Electric vehicle sales accelerate around the world
Once a niche, electric cars surged into the mainstream as sales climbed sharply and automakers pivoted.
Electric vehicles accelerated firmly into the mainstream this year, as global sales climbed sharply and the world's major automakers committed to an electric future, marking a decisive shift in an industry that had relied on the internal combustion engine for more than a century.
Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose rapidly, with particularly strong growth in China, Europe and, increasingly, the United States. In some markets, electric models accounted for a fast-growing share of new car sales, and a widening range of affordable options brought the technology within reach of more buyers.
The surge was driven by a combination of forces: falling battery costs, improving range and charging infrastructure, supportive government policies and incentives, looming bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in some regions, and growing consumer interest. High fuel prices added further impetus.
Automakers responded by pouring investment into electric models and, in a number of cases, pledging to phase out internal combustion engines entirely within the coming decade or two. New entrants, led by pioneers of the electric era, pressured established manufacturers to move faster.
Challenges remained, including the need to vastly expand charging networks, secure supplies of critical minerals for batteries, and ensure the electricity powering the vehicles becomes cleaner. But the trajectory was clear: the transition to electric transport, long anticipated, was gathering real momentum, with significant implications for emissions, for the auto industry and for the oil that fuels today's cars.