Key points from the timeline
- The timeline picks one milestone a year from 2012 to 2023, moving from Norway and the Netherlands to South Korea, Germany, the United States and India.
- Norway reached a 3% plug-in share of new car sales in 2012 and the graphic gives it 90% in 2023. The country’s share was in fact 3.1% in 2012 [1] and about 93% in 2023 [9].
- Germany registered 394,632 plug-in cars in 2020, the most in Europe, helped by a purchase bonus raised to €9,000 [3].
- The United States set a target in 2021 for half of new vehicles sold in 2030 to be zero emission [6]. India’s plan aims for 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 [8].
- Several 2023 market shares on the graphic are lower than the plug-in shares reported for that year. See the notes below.
The timeline in text
Title: Global Electric Vehicle Revolution, A World in Transition. Subtitle: From Nordic leadership to Asian manufacturing might, explore how different nations are approaching the EV transition, each with unique strategies and ambitious targets.
- 2012, Norway, Pioneers EV Movement: Sets global benchmark with 3% market share through innovative incentives.
- 2015, Netherlands, Hits 10% Plugin Share: Dutch market shows early adoption through tax benefits and charging infrastructure.
- 2018, South Korea, Launches EV Initiative: Hyundai Kia emerges as global EV player with Kona and Niro models, backed by government subsidies.
- 2020, Germany, Leads European Surge: Becomes Europe’s largest EV market with 395,000 new registrations and increased incentives up to €9,000.
- 2021, United States, Sets 50% EV Goal: Biden administration targets 50% EV sales by 2030, investing $7.5B in charging infrastructure.
- 2022, India, Announces EV Policy: Targets 30% EV sales by 2030 with FAME II scheme and state incentives.
- 2023, Multiple Markets Hit Milestones: Norway 90%, China 25%, Sweden 55%, Germany 18%, UK 17% EV market share achieved.
Sources printed on the graphic: IEA Global EV Outlook 2023; BloombergNEF Electric Vehicle Outlook; EV Volumes Global Database; Transport and Environment EV Market Monitor. Credit: Crafted with StatPecker.
Checking each milestone
Norway and the Netherlands
Norway’s plug-in share of new car sales rose from 1.6% in 2011 to 3.1% in 2012 and 5.6% in 2013 [1]. In the Netherlands 43,769 plug-in cars were registered in 2015, a record 9.74% of new car sales, the second highest share after Norway [2]. Both figures match the graphic once rounded.
South Korea and Germany
The Hyundai Kona Electric was released in South Korea in the first half of 2018 and then rolled out worldwide [4], and an electric Kia Niro was also launched in 2018 [5]. In Germany a record 394,632 plug-in cars were registered in 2020, up 263% on 2019, making it Europe’s top selling plug-in market for a second year [3]. The purchase bonus for all electric cars costing under €40,000 was raised from €6,000 to €9,000 [3].
United States and India
In August 2021 the White House announced an executive order setting a target for half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 to be zero emission, a group that includes battery electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles [6]. The $7.5 billion for a national network of chargers came in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed on 15 November 2021 [7]. In India the national mission plan aims for 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 [8]. The FAME scheme began in 2015, and its second phase, FAME II, started in 2019 [8].
2023 market shares
| Country | Graphic, 2023 | Plug-in share of new cars, 2023 (IEA via Wikipedia) |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | 90% | 93.0% |
| Sweden | 55% | 60.0% |
| China | 25% | 37.0% |
| Germany | 18% | 24.6% |
| United Kingdom | 17% | 24.0% |
The right hand column counts battery electric and plug-in hybrid cars together [9]. The graphic does not say what it counts, which may explain some of the gap.
Notes on this infographic
- The 2023 figures on the graphic are lower than the plug-in market shares in the table above, by 3 to 12 percentage points. We could not match them to a single source.
- India’s FAME II scheme started in 2019, not 2022 [8]. The 30% figure is a target for electric vehicle penetration under the national mission plan [8].
- The US goal is half of new vehicle sales being zero emission vehicles, which includes plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles, not only battery electric cars [6].
- Germany’s 2020 total is 394,632 plug-in cars, which the graphic rounds to 395,000 [3].
- This is a policy timeline for 2012 to 2023. It does not cover the earlier history of electric cars.
Questions about electric car adoption by country
What percentage of new cars sold in Norway are electric?
Plug-in cars made up about 93% of new car sales in Norway in 2023, counting battery electric and plug-in hybrid cars together [9]. The timeline graphic gives Norway 90% for 2023. A decade earlier the share was far lower, at 3.1% in 2012, up from 1.6% in 2011 [1].
How many electric cars were sold in Germany in 2020?
Germany registered a record 394,632 plug-in cars in 2020, up 263% on 2019, making it Europe's top selling plug-in market for a second year [3]. The timeline rounds this to 395,000. The purchase bonus for all electric cars costing under €40,000 was raised from €6,000 to €9,000 [3].
What is the US electric vehicle target for 2030?
In August 2021 the White House set a target for half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 to be zero emission [6]. That group includes battery electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, not only battery electric cars [6]. The $7.5 billion for a national network of chargers came in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed on 15 November 2021 [7].
What is India's electric vehicle target for 2030?
India's national mission plan aims for 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 [8]. The timeline describes this as a target of 30% EV sales by 2030 with the FAME II scheme and state incentives, and places it in 2022. In fact the FAME scheme began in 2015 and its second phase, FAME II, started in 2019 [8].
Sources
- Wikipedia, Plug-in electric vehicles in Norway, section Evolution of market share.
- Wikipedia, Plug-in electric vehicles in the Netherlands.
- Wikipedia, Plug-in electric vehicles in Germany.
- Wikipedia, Hyundai Kona Electric.
- Wikipedia, Kia Niro.
- The White House (archived), Fact sheet, President Biden announces steps to drive American leadership forward on clean cars and trucks, 5 August 2021.
- Wikipedia, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- Wikipedia, Electric vehicle industry in India.
- Wikipedia, Electric car use by country, table of plug-in stock, sales and market share in 2023, citing the IEA Global EV Outlook.
Last reviewed 30 October 2026
