E-cars and hybrids on the rise in Europe
October 28, 2016
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association reported Friday that demand for alternative fuel vehicles (AFV) in the EU grew by 7 percent to 137,423 units in the third quarter year on year.
It pointed out, though, that results were quite diverse among different car categories. ACEA said new registrations of both electrically chargeable (ECV) and hybrid electric vehicles continued their positive momentum, posting double-digit percentage gains during the last quarter, with a 20.2-percent and a 29.2-percent increase respectively.
The association noted that growth in the ECV segment was driven first and foremost by plug-in electric cars, with a gain of 26.4 percent in the third quarter.
EFTA's Norway leading the field
By contrast, demand for cars powered by propane, ethanol or natural gas dropped by 26.2 percent to 34,384 units in the period under review. ACEA said the reason behind this fall had been a contraction of the Italian market, which accounted for the majority of these vehicles.
Among the EU's major markets, Spain, Germany and the UK recorded the most substantial increases in AFV registrations.
Among the EU+EFTA nations, Norway maintained its leading position with the largest number of electrically chargeable vehicles registered in the third quarter. It added another 11,287 units, up 44.1 percent compared with the same quarter a year earlier.