Over 1.45 million electric vehicles, run solely on batteries, expected to hit roads in 2024
According to a recent report by Eurostat, the number of new battery-only electric vehicles registered in the European Union (EU) decreased by 6.1% in 2024 compared to 2023, dropping from 1.55 million to 1.45 million vehicles [1][3][5]. This indicates a cooling of the electric vehicle (EV) market rather than an increase.
The share of battery-only electric cars among all new car registrations also fell slightly from 14.6% in 2023 to 13.6% in 2024 [2][4].
Factors contributing to this decline and the broader slowdown include market saturation in leading countries, regional disparities, possible market cooling dynamics, and continued growth of the total fleet.
Leading countries like Denmark (51.3% share), Malta (37.7%), and Sweden (34.9%) already have high EV adoption, potentially leading to slower growth [1][3]. Countries such as Croatia (1.8%), Slovakia (2.4%), and Poland (3.0%) show much lower EV registration shares, indicating uneven adoption across the EU and limiting overall growth [1][3].
The data suggest a temporary cooling after rapid prior growth, as the share increased rapidly from under 1% in 2018 to over 14% in 2023 before pulling back slightly in 2024 [3].
Despite fewer new registrations in 2024, the total fleet of battery-only EVs rose by 32.4% to 5.87 million vehicles, indicating ongoing but slower market penetration [1][3].
No direct Eurostat source explicitly lists other factors like supply chain constraints, policy changes, or consumer preferences in 2024, but the data emphasize a market normalization following earlier rapid expansion rather than growth acceleration.
In summary, the factors behind the 2024 registration figures are primarily a market slowdown after rapid electric vehicle adoption, with significant variance across EU member states, rather than an increase in battery-only EV registrations overall [1][2][3][5].
Other notable trends in 2024 include:
- The total number of new hybrid passenger cars increased by 12.7%, reaching 3.95 million [6].
- The number of new road tractors increased by 35.5% [7].
- The number of new motor coaches and buses increased by 28.2% [8].
- In 2024, the number of new heavy lorries increased by 39.7% [9].
The highest share of battery-only electric cars among new registrations was in Denmark, while Malta had the second highest share. Sweden had the third highest share, and Poland, Croatia, and Slovakia had the lowest recorded shares [1][3].
References:
[1] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [2] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [3] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [4] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [5] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [6] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [7] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [8] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source] [9] Eurostat (2025). [Link to source]
The decreased registration of battery-only electric vehicles in 2024, despite a rise in the total fleet, suggests a market slowdown rather than an increase, potentially influenced by factors such as saturation in leading countries and uneven adoption across the European Union. In contrast, the number of new hybrid passenger cars, road tractors, motor coaches, and heavy lorries all increased in 2024, indicating a broader growth in various vehicle technologies.
