China has retained the top position when it comes to progress toward an electric vehicle (EV) future, according to the latest EY Electric Vehicle Country Readiness Index.
New entrant to the Index, Norway, is a close second to China due to huge uptake in demand and strong regulations. Sweden, Germany and the UK round out the top five respectively.
Norway has long been a pioneer when it comes to EV adoption. This is due to strong regulation in the form of tax benefits, as well as the introduction of EV lanes and parking spaces, resulting in EVs accounting for more than 70% of all new 2021 car registrations.
Sweden’s strong energy ecosystem along with high consumer uptake (more than 40% in 2021, according to EY analysis) and strong manufacturing presence (41% of all cars produced in Sweden are expected to be electric models between 2022-26), means the country remains ahead of Germany and the UK.
Despite having the highest proportion of respondents looking to buy an EV (73%), Italy lags behind its European neighbors at 12th position. This is largely due to a lack of infrastructure.
