Soaring Electric Vehicle Sales in Europe's Marketplace
In the second quarter of 2021, Europe witnessed a significant surge in the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). This shift away from traditional petrol and diesel vehicles is a clear indication that the region is preparing to abandon these fuels.
The ACEA groups together major car firms, and their latest findings reveal a noteworthy increase in the registrations of new electric vehicles. Battery electric vehicles more than tripled, reaching 210,298 cars, and accounted for 7.5 percent of new car sales. This marks a more than doubling of their share compared to the previous year.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also saw a substantial jump, with sales increasing by 255.8 percent. A total of 235,730 units were registered, giving PHEVs an 8.4 percent market share in the second quarter of 2021.
Hybrid vehicles, which cannot be recharged from power mains, also experienced a significant growth, with sales more than tripling to reach 541,162 vehicles. As a result, hybrid vehicles remained the largest category of alternatively-powered cars, holding a 19.3 percent market share.
While the registrations of new petrol vehicles increased, their market share saw a dramatic drop to 41.8 percent. Similarly, the market share of new diesel vehicles plunged to 20.4 percent despite an increase in registrations.
Notable manufacturers like Volkswagen, Renault, Ford, and Chinese brands are increasingly using electric vehicle platforms, but specific full commitments from them for only EV platform development starting from 2025 were not found in the given results. Volkswagen, however, announced that from 2025 it will develop only electric vehicle platforms for new models, aiming for a full transition to electric cars by 2030 through its Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). Daimler also announced it would introduce only electric new car platforms from 2025, preparing to make a complete shift to electric vehicles by 2030.
The European Commission's plan is aimed at helping Europe meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by mid-century and its goals under the 2015 Paris accord. In line with this, the Commission unveiled plans for an effective ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2035.
This shift towards electric vehicles is a significant step towards Europe's goal of reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. As more manufacturers commit to developing electric vehicles, we can expect to see continued growth in the adoption of these environmentally friendly vehicles.
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