Electric vehicles are the key technology to decarbonise road transport, a sector that accounts for over 15% of global energy-related emissions. Recent years have seen exponential growth in the sale of electric vehicles together with improved range, wider model availability and increased performance. Passenger electric cars are surging in popularity – we estimate that 18% of new cars sold in 2023 will be electric.  

If the growth experienced in the past two years is sustained, CO₂ emissions from cars can by 2030 be put on a pathway aligned with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario. However, electric vehicles are not yet a global phenomenon. Sales in developing and emerging economies have been slow due to the relatively high purchase price of an electric vehicle and a lack of charging infrastructure availability.