116 Million Electric Vehicles Will Be on the Road in 2026

In 2026, 116 million electric vehicles (EVs) – cars, buses, vans, and heavy trucks – are forecast to be on the road, according to Gartner. EVs in use are expected to grow 30% next year, as plug-in hybrid EVs would see an increase of 32% in 2026.

“Despite the U.S. government introducing tariffs on vehicle imports and many governments removing the subsidies and incentives for purchasing EVs, the number of EVs on the road is forecast to increase 30% in 2026,” said Jonathan Davenport, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. “In 2026, China is projected to account for 61% of total EV installed base, and global ownership of plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) is expected to rise 32% year-over-year as customers value the reassurance of a back-up petrol engine for use, should they need it.”

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are forecast to continue to account for well over half of the EV installed base, but there is an increasing proportion of customers choosing PHEVs. According to a Gartner report, the installed base of BEVs is expected to reach over 76.34 million units, as the installed base would reach 39.84 million vehicles.