50 Interesting Electric Vehicle Statistics & Trends
Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle advocate based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. He is a content creator and marketing professional who contributes written and recorded pieces to a wide range of media outlets. His work has been featured in Find The Best Car Price and Torque News, among others. He has also had video content featured on Inside EVs. Birkett was an EV Guide for Plug in America events in Massachusetts (Drive Electric Cambridge and Drive Electric Lowell) and Ohio (Earth Day 2019 at Cleveland Zoo). He participates in quarterly advisory panel meetings for EVolve New York (a state-level charging initiative) and has contributed to focus groups for prominent U.S. charging networks.
Birkett is a father-of-two who loves nothing more than packing up the family and hitting the road in their latest electric car, which is currently a 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV. With a Chevy Volt and Tesla Model 3 LR in the extended family, plus various EV rentals when he ventures back home to his native United Kingdom, Birkett has more than 60,000 all-electric miles under his belt and is always ready to try out a new electric vehicle.
For press inquiries, contact steve@findthebestcarprice.com
Before COVID-19, EVs were gaining popularity and eating up a significant share of the car market. The pandemic and the inventory shortage disrupted the auto industry as a whole, with EVs taking a hit like everyone else, but it maintained steady sales as the year progressed. For more general car buying statistics, check out our post here.
As governments, automakers, and consumers begin to embrace EVs, what does the future hold?
As we close out the year, there are many key EV stats to consider. So our experts have reviewed some of the most important and interesting electric vehicle trends and statistics.
We surveyed 2,000 car buyers to see their preferences and views on EVs in 2022. Check out the survey results here.
Table of Contents
Need an expert quote for your story? We’re happy to help. Contact our Senior EV Editor Steve Birkett.
EV Sales & Battery Statistics
EVs are recovering as the overall state is overwhelmingly positive, with many seeing the reasons behind buying an electric car and planning to enter the market. But, we did find that there are differences in key regions. For example, in the US, Tesla is the major player while BYD is the leading brand in China.
- Globally, the stock share of electric LDVs (Light Duty Vehicles) will increase from less than 1% in 2021 to 8% in 2030. (IEA)
- As of 2021, the battery pack for BEVs has an average range of 279 miles and is expected to exceed 300 miles by 2023. (Evadoption)
- The national average for EV charging is $0.13 per kWh. (EIA)
- The population of non-OECD countries is expected to grow at over three times the population growth rate of OECD countries, and that the non-OECD motorization rate will increase from 92 vehicles per thousand people to 173 vehicles per thousand people between 2020 and 2050. (EIA)
- The lifetime fueling cost (15 years) for EVs is between $3,000 to $10,500 lower than the costs of a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle. (NREL)
- The significant growth of EVs leading up to 2030 will present major opportunities and challenges for traditional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), new-entrant OEMs, captive finance companies, and dealerships. (Deloitte)
- Due to increasing fuel prices with the national average price for a gallon of gasoline rising six cents to $3.38, gas car owners are now considering purchasing an EV. (Forbes)
- It is estimated that 6.4 million Electric Vehicles will be sold globally by the end of 2021. (Virta)
- On a global scale, 1 in 250 cars on the road are electric vehicles. This means that electric vehicles account for 2.2% of the global vehicle market share. (Quartz)
- The global electric vehicle market is dominated by major players such as Tesla (US), BYD (China), BMW (Germany), Volkswagen (Germany), and Nissan (Japan). (Markets and Markets)
- Most EV sales in the US are in markets with some combination of the following: ZEV regulation, incentives, an extensive charging network, and city/utility promotions. (The ICCT)
- Scheduled maintenance costs will be 40% lower for the E-Transit compared to the gas model over eight years or 100,000 miles. (AutoNews)
EV Car Buying Consumer Habits & Trends
The major concern for EV adoption in the US in 2021 is charging infrastructure, which is closely tied to the other barrier of driving range. Consumers are not as concerned about the price, but it is still on their minds as they compare EV and ICE models. It’s not always a simple swap, and preparation has to be done before buying an EV. While other countries are quicker to rebound from the drop in EV sales, the US continues to lag for several key reasons.
- The United States EV market is almost single-handedly being carried by the success of the Tesla Model 3 – which is responsible for almost half of all EV sales. (Deloitte)
- Between July and September 2021, Tesla deliveries crossed the 240,000 unit threshold. Compared to 500,000 units sold in all of 2020. (Statista)
- The top reasons that the US lags behind the rest of the world in terms of EV sales are a lack of government commitment to EVs, insufficient or unsuitable charging infrastructure, unavailability of EVs, and cultural differences regarding mobility models. (Deloitte)
- In 2021, the biggest barrier for EV adoption was concern about the lack of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. (Uswitch)
- In the Northeast, 83% of people surveyed believe that there are not enough charging stations available. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- 8 out of 10 people surveyed said they have concerns about the distance you can drive an electric vehicle before needing to recharge it. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- The top areas driving the market for consumers are technology (batteries improving), policies, economics, and companies accelerating investments in EVs. (BNEF)
- Automakers should note, traditional features such as safety and design should not be overlooked. Consumer target needs must be understood; incentives are important to middle-class buyers. (IPSOS)
- According to Ford's telematics data, commercial businesses use their vehicles for an average of 74 miles a day, well within the E-Transit's range, even after accounting for cold weather or heavy cargo loads. (AutoNews)
EV Demographics
Up to this point, many EV car buyers were Gen X males, likely due to the premium price tag. However, we can expect Millennials to know the key EV facts to be able to drive the change to EV technology. While Baby Boomers are slower to adopt, they too show promise to change to EVs. Overall, automakers are well-served to target Millennials, while still considering their unique sub-markets.
- Today’s consumer profile in the electric car market is evolving from early adopters and technophile purchasers to mass adoption. (IEA)
- Millennials are more accepting of electric cars than Baby Boomers in the Northeast. 63% of Millennials consider an EV when shopping for a new vehicle, versus only 38% of Baby Boomers. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- Despite differences in electric car knowledge, both Millennials and Baby Boomers are eager to see more electric vehicles introduced. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- One of the biggest purchase motivators is incentives from the state or federal government. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- According to Julia Rege, senior director of environment and energy at the Global Association of Automakers, “to date, electric car sales have been dominated by Gen-X men. However, with two out of three Millennials considering an electric car for their next vehicle, we could see a substantial shift in the marketplace.”. (Smart Energy)
- The results of the Drive Change Drive Electric study suggest that the technology revolution for EVs will be driven by Millennials. Additionally, Baby Boomers may take longer to learn about technology, but they will also come to participate in the change. (Drive Change Drive Electric)
- Automakers can confidently target millennials, who have an early adoption attitude and broad tech knowledge. (IPSOS)
The Future of Electric Vehicles: EV Forecast Statistics
The future of EVs is bright, albeit with some significant regional variation. Several automakers are accelerating EV launch plans, with many new models to come in the upcoming years. Tightening government regulations are a huge driving force for EVs, and differences in policies affect EV adoption around the world. EV manufacturers are still working to eliminate the biggest barriers to entry, which they are already addressing at an impressive rate.
- Deloitte’s global EV forecast is for a compound annual growth rate of 29% achieved over the next ten years. (Deloitte)
- In the United States, IHS Markit predicts there will be 130 available models by 2026, offered by 43 brands. (Deloitte)
- Automakers are accelerating their EV launch plans, partly to comply with increasingly stringent regulations in Europe and China. (BNEF)
- By the end of 2022, Hyundai will have three new hybrid vehicles, two plug-in crossovers, three battery EVs, and the current Nexo fuel-cell crossover. (AutoNews)
- In the Stated Policies Scenario, the global EV stock across all transport modes grows from over 5.6 million in 2021 to just under 145 million vehicles by 2030. That’s an annual average growth rate of nearly 30%. (BNEF)
- Hyundai's EV ambitions in the U.S. align with the expected pro-environmental policies of President-elect Joe Biden and even the new California policy of requiring all new cars sold in the state to be EVs by 2035. (AutoNews)
- "I think for us, it's (California’s 2035 mandate that all new cars sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles) very good. We are just launching more battery EV cars, we have a plan to more than double [the models] in three years, so we are set for success." from the CEO of Hyundai USA. (AutoNews)
- To date, 17 countries have announced 100% zero-emission vehicle targets or the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles through 2050. (IEA)
- The vehicle (Ford Motor Co.'s 2022 E-Transit van) is part of Ford's $11.5 billion global bets on electrification. (AutoNews)
- European emissions standards persuaded manufacturers to favor the production of zero emissions, which has prompted the rise of Electric vehicles with some 378,466 EV’s being registered from January to October 2021. (Automotive News)
- Within the next few years, Deloitte estimates some barriers for EVs will be obsolete. Specifically, the driving range is fast catching up to ICE vehicles, price is reaching parity (when considering subsidies), and the number of models available is increasing. (Deloitte)
- The United States currently has a total of nearly 43,000 public EV charging stations and roughly 120,000 charging ports. (U.S. Department of Energy data)
- EV sales demonstrate regional disparities. Sales of BEVs increased by 93% in Europe, 17% in China, and 22% in other regions. In the US, the market for BEVs fell by 2%. The speed of recovery after COVID-19 is also expected to vary by region. (Deloitte)
- China accounts for the largest share of global EV sales as it looks to reduce energy imports, clean up urban air quality, build its domestic auto industry, and attract manufacturing investment. (BNEF)
Impact of Chip Shortage on EVs
The auto industry is already announcing 2022 production shortfalls, which can have a detrimental impact on how the EV market grows. This could be a result of a variety of different reasons, however, chip shortages are a key factor.
- The chip shortage issue is most likely to run through 2022 and it could extend into 2023, although we do anticipate the scope and severity of that to reduce as we move through 2022 into ‘23. (Ford) — John Lawler, CFO
- 2022, like 2021, will not see historical summer lows in the demand cycle which in years past has been used to rebuild inventories. Tight supply will continue across almost all chip types, but is more pronounced in mature and legacy nodes. (BCG)
- We have seen some price increases on what I'll call the constrained chips, that I think will continue into next year. (APTIV) — Joseph Massaro, CFO
- The ongoing global semiconductor chip shortage remains the most significant headwind to global industry production. There have been some signs of improvement recently. However, it remains to be seen when the industry will return to a more stable rate of production. (CONTINENTAL) — Swamy Kotagiri, CEO, Nov 5, 2021
- 2022 is expected to see just under 80 million units produced. (BCG)
- New vehicle sales are currently constrained by reduced production volume, low inventory levels, leading to even more pent-up demand and should support sales for the foreseeable future. (AUTONATION) — Mike Jackson, CEO and Director.
- Semiconductor demand is expected to outstrip supply by 10% in 2022. (BCG)
- A worldwide shortage of EV components has been named as the top barrier in the rollout of electric vehicle infrastructure. (Versinetic)
Overall EV Trends & Analysis
While COVID-19 certainly disrupted the growth of the EV market, the industry shows no signs of slowing down. However, the recent semiconductor shortage has impacted EV production. Most experts believe this shortage will carry through 2022, but the severity and scope will drop throughout the year.
Government policies, reduction of purchase barriers, automaker adoption, and changing consumer attitudes are all top factors that contribute to the expected growth of the EV industry.
This year, we did not see the EV sales we expected, but the market shows immense promise for bouncing back. At first, early adopters of EV were overwhelmingly Gen X men, but the future of EV lies heavily with Millennials.
While car shoppers still have some concerns about making the switch to EVs, automakers are working hard to address their concerns and eliminate the remaining barriers to purchase. Overall, many of these electric vehicle statistics show that we can expect immense growth of the segment worldwide, as infrastructure expands and EV technology rapidly improves.
For more EV-related stats, check out the results and analysis of our EV survey.
Show Sources
https://www.uswitch.com/car-insurance/guides/drivers-reveal-biggest-electric-car-worries/ https://www.virta.global/global-electric-vehicle-market https://evstatistics.com/2019/08/average-median-range-battery-pack-size-miles-kwh-of-us-available-phevs/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/502208/tesla-quarterly-vehicle-deliveries/ https://insideevs.com/news/553972/us-bev-sales-october-2021/ https://insideevs.com/news/548934/ev-sales-projected-near-6million/ https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/electric-car-statistics/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2021/10/28/gas-price-spike-could-drive-more-buyers-to-tesla-evs/?sh=5108002b7139 https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2021/prospects-for-electric-vehicle-deployment https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/hyundais-big-moves-electrification-start-big-models https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=50096 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/five-facts-state-us-electric-vehicle-charging-network-2021-09-01/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20currently%20has,majority%20are%20Level%202%20chargers. https://www.autonews.com/retail/ford-e-transit-targets-efficiency-minded-fleet-buyers https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/insights/focus/future-of-mobility/electric-vehicle-trends-2030.html https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2020 https://about.bnef.com/electric-vehicle-outlook/ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-vehicle-market-209371461.html https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/Drew%20Kodjak_Canada%20global%20EV_12June2019_0.pdf https://driveelectricus.com/ https://www.smart-energy.com/industry-sectors/smart-energy/new-study-reveals-interesting-statistics-on-ev-ownership-and-consumer-interest/ https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/2017-04/ipsos-marketing-target-market-electric-vehicles.PD__0.pdf https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2020/research-determines-financial-benefit-from-driving-electric-vehicles.html
