How EV Adoption Is Transforming Global Transport Emissions

The transport sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for around 20% of global emissions. In the United States, transport accounts for approximately 29% of total GHG emissions, including both direct and indirect emissions from electricity use, based on 2022 data from the EPA.

The largest sources of transport-related emissions include passenger cars, light-duty trucks (such as sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, and minivans), and medium- to heavy-duty trucks.

Given the sector’s significant contribution to climate change, reducing transport emissions is essential for achieving global climate goals.

Comparing emissions: ICE, hybrid, and electric vehicles

Using the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) life-cycle assessment approach, emissions from a typical internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a battery electric vehicle (BEV) can be compared over their entire lifetimes.

The findings show that a PHEV produces around 32% fewer emissions than an ICE vehicle, while a BEV produces approximately 54% fewer emissions than an ICE and 32% fewer than a PHEV over a 15-year lifespan.

Although manufacturing an electric vehicle (EV) is more carbon-intensive, primarily due to battery production, most emissions from conventional vehicles occur during use. Because EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, their lifetime emissions are significantly lower, ultimately offsetting the higher emissions generated during manufacturing.

The WRI article features the top countries for EV adoption and sales, along with the factors contributing to these trends.

Global EV adoption and market leaders

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly attractive to consumers, driven by technological improvements and strong government support. In 2024, EVs accounted for 22% of global passenger car sales, more than five times as much as five years earlier.

The top five countries for EV sales volume in 2024 were China (11.3 million units), the United States (1.5 million), Germany (570,000), the United Kingdom (550,000), and France (450,000).

However, sales volume alone does not fully capture adoption rates. When measured as a share of total car sales, Norway leads globally with 92%, followed by Denmark (56%), Finland (50%), and both the Netherlands and China at 48%. In comparison, EVs account for around 10% of total car sales in the United States.

China remains the dominant player overall, both in total sales and market share. Notably, one in every two cars sold in China in 2024 was electric. In the European Union, EVs accounted for roughly one in five new car sales, while in the United States, the figure was closer to one in ten.

Policy, infrastructure, and the future of transport

Norway and China are widely recognised as global leaders in EV adoption, largely due to sustained government support. Norway introduced incentives as early as the 1990s and set a target to phase out ICE vehicles by 2025. The country has also invested heavily in EV charging infrastructure, resulting in the highest number of public fast chargers per capita worldwide.

China, meanwhile, has pursued a long-term strategy that includes subsidies, tax incentives, and large-scale investments in charging infrastructure and research and development. Early pilot programmes began in 2009, helping to drive down battery costs and establish China as a global leader in EV manufacturing and adoption.

Despite rapid growth in EV uptake, electrification alone will not fully decarbonise the transport sector.

Additional measures are needed, including phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles, reducing reliance on large SUVs, and promoting alternative modes of transport such as public transit, cycling, and walking.