In 2020, EV sales surged 38 per cent despite a decline of 20 per cent in total car sales.

3.24 million new battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) were sold compared to 2.26 million in 2019.

(Tesla accounted for nearly one quarter of electric car sales worldwide in 2020. Just FYI.)

Research firm Canalys says 2021 looks even better.

“Electric vehicles represented almost 5 per cent of all new car sales in 2020,” it says.

“EVs are forecast to reach over 7 per cent of new car sales worldwide in 2021 — a further 66 per cent growth — to exceed 5 million units sold.

“The number of EVs sold will rise to 30 million in 2028, and EVs will represent nearly half of all passenger cars sold globally by 2030.”

By 2050, EVs will dominate

Global vehicle sales, 2050.

New research from Wood Mackenzie predicts EV sales to reach 62 million units per year by 2050, with a total global EV stock of 700 million.

In 2047, battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and fuel cell vehicle (FCV) sales will combine to eclipse internal combustion engine (ICE) sales globally for light-duty vehicles for the first time.

“All automobile sales in Europe (86%), China (81%) and North America (78%) will predominantly be EVs by 2050,” it says.