:PHEV ratio of 69:31, and a market share of 2.1%. The world's top selling plug-in car was the Tesla Model 3, and Tesla was the top selling manufacturer of plug-in passenger cars in 2018, followed by BYD."
↑Jose, Pontes (4 February 2020). "2019 Global Sales by OEM". EVSales.com. Retrieved 23 May 2020. "Tesla led plug-in car sales among automotive groups in 2019, with 367,849 units delivered, followed by BYD with 225,757, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance with 183,299. Accounting just for the all-electric segment (1.6 million electric cars sold in 2019), again Tesla was the leader, followed by BAIC (163,838), BYD (153,085), the Renault-Nissan Alliance (132,762), and SAIC (105,573)."
↑Jose, Pontes (3 February 2019). "2018 Global Sales by OEM". EVSales.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019. "Tesla led plug-in car sales among automotive groups in 2018, with 245,240 units delivered, followed by BYD with 229,338, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance with 192,711."
↑"BMW sells over 140,000 plug-in cars throughout 2018". electricdrive.com. 10 January 2019. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019. The global share of plug-in electric cars by brand in 2018 was led by Tesla with 12%, followed by BYD with 11%, BMW with 9%, BAIC with 6%, and Roewe and Nissan, both with 5%.
↑"RENAULT, NISSAN & MITSUBISHI MOTORS ANNOUNCE COMMON ROADMAP ALLIANCE 2030: BEST OF 3 WORLDS FOR A NEW FUTURE" (Press release). Paris, Tokyo, Yokohama: Media Alliance Website. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022. In the main markets (Europe, Japan, the US, China) 15 Alliance plants already produce parts, motors, batteries for 10 EV models on the streets, with more than 1 million EV cars sold so far and 30 billion e-kilometers driven.
↑"2019 Universal Registration Document"(PDF). 19 March 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2020. Since 2010, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance has sold over 800,000 100%-electric vehiclesSee pp. 24 and 39. Since the launch of the Renault electric program, the Group has sold more than 252,000 electric vehicles in Europe and more than 273,550 electric vehicles worldwide. Since inception, a total of 181,893 Zoe cars, 48,821 Kangoo Z.E. electric vans and 29,118 Twitzy quadricycles have been sold globally through December 2019. Global sales of the Zoe totaled 48,269 units in 2019, and Kangoo ZE totaled 10,349.
12"2020 Universal Registration Document"(PDF). 15 March 2021. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021. Since it launched its electric program, Renault has sold more than 370,000 electric vehicles in Europe and more than 397,000 worldwide: 284,800 ZOE, 59,150 KANGOO Z.E., 11,400 FLUENCE Z.E./SM3 Z.E., 4,600 K-Z.E., 31,100 TWIZY, 770 MASTER Z.E. and 5,100 TWINGO Electric in 2020.See pp. 28.
↑"【图】快讯_汽车之家". www.autohome.com.cn. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
↑Zentrum für Sonnenenergieund Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) (26 February 2020). "ZSW analysis shows global number of EVs at 7.9 million". electrive.com. Retrieved 17 May 2020. See table: Global cumulative EV registrations (by models)
12345Pontes, José (2 August 2023). "World EV Sales Now 19% Of World Auto Sales!". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 6 August 2023. "The top 5 global best selling plug-in electric cars during the first half of 2023 were the Tesla Model Y (579,552), the Tesla Model 3 (279,320), the BYD Song (BEV + PHEV) with 259,723, the BYD Qin Plus (BEV + PHEV) with 204,529 and the BYD Yuan Plus/Atto 3 (201,505). The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV sold 122,052 units, the BYD Han (BEV + PHEV) 96,437 units and the VW ID.4 86,481 units."
↑Akhtar, Riz (29 January 2024). "Tesla Model Y confirmed as world's best-selling car in 2023, beating Rav4 and Corolla". The Driven. Retrieved 31 January 2024. The Model Y first emerged as a best seller in the first quarter of last year, and now data firm Jato Dynamics has confirmed that it maintained this status for the entire year, selling 1.23 million cars.
↑Demandt, Bart (19 September 2021). "BYD Dolphin EV". Carsalesbase.com. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023. "Sales of the BYD Dolphin in China totaled 29,598 units in 2021"
↑Demandt, Bart (28 January 2021). "Volkwagen ID.4 Europe Auto Sales Figures". Carsalesbase.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023. Sales of the VW ID.4 in Europe totaled 4,810 units in 2020
↑Demandt, Bart (7 July 2019). "GAC Aion S China Auto Sales Figures". Carsalesbase.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023. "Sales of the Aion S in China totaled 32,125 units in 2019 and 45,626 in 2020"
↑Groupe Renault (January 2022). "Ventes Mensuelles - Statistiques commerciales mensuelles du groupe Renault"[Monthly Sales -Renault Group monthly sales statistics] (in French). Renault.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023. Sales figures includes passenger and light utility variants. Click on the corresponding link to download the file "MONTHLY-SALES-12-2022.XLSX - 588 Ko", and open the tab "Sales by Model (2)" to access sales figures for cumulative sales CYTD 2022 and revised CYTD 2021. Global Zoe sales totaled 40,544 units in 2022 and 77,500 in 2021, including both passenger and LCV variants.
↑Groupe Renault (July 2023). "Ventes Mensuelles - Statistiques commerciales mensuelles du groupe Renault"[Monthly Sales -Renault Group monthly sales statistics] (in French). Renault.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023. Sales figures includes passenger and light utility variants. Click on the corresponding link to download the file "MONTHLY-SALES-06-2023.XLSX - 69 Ko", and open the tab "Models" to access sales figures for cumulative sales CYTD 2023 through June. Global Zoe sales totaled 11,131 units in the first half of 2023, including both passenger and LCV variants.
1234International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Energy Ministerial, and Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) (June 2020). "Global EV Outlook 2020: Entering the decade of electric drive?". IEA Publications. Retrieved 15 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)See Statistical annex, pp. 247–252 (See Tables A.1 and A.12). The global stock of plug-in electric passenger vehicles totaled 7.2 million cars at the end of 2019, of which, 47% were on the road in China. The stock of plug-in cars consist of 4.8 million battery electric cars (66.6%) and 2.4 million plug-in hybrids (33.3%). In addition, the stock of light commercial plug-in electric vehicles in use totaled 378 thousand units in 2019, and about half a million electric buses were in circulation, most of which are in China.
↑International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Energy Ministerial, and Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) (May 2019). "Global EV Outlook 2019: Scaling-up the transition to electric mobility". IEA Publications. Archived from the original(PDF) on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)See Statistical annex, pp. 210–213. The global stock of plug-in electric passenger cars totaled 5,122,460 units at the end of 2018, of which, 3,290,800 (64.2%) were battery electric cars (See Tables A.1 and A.2)..
↑International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Energy Ministerial, and Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) (May 2018). "Global EV Outlook 2017: 3 million and counting"(PDF). IEA Publications. Archived from the original(PDF) on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)See pp. 9–10, 19–23, 29–28, and Statistical annex, pp. 107–113. The global stock of plug-in electric passenger cars totaled 3,109,050 units, of which, 1,928,360 were battery electric cars..
↑Irle, Roland (19 January 2021). "Global Plug-in Vehicle Sales Reached over 3,2 Million in 2020". EV-volumes.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021. Plug-in sales totaled 3.24 million in 2020, up from 2.26 million in 2019. Europe, with nearly 1.4 million untits surpassed China as the largest EV market for the first time since 2015.
↑Ben-Achour, Sabri (6 May 2024). "U.S., Europe vexed by China's "overcapacity" of clean-energy goods". Marketplace. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024. "I think it's an excuse for protectionism," said Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He said when it comes to electric vehicles, there isn't overcapacity. China is just better at making them, and the U.S. and Europe are bitter. That's basically what China says too.
↑Walton, Bryn; Hamilton, Jamie; Alberts, Geneviève (28 July 2020). "Electric vehicles: Setting a course for 2030". Deloitte.com. Deloitte. Retrieved 31 July 2021. Our global EV forecast is for a compound annual growth rate of 29 per cent achieved over the next ten years: Total EV sales growing from 2.5 million in 2020 to 11.2 million in 2025, then reaching 31.1 million by 2030.
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