ROME – The latest study carried out by ACEA, the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers, offers a significant picture of the distribution of electric vehicle sales in the EU, highlighting the differences related to the standard of living of the various countries. In 2020, electric and plug-in hybrids accounted for 10.5% of all new cars sold in the EU but as many as ten Member States still had a market share of below 3%.
The research found that the purchase of these models is directly linked to a country’s GDP per capita, identifying that affordability therefore remains a significant problem. “As in the case of the distribution of charging infrastructures, there is a clear division in the accessibility of electric cars between Central-Eastern Europe and Western Europe – explained Eric-Mark Huitema, Acea general manager – as well as a pronounced north-south gap “. Countries with an electric car market share of less than 3% have an average GDP of less than 17,000 euros, as is the case, for example, in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Greece.
Furthermore, the five countries with the lowest diffusion on the electric car market have very few recharging points, each with a share of less than 1% of the EU total. To find a market share of more than 15% for electric cars, it is necessary to search among the richest countries in Northern Europe with an average GDP of over 46,000 euros. Not surprisingly, almost three quarters of all EU electric car sales are grouped in 4 Western European countries with some of the largest GDPs (Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark). The remaining percentage of sales is spread over 23 Member States.
It should also be noted, as highlighted by the data of the European Environment Agency, that with electric car sales tripled between 2019 and 2020, average CO2 emissions decreased by a record level of 12% in 2020. “For to continue this progress on the path of zero emissions – added Huitema – the European Commission must now urgently ensure that all the right conditions are in place and that no country or citizen is left behind. Zero-emission vehicles must be accessible and affordable for everyone ”. In short, European car manufacturers are clamoring for adequate incentives to stimulate long-term sales of these vehicles and binding infrastructure targets for each EU Member State.
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