Globally, four countries are leading the way in electrification. These are Norway, the Netherlands, China and Singapore. China is the dominant force in the electric vehicle market, accounting for about 65% of total electric vehicle sales. It is also the only country where the market price of new electric vehicles is lower than their internal combustion engine counterparts.

In a survey conducted, four key areas (government incentives, infrastructure, supply and demand) were assessed. The analysis of the data showed that there were several countries that experienced less progress in electrification in 2025 compared to 2024. This was because there were no government subsidies. Norway is the leading European country in electric vehicle adoption and now leads the “old continent”, but also in the market for used electric vehicles, with Norwegian drivers showing more interest in buying a used electric vehicle than drivers in other countries.

A study by financial firm PwC analysed the readiness of 28 countries to adopt electric cars. This showed that France, Germany and the UK scored well on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, as well as supply and demand, but have little government incentives. Spain and Poland, on the other hand, have more generous subsidies but weaker infrastructure. Much effort to develop electrification in Europe is being made by Italy, the Netherlands and Slovakia. The consultancy says subsidies, tax exemptions and benefits play a key role in convincing consumers to switch to electric vehicles.

Middle Eastern countries have the lowest demand for electric vehicles, a position attributed to cheap supplies of fossil fuels, although the study suggests that Saudi Arabia’s heavy investment in renewable energy could accelerate the transition to battery power.

The most compelling argument for the adoption of electric vehicles, according to the study, is the lower energy cost of electricity compared to gasoline or diesel, which is enhanced by the possibility of home charging, where energy is much cheaper than energy sold by public fast chargers.