Europe: Electric Vehicles Overtake Diesel Cars In Sales

Electric vehicles continue to proliferate in the European market. According to PWC Strategy & eReadiness research, an important threshold was crossed in July: electric vehicles took 14.2% of the market, while diesel vehicles stalled at 12.7%.

However, the study that analyzes propensity towards electric vehicles in 18 countries and among 12,800 drivers shows wide disparities between Northern and Southern Europe, both in numbers and in services, particularly when it comes to the spread of charging infrastructure. While countries such as Norway, Germany, France, and Great Britain are leaders in the electric car market and have advanced infrastructure, others such as Italy, Spain, and Poland are not yet properly equipped. In Italy, there are 0.9 charging stations for every 1,000 cars, and the percentage of electric or plug-in vehicles (hybrids with AC socket charging capability) sold is less than 10%, which is about half of that in more “virtuous” countries.

In any case, satisfaction levels among electric vehicle buyers remain low worldwide: one in three are disappointed with driving range and charging times and would rather return to a traditional engine.