New registrations of electric vehicles in Europe

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• 03 Dec 2020, 04:10 PM
  - New registrations of electric vehicles in Europe

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Increasingly stringent regulations have resulted in the gradual introduction and promotion of more fuel-efficient, less polluting vehicles. New registrations of electric vehicles are an indirect indication of the level of improvement in road-transport fuel efficiency and pollutant emissions. The overall objective of this specific indicator is to monitor the penetration of electric vehicles in the market and, hence, to be able to estimate progress towards environmental targets.

In addition, form 2025, the number of zero- or low-emitting vehicles (ZLEV <50 g/km) will affect the calculation of the CO₂ performance of car manufacturers (Regulation (EU) 2019/631). The specific CO₂ emission target of a manufacturer will be relaxed if its share of ZLEVs registered in a given year exceeds the following benchmarks: 15 % ZLEVs from 2025 and 35 % ZLEVs from 2030. A one-percentage point exceedance of the ZLEV benchmark will increase the manufacturer’s CO₂ target (in g CO₂/km) by one percent. The target relaxation is capped at maximum 5 % to safeguard the environmental integrity of the Regulation.

Scientific references

• EC, 2011, ‘White paper 2011’, European Commission
• EC, 2020, ‘2050 long-term strategy’, European Commission
• EEA, 2019, Trends and projections in Europe 2019 - tracking progress towards Europe’s climate and energy targets, EEA Report No 15/2019, European Environment Agency

Indicator definition

This indicator provides information on electric vehicle numbers, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet. Two types of electric vehicle are included in the indicator: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). BEVs are powered solely by an electric motor, using electricity stored in an on-board battery. The battery must be charged at a charging point connected to the local electricity grid. PHEVs are powered by an electric motor and an internal combustion engine designed to work either together or separately. The on-board battery can be charged from the grid and the combustion engine can support the electric motor when higher operating power is required or when battery charge is low.

Units

Number of vehicles

Policy context and targets

Context description

Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. Since 2009, EU legislation has set mandatory emission targets for new cars and, since 2011, for new vans. These regulations have resulted in the gradual introduction and promotion of more fuel-efficient, less polluting vehicles. Currently, there are no specific objectives or targets related to the number of different types of alternative fuel vehicle as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet. Policy objectives are rather set with respect to the environmental performance of newly registered passenger cars and vans.

New registrations of alternative-fuel vehicles are an indirect indication of the level of improvement in road-transport fuel efficiency and pollutant emissions. The overall objective of this specific indicator is to monitor the penetration of electric vehicles in the market and, hence, to be able to estimate progress towards environmental targets.

Targets

No target sets until 2025.

The specific CO2 emission target of a manufacturer (Regulation (EU) 2019/631) will be relaxed if its share of zero or low emitting vehicles registered in a given year exceeds the  15% from 2025 on and 35% from 2030 on.  Please see also indicator TERM017 

Related policy documents

• Regulation (EU) 2019/631
  Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 is setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 443/2009 and (EU) No 510/2011.

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

The number of electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVS) as a proportion of the total vehicle fleet for each vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles) is calculated by dividing the number of electric vehicles by the total fleet for each vehicle type.

Methodology for gap filling

Data gap filling is not necessary

Methodology references

No methodology references available.

Data specifications

EEA data references

• Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars – Regulation (EU) 2019/631 provided by Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA)

Data sources in latest figures

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Not available.

Data sets uncertainty

No uncertainty in the dataset

Rationale uncertainty

Not available.