April 27, 2023: Electric car sales increased to over 10 million last year, with China accounting for almost 60% of the market, according to a document from the International Energy Agency published on Wednesday.

The record sales figures within the IEA’s Global E.V. Outlook for 2023 continue a sustained growth trend for the industry.

“Electric car sales, which include battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, overcoming 10 million last year, up 55% relative to 2021,” the IEA’s report stated.

“This figure of 10 million E.V. sales worldwide goes over the total number of cars sold across the European Union (about 9.5 million vehicles) and is almost half of the total number of cars sold in China in 2022,” added. 

The IEA defined “sales” in its report as “an estimate of the number of new cars hitting the roads.”

It said over 26 million electric cars will be on the world’s roads in 2022, representing a 60% increase relative to 2021.

Plug-in hybrid E.V., or PHEVs, have an internal engine and a battery-powered electric motor.

Some regard them as an essential tool in the transition toward low- and zero-emission creation of transport. Others, which include organizations such as Greenpeace U.K., take a dim view of them.

The Paris-based IEA, seen as an authoritative voice on energy changes, estimated worldwide sales to reach almost 14 million in 2023.

“This explosive increase means electric cars’ share of the overall car market has risen from almost 4% in 2020 to 14% and is set to increase more than to 18% this year, based on the recent IEA projections,” a statement accompanying the report stated.