China drives global sales of electric vehicles
SHANGHAI: Electric vehicles (EV) sales surged to a record in the third quarter, largely driven by strong demand in China.
Sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids exceeded 287,000 units in the three months ended in September, 63 per cent higher than the same quarter a year ago and up 23 per cent from the second quarter, according to a report released yesterday by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). China accounted for more than half of global sales as its market for electric cars doubled amid government efforts to curb pollution.
BNEF expects global EV sales to surpass one million units this year for the first time. The market for electrified transport is starting to pick up speed as charging infrastructure becomes more accessible and manufacturers roll out models with longer driving ranges.
Several governments have also announced targets for cleaner transport, some driven by the emissions-cheating scandal that engulfed Volkswagen AG.
France and the United Kingdom say they will ban sales of new gasoline and diesel-burning cars by 2040, while the Netherlands is targeting that all new cars sold by 2030 will be emissions-free.
China — the world’s largest auto market — is mulling its own ban.
Europe was the second-biggest market in the third quarter for EVs, with 24 per cent of sales, followed by North America. The rising volumes in China are supported by government incentives. Bloomberg