Skyrocketing electric vehicle sales: a record-breaking surge in new registrations
The world is witnessing a significant shift in the automotive industry, with electric cars (EVs) gaining popularity and dominating new car registrations in many countries. This trend reflects a growing shift away from combustion-engine vehicles and an accelerating traffic revolution towards electrification and alternative drive systems.
In Ireland, new private electric car registrations in the first seven months of 2025 rose by 34%, reaching 17,075 vehicles. The share of EVs among new private cars increased from 14% to 17%, while new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) saw a 56% rise, increasing their share from 9% to 15%. Consequently, petrol and diesel cars’ combined share dropped from 56% to 44% in the same period. July 2025 alone reflected a 64% rise in new EV licenses compared with July 2024.
On a global scale, electric passenger cars (battery electric vehicles, BEVs) have seen their share jump from about 1.9% of new registrations in 2019 to 14.5% by Q1 2025. This trend includes growth in other alternative drivetrains, such as extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs), while combustion engine cars declined from over 91% to 56.7% worldwide in seven years.
In New Zealand, the light vehicle fleet includes about 85,000 fully electric vehicles plus 39,500 plug-in hybrids, with significant increases in popular EV manufacturers like Tesla (+29%) and BYD (+115%) indicating robust market growth and consumer adoption.
For Europe, despite an overall 4.4% decline in new passenger vehicle registrations in June 2025 compared to last year, all-electric car sales increased by 15%, and plug-in hybrid sales surged by 40%.
The rise in electric car registrations is a clear driver in the ongoing traffic revolution. Lower purchase prices and charging infrastructure are needed to make electric cars more cost-effective. However, after about 60,000 kilometers of usage, electric cars outperform conventional cars in terms of environmental impact, according to ADAC studies.
Moreover, technological progress is evident, with a new "Super Battery" potentially providing significantly more range. This development could further boost the popularity and efficiency of electric cars.
In July, electric car registrations reached a peak, with more electric cars on the roads than ever before. The trend towards electric cars continues, with a significant increase in their registration numbers. Future developments are likely to continue this trajectory with growing regulatory support, decreasing battery costs, expanded charging networks, and innovations in vehicle technology further accelerating the transition.
Market trends indicate an expectation that EVs will dominate new car sales within several years, profoundly altering traffic patterns, urban planning, and energy consumption related to transport.
- Finance companies are taking notice of the shift in the automotive industry towards electric vehicles (EVs), as they forecast a surge in demand for EV loans and investment in charging infrastructure, reflecting the expectation that EVs will dominantly take over new car sales within several years.
- With advancements in technology playing a crucial role in the success of electric vehicles, sports organizations are considering adopting electric vehicles as their official transportation method for events, leveraging the growing popularity and efficiency of these vehicles to showcase their commitment to sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint.
