Electric Cars: A Record Year and a Forecast
A global report explains how electric-car sales changed and what may happen next.
Estimated CEFR reading level: B1. Connected factual text with comparisons and a distinction between results and predictions. Transport terms are explained below. This is an editorial estimate, not an official certification.
Five useful words
British English pronunciation (IPA). Audio uses an available English voice on your device.
electric /ɪˈlektrɪk/
adjectiveUsing electricity for power.
An electric bus stops outside the station.
sales /seɪlz/
plural nounThe number or value of things that people buy.
Bicycle sales increased last summer.
share /ʃeə/
nounOne part of a total amount.
A small share of our visitors arrive by train.
forecast /ˈfɔːkɑːst/
nounA statement about what is likely to happen in the future.
The weather forecast says it may rain.
charge /tʃɑːdʒ/
verbTo put electricity into a battery.
I need to charge my phone before we leave.
The story
The International Energy Agency published its Global EV Outlook on 20 May 2026. It reported more than 20 million electric car sales worldwide in 2025: 25% of new cars, or one in four.
The figures include battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Battery electric cars use stored electricity. Plug-in hybrids have a battery that can be charged from outside the car and a fuel engine.
The 25% figure describes new cars sold in 2025. It does not mean that one in four cars already on the road is electric. Older vehicles remain in use, so electric cars' share of all vehicles changes more gradually.
The IEA also forecast that electric cars would reach 28% of new car sales in 2026. That May prediction was not a completed annual count. Prices, government decisions and economic conditions could affect the result. Keep a reported result separate from a forecast.
Electric share of new car sales worldwide
2025 reported result compared with the IEA's May 2026 forecast. Includes battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids.
View the numbers as a table
| Year and status | Electric share |
|---|---|
| 2025 - reported | 25% |
| 2026 - May forecast | 28% |
Three questions
Try answering before you open the answer. You can use your own words.
- What share of new cars sold worldwide in 2025 was electric?
Show answer
25%, or one in four new cars.
- Which two types of car are included in the report's electric-car figures?
Show answer
Battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids.
- Why should we describe the 28% figure differently from the 25% figure?
Show answer
25% is a reported result for 2025. The 28% figure is the IEA's May forecast for 2026, not a completed annual count.
Let's talk about it
A few ideas to chat about - pick any that interest you.
- Would charging an electric car be easy where you live?
- What would matter most to you when choosing a car?
- How much confidence would you put in a forecast about next year's sales?
- Would you be interested in trying an electric car before deciding whether to buy one?
- What would make a public charging point convenient for people without a private garage?
Results and predictions
Use past simple for a reported result: "Electric cars made up 25% of new sales in 2025." Use expected to for a prediction: "The share was expected to reach 28% in 2026." Write one sentence about a past result and another about a forecast.
Sources and context
An original learning article by Poly-Puff, written from the factual sources below. Sources checked on 4 October 2026. The artwork and learning activities were created for this article.
