Electric vehicles to pass two thirds of global car sales by 2030

Global electric vehicle (EV) sales are on track to meet or outpace even the most ambitious net-zero timelines and could account for more than two thirds of market share by 2030, according to new analysis.

Combustion car sales peaked in 2017, and by the middle of the current decade more will be scrapped than sold, meaning the overall fleet of combustion cars is about to peak and will be in freefall by 2030, the research shows.

The analysis is led by RMI, founded as Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund.

It is one of three separate pieces of research from RMI, Systems Change Lab and the EEIST project, led by the University of Exeter, that highlight the speed and scale of the accelerating transition to EVs.

Following an “S-curve” trajectory, already established by leading EV markets in northern Europe and China, implies that EV sales will increase at least sixfold by 2030, to enjoy a market share of 62% to 86% of sales, the analysis shows.

By contrast, current established projections see EVs reaching only around 40% market share by 2030, despite having been consistently revised higher to try and keep up with the exponential growth already under way.

As internal combustion cars account for around a quarter of global oil demand and broader road transport accounts for nearly half, the exponential growth of EVs puts all of that demand at risk.

Oil demand for cars peaked in 2019 and will be falling by at least one million barrels per day (mbpd) every year after 2030, eliminating expected growth in oil demand for cars, according to the RMI forecasts.

The analysis reveals economics is now overtaking policy incentives as the core accelerant of EV sales, with falling battery costs the lead driver.

RMI expects battery costs to halve this decade, from $151 per kWh to between $60 and 90 per kWh, making EVs for the first time as cheap to buy as petrol cars in every market by 2030, as well as cheaper to run.

EV dominance in car sales will inevitably drive electrification across other forms of road transport.

Kingsmill Bond, Senior Principal at RMI, said: “Electric vehicles are on track to dominate global car sales by 2030, signalling the endgame for the largest sector of oil demand.

“And where cars lead so the rest of transport will follow: exponential change is spreading to two-wheelers across the Global South and to trucks in China.

“This is good news for cutting emissions and improving public health. But it also shifts money from the hands of petrostates into the pockets of consumers.”

Joel Jaeger, Senior Research Associate at Systems Change Lab, said: “Not every country is the same, but when it comes to EV sales they are all following a similar pattern of exponential growth.

“Scandinavia and China have been the leaders up to this point, but they have paved the way for other countries to follow in their footsteps, or go even faster.”

Professor Mei Mei Aileen Lam, from the EEIST project, said: “Coordinated policy action to phase out fossil-fuelled vehicles by 2035 in the EU, US and China can bring forward EV purchase-price parity by years, in those markets and beyond. It would bring forward the tipping point in India a whole three years from 2027 to 2024. It would enable a faster, cheaper – and therefore fairer – transition for everyone.”

Kelly Levin, Chief of Science, Data and Systems Change at the Bezos Earth Fund, said: “Several large vehicle markets are proving it’s possible to quickly course-correct on fossil-fuelled vehicle sales in favour of EVs.

“Global momentum towards zero-emission road transportation is clearly building, and these advancements should capture policymakers’ attention to act expeditiously.

“The complete phase out of fossil-fuelled vehicles is in reach.”

Professor Tim Lenton, from the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter, said: “Positive tipping points have the power to bring about rapid, transformative change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“In the case of electric vehicles, the price-parity tipping point not only accelerates the switch from petrol and diesel cars – it also drives down the price of batteries, which helps in other areas such as the transition to renewable energy, as a renewables-based power grid relies on cheap energy storage.”

Simon Sharpe, Director of Economics for the Climate Champions Team and Policy Impact Lead of the EEIST project, said: “Strong policy has got the transition to electric vehicles started, and just because the transition is now gathering pace does not mean that any government should take its foot off the accelerator. 

“Zero-emission vehicle mandates, investment in charging infrastructure, purchase incentives, and battery recycling standards can all help people to enjoy the benefits of low-cost, zero-emission, sustainable road transport sooner.”

China is on course for 90% EV sales by 2030, up from a third today, with a growing number of markets on similar S-curves to hit up to 80% market share by the same date, as the race for EV supremacy speeds up, the research from RMI shows.

China sold more EVs last year than the rest of the world combined, thanks to strong policy support, and dominates production of EVs, batteries and other components, which is further driving down battery costs and making EV adoption easier all over the world.

Countries including China, the Netherlands and Norway have already shown that it is possible to grow EV sales fast enough to meet climate goals, according to separate research released today from Systems Change Lab, an initiative convened by World Resources Institute and the Bezos Earth Fund.

Now, a diverse range of countries are showing a similar pattern of exponential growth as EV sales in these countries quickly accelerate up an S-curve once 1% of car sales are EVs.  

Later-adopting countries, such as India and Israel, are now seeing EV sales growth at faster rates than the global average due to falling costs and advancing technology, meaning they have a chance to catch up with the front-runners, the Systems Change Lab research shows.

India’s all-electric vehicle sales tripled in one year from 0.4% to 1.5%, a feat that took the rest of the world three years, indicating the country is at the early stages of an S-curve trend.

A rapid shift in purchasing decisions is likely to occur once EVs become cheaper than fossil-fuelled vehicles to buy, according to a third, separate piece of research by the University of Exeter’s Economics of Energy Innovation and System Transition (EEIST) project.

This purchase price-parity “tipping point” is expected as early as 2024 in Europe, 2025 in China, 2026 in the US and 2027 in India for medium-sized cars, and even sooner for smaller vehicles – in China, small EVs are already cheaper than fossil-fuelled equivalents.

When both the costs of operation and purchase are accounted for, EVs are already cheaper to own than petrol or diesel cars in the EU and China, and the US will achieve the same within the next one or two years. 

The EEIST project research also finds that coordinated international action, whereby the US, EU and China align their regulatory trajectories so that all their new car sales are zero emissions by 2035, can bring forward this purchase-price parity tipping point by up to three years.

This would not only benefit the transitions of the largest markets but would accelerate cost declines globally, enabling a faster transition for all.

These three large markets have global impact, together accounting for 60% of the global car market.

Meanwhile, under the Accelerating to Zero Coalition, over 220 signatories to the ZEV declaration, which includes countries representing 12% of the global car and van market committed to 100% ZEV sales by 2040 globally and 2035 in leading markets, are helping to drive widespread progress through a shared pathway.

Plus, over 100 corporate members of EV100 are helping to accelerate the transition and driving investment decisions at scale.

As we look ahead to COP28 Transport Day on 6 December, more countries, companies and sub nationals are expected to announce shared pathways and clear phase out dates, acknowledging the critical role the transport sector plays in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Road transport alone accounts for around 10% of global emissions.