EV global growth charges ahead

Electric vehicle sales are charging ahead globally.

About 312,400 units were delivered in the first quarter of this year, up 58% on the same period in 2017, the electric vehicle world sales database EV-volumes.com says.

Pure electrics (BEVs) comprised 66% of them, while 34% were plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

The new generation Nissan Leaf is the market leader in the first quarter of 2018, with 22,040 units delivered – up 44% year-on-year.

It’s followed, in order, by the BJEV EC180/200 EV with 19, 808 units, the Toyota Prius Gen-2 PHEV, BYD Song PHEV. Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, BYD Qin PHEV, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Renault Zoe and BMW i3 to make up the top 10.

The fastest growing markets are Finland (up 144%), South Korea (138%), Australia (132%), the Netherlands (122%), Spain (118%), Canada (114%) and China (113%).

Share leaders are Norway where 46% of new car sales were plug-ins this year, followed by Iceland (26%) and Sweden (7%), the latter introducing a new tax scheme from July 1 expected to increase its EV share.

Other larger economies had plug-in share of 2.5% or lower.

Nearly two million plug-in sales globally are predicted for 2018 by EV-volumes.com

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