The number of EVs sold in Western Europe in 2020 was 726,000, according to research firm Schmidt Automotive Research. That is more than double compared to 2019. In addition, more EVs than plug-in hybrids left the showroom throughout the year.
Compared to 2019, 105 percent more fully electric cars were sold in 2020. The number of 726,000 EVs represents a market share of 6.7 percent of the total Western European car sales. In December, sales started a considerable final sprint, when just over 160,000 EVs were registered. In Germany, the most EVs were sold that month with 43,677 units. Plug-in hybrids are also doing better in terms of numbers than ever, but the total of 605,000 PHEVs sold shows that BEVs are more popular with consumers. The combined market share of fully electric cars and plug-ins is just over 12 percent.
It is not new that electric cars are popular with Western European consumers. Particularly thanks to the fiscal climate, EV sales are going fast in some countries. For example, 54.3 percent of all new cars sold in Norway were electric, in the Netherlands that market share increased to just over 20 percent. The Volkswagen ID3 tops the electrical sales lists in both Norway and the Netherlands. In Germany, the share of EVs in total car sales is considerably lower at 1.2 percent, but thanks to an extensive subsidy scheme, German consumers are increasingly able to find their way to the charging station with a new car.