China’s Electric Vehicle Revolution
Road transport is responsible for around three-quarters of global carbon dioxide emissions from transport. Switching from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles is a crucial step in decarbonizing our economies.
In 2020, electric cars were rare everywhere. By 2023, over one-third of new vehicles in China were electric, compared to less than a quarter in the EU and under a tenth in the US. Preliminary figures suggest that in 2024, electric cars outsold conventional ones for the first time in China.
The data highlights China’s significant lead over both the EU and the US in the adoption of electric cars. According to the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2024 report, two-thirds of the electric cars in China and the EU are fully electric, while in the US, 80% are fully electric.
As the world continues to grapple with climate change, China’s rapid adoption of electric vehicles serves as a model for other regions to follow.
