10% of electric cars sold in the first six months of 2022 are 100% electric. In July 2021 alone, the increase in the sale of this type of car is 61% when compared to the same month in 2021. In fact, one million electric cars are expected to be registered for the first time in September 2022.
July also represents the fourth month in a row that non-plug-in hybrids see their market share reduced, so the trend seems to be towards full or partial electrification, although we are not very fans of the latter. If we separate by type of car, the year-on-year growth of July 2022 is especially important for 100% electric cars —representing 73%— versus plug-in hybrids, which stood at 36%.
But there is an interesting fact. As José Pontes explains in cleantechnica, if we exclude the sale of plug-in hybrid cars in China, the year-on-year growth of this type of vehicle is negative, at -20%. It would be the fifth month in a row that sees the drop in sales of these cars.
Consequently, it is possible that the market has passed the height of plug-in hybrids, and we are beginning to enter fully into the era of 100% electric vehicles. It is especially relevant in order to meet the goal of having a new fully electrified vehicle fleet by 2035.
The real competition in sales for the next few years, at a global level, does not point to traditional brands, but to Tesla versus BYD. In July alone, the latter sold 160,000 cars, both plug-in hybrids and 100% electric, a growth of 20.6% in year-on-year sales. Although the vast majority of the company’s sales are still in China, European expansion is imminent.
The 10 best-selling electric cars of 2022
Tesla maintains the crown as the company that sells the most electric cars in the world. It is estimated that in 2022 it will deliver one and a half million vehicles. The ModelY remains in first place with Model 3 In the third. Throughout the second half of 2022 we will see a considerable increase in SUV sales crossover of the Californian company, with the introduction of the base model in Europe, with a very attractive price.
The second model on the list, the Wuling Hong Guang Mini EVIt is the cheapest electric car in the world. It has a price of 3,500 euros. It arises from a curious collaboration between GM, SAIC and Wuling. Although it is designed for the city, evidenced by its size, its batteries of 9 kWh or 14 kWh capacity. In Europe it is available under the make/model of Dartz FreZe Nikrob.
Car | Sold units |
---|---|
Tesla Model Y | 344,928 |
Wuling Hong Guang Mini EV | 244,961 |
Tesla Model 3 | 236,518 |
BYD SongPlus | 196,875 |
BYD QinPlus | 162,610 |
BYD Han | 122,518 |
VW ID.4 | 82,632 |
BYD Dolphin | 79,151 |
BYD Yuan Plus | 74,258 |
Li Xiang One | 70,826 |