Electric vehicles (EVs) now make up more than a quarter of new car sales globally, marking a significant shift in the automotive market. According to data from the International Energy Agency published by Our World in Data, the transition from gas- and diesel-powered cars to electric alternatives has accelerated rapidly over the last decade.
Norway stands out as the leader, with almost 92% of new cars sold being electric, while China has crossed the halfway point, with more than 50% of new vehicles being battery-electric or plug-in hybrids. Worldwide, EVs account for roughly 22% of new car sales, reflecting a sharp rise from just a few years ago.
The data encompasses both fully battery-electric vehicles, which lack combustion engines, and plug-in hybrids that combine electric power with gasoline engines. While producing EVs, particularly their batteries, creates more carbon emissions initially, these emissions are generally offset during regular use. This carbon breakeven tends to happen faster in regions relying on cleaner, renewable energy sources, boosting EVs’ environmental benefits.
Globally, the number of EVs on the road has increased dramatically to nearly 60 million, up from 26 million just a year earlier, while sales of traditional gasoline and diesel cars appear to have plateaued since around 2018. Despite EVs still representing a smaller fraction of the total vehicle fleet, their share is rapidly rising as adoption grows worldwide.