Battery electric vehicles in use worldwide 2010-2024

Some 39 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were in use globally in 2024. That year, around 11 million new battery electric vehicles were added to the worldwide fleet, steadily growing since 2016. 

Electric vehicle demand gains steam

In light of tightening environmental regulations and increasing worldwide acceptance of electric transmission vehicles, a growing number of automakers intend to tap into the market for electric vehicles. Consumers' car purchasing intention followed suit as the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increasing environmental awareness. The world's best-selling battery-electric vehicle is Tesla's Model Y, the best-selling passenger car worldwide in 2024. California-based Tesla Motors was among the first carmakers to assemble electric vehicles exclusively. In 2024, Tesla delivered nearly 1.8 million vehicles worldwide.

Power grid charging challenges

Government agencies have been introducing limits on carbon dioxide emissions worldwide to address more significant environmental concerns. Car manufacturers are expected to be penalized if they fail to meet these limits. However, concerns have been raised regarding the sources of electricity employed to power electric cars and how materials used in car batteries are generally not taken into consideration when it comes to calculating a vehicle's carbon footprint. On the consumer level, the regular power grid was the leading power source drivers in various countries reported intending to use to charge their EVs due to its accessibility compared to alternative power sources. Challenges are, therefore, still ahead for the BEV market.