Yes. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are gaining ground: they made up 65% of electric-car sales worldwide in 2025. The broader electric-car market topped 20 million sales, up 20% from 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). That broader total includes both BEVs and plug-in hybrids, so it should not be read as BEV sales alone.
What the global sales figures say
The IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2026 reports that electric-car sales exceeded 20 million worldwide in 2025, a 20% increase from 2024. Electric cars accounted for one-quarter of new-car sales that year. The IEA’s electric-car category includes battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids.
Within that category, BEVs accounted for 65% of electric-car sales in 2025. This is a share of electric-car sales—not a claim that BEVs made up 65% of all cars sold. The distinction matters because plug-in hybrids are included in the headline electric-car total but are not battery-electric vehicles.
Where the momentum is strongest
Global growth does not mean every market is moving at the same pace. The IEA’s regional figures show different scales and sales shares across major markets:
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Charge with Confidence: ChargePoint builds reliable, flexible EV charging stations for home, business, and fleets. Get 24/7 support and access to hundreds of thousands of North American charging locations.
- Charge Smart: With the user-friendly ChargePoint Mobile App, you can control your electric car charger, manage reminders, connect to smart home devices, find stations, get data and charging info, and access the latest features. Note: WiFi is needed for certain functionalities and troubleshooting steps if connectivity issues arise.
- Vast Network: Wherever you go, ChargePoint’s network includes 274k+ stations across North America and Europe and 565k+ roaming partner stations.
- Safe & Durable: Rely on this UL-certified EV charger for safe home charging. It can be installed indoors or outdoors by an electrician and includes a cold-resistant cable.
- Fast & Powerful: This EV charger charges 9× faster than a 120V outlet, delivering up to 45 mi/hr., dependent upon your vehicle. It features a J1772 connector for all non-Tesla EVs and requires a 20A or 80A circuit. For Tesla EVs, this will require an adapter.
| Market | IEA-reported result for 2025 |
|---|---|
| China | Accounted for more than half of the global increase in electric-car sales. |
| Europe | Electric-car sales rose 30% to more than 4 million. |
| United States | Electric cars remained just below 10% of new-car sales. |
These are electric-car figures, not BEV-only figures. They also do not establish the outlook for an individual country or buyer: local costs, available models, charging access and policy can differ substantially. See the IEA’s regional analysis for its market context.
Is range still a problem?
Range remains a practical consideration, but the average figure is only part of the answer. The IEA reports that average BEV range was almost 380 km and had plateaued in recent years. That is an average, not a promise about any particular vehicle, and real-world suitability depends on the routes and charging options available to a driver.
Rank #2
- Charge with Confidence: ChargePoint builds reliable, flexible EV charging stations for home, business, and fleets. Get 24/7 support and access to hundreds of thousands of North American charging locations
- Charge Smart: With the user-friendly ChargePoint Mobile App, you can control your electric car charger, manage reminders, connect to smart home devices, find stations, get data and charging info, and access the latest features
- Vast Network: Wherever you go, ChargePoint’s network includes 274k+ stations across North America and Europe and 565k+ roaming partner stations
- Safe & Durable: Rely on this UL-certified EV charger for safe home charging. It can be installed indoors or outdoors by an electrician and includes a cold-resistant cable
- Fast & Powerful: This EV charger charges 9× faster than a 120V outlet, delivering up to 45 mi/hr., dependent upon your vehicle. It features a J1772 connector for all non-Tesla EVs and plugs into a 240V outlet with a 14-50 receptacle, requiring a 40A or 50A circuit. For Tesla EVs, this will require an adapter
The IEA links the expansion of public charging, including long-distance corridors, with reduced range anxiety. Range and charging coverage therefore work together: a vehicle’s rated distance between charges is more useful when drivers can access reliable charging where they travel. The report discusses these trends in its electric-vehicle charging analysis.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to make of the 2026 figure
The IEA estimated that electric-car sales could reach 23 million in 2026, close to 30% of global car sales. This is an outlook estimate based on market trends through the first quarter of 2026, not a final count of 2026 sales. It should be kept separate from the observed 2025 results.
Rank #3
- WORKS WITH EVERY NON-TESLA EV: Standard J1772 connector plugs straight into Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Rivian, Lucid and every other EV or plug-in hybrid sold with a J1772 port - no adapter needed. Tesla drivers can charge too, using the J1772 adapter that comes with the car.
- PLUG IN, NO HARDWIRING: Level 2 charger delivers up to 40A to fully charge most EVs overnight. Plugs into a 240V, 4-prong NEMA 14-50 outlet (the RV/range type - NOT a dryer outlet) on a dedicated 50A circuit. The extra-long 25 ft cable easily reaches across a garage or driveway. Before ordering, check your car's port type and that you have the right outlet.
- CONTROL & SAVE FROM YOUR PHONE: A stronger built-in antenna keeps the charger online even in a garage or basement. Use the free app to start/stop charging, set speed (6-40A), get reminders, and track energy use and cost. Schedule off-peak overnight charging to cut your electric bill. Requires 2.4 GHz WiFi.
- SAFETY-CERTIFIED & WEATHERPROOF: Independently tested and certified (UL, ETL, FCC, Energy Star). A fully sealed IP66 / NEMA 4 housing stands up to rain, snow, heat and dust indoors or out, and internal steel shielding protects the electronics for years of reliable use.
- GLOW-IN-THE-DARK HOLSTER: The included high-visibility holster glows in the dark so you can find and dock the plug easily at night. Holds the connector securely when not in use.
Read together, the figures show substantial momentum for electric cars and a majority-BEV mix within that market, alongside significant regional variation. They do not, by themselves, establish whether a BEV is the right choice for a particular driver or what adoption will look like in a specific local market.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
