Global EV market in 2021.

Electric car sales reached a record high in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Compared with 2020, sales nearly doubled to 6.6 million (a sales share of nearly 9%), bringing the total number of electric cars on the road to 16.5 million. 

Sales in 2021 were the highest in China at 3.3 million (tripling 2020 sales), followed by Europe with 2.3 million sold in 2021 (up from 1.4 million in 2020). In the United States, electric car sales doubled their market share to 4.5% in 2021, reaching 630 000 sold. Across emerging markets, electric car sales more than doubled, but sales volumes remain low.

Charging facilities

Deployment of publicly available EV charging points increased by close to 40% in 2021, although in 2020 the growth rate was higher at 45%. 

China continues to maintain its lead in the number of publicly available chargers, accounting for about 85% of fast chargers and 55% of slow chargers worldwide. In 2021, 680 000 slow chargers were installed in China, followed by Europe with over 300 000 installations (up 30% on 2020), and the United States with 92 000 deployed (up 12% on 2020). 

Publicly accessibility fast chargers facilitate longer journeys. As they are increasingly deployed, they will enable longer trips, encourage consumers that lack access to private charging to purchase an EV, and tackle range anxiety as a barrier for EV adoption. 

The number of fast chargers reached almost 470 000 in China in 2021 (up 52% from 2020), while in Europe the number increased to nearly 50 000, followed by the United States at 22 000.