Global electric car sales boom in 2014

Around 320,000 new electric vehicles were registered around the world in 2014, accounting for 43% of all electric vehicles currently on the road.


The US is leading the charge, having added 117,000 electric cars, retaining the no. 1 spot for the world’s biggest fleet of e-vehicles.

The figures for China also spiked with nearly 54,000 new electric vehicles added, an increase of around 120%.

China’s fleet is the third largest in the world, just behind  Japan which saw a relatively muted 45% growth rate. The global growth rate was 76%.

The figures come from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) – a renewables industry analyst. 

Growth drivers

ZSW said the upward trajectory of the leading nations is “largely attributable to market incentives”.

For example China’s Ministry of Transportation announced on Friday a new goal of at having at least 300,000 ‘alternative fuel’ public buses and taxis on China’s roads by the end of the decade.

By contrast a lack of market incentives has resulted in Germany taking just seventh place in absolute numbers (around 29,600 cars) and eighth in new registrations (around 11,700). 

But Germany is the exception rather than the rule according to Professor Werner Tillmetz, a member of the ZSW board. He said: “If the momentum of recent years continues unabated, the number of electric cars worldwide will exceed one million in just a few months.”

UK rise

In the UK specifically, 2014 saw a ‘remarkable surge’ in ultra-low emission vehicle sales, with a four-fold increase over 2013.

The necessary infrastructure is also being developed, as the Department for Transport (DfT) announced £43m funding in February to build electric car charge points at train stations and A-roads around the country.

Sustainable transport at Sustainability Live 2015

The evolution of transport technology will be discussed in detail at Sustainability Live 2015 in April, with a session at the Energy Efficiency theatre focusing on biofuels, hydrogen and electrification and how this roadmap can be used to time fleet upgrades and changes.

The seminar will also use a series of case studies to explore both technologies, employees engagement, alternative transport modes and fleet optimisation.

Register to attend Sustainability Live 2015 for FREE here.

Brad Allen

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