Electric car sales in the European Union have reached record levels this year, according to a study published on Monday, as a growing range of lower-priced models helps accelerate the shift towards battery-powered vehicles.
The report by Brussels-based clean transport advocacy group Transport & Environment (T&E) found that 1.64 million battery-electric cars were sold in the EU between January and August, up 45% from the same period last year. These vehicles accounted for 22% of new car sales over the eight months.
Affordability is playing an increasingly important role. T&E projects that sales of electric models with starting prices below €25,000 will rise sevenfold in 2026 compared with 2024. The group argues that expanding the choice of smaller, cheaper cars is bringing electric mobility within reach of more buyers.
The study links the rollout to EU vehicle emissions targets, which are encouraging manufacturers to increase electric sales. Around 60 new battery-electric models are expected to reach the market this year, compared with an annual average of approximately 15 between 2021 and 2025.
Higher petrol and diesel prices are also strengthening the appeal of electric cars. T&E said the combination of broader model choice and rising fuel costs had helped lift demand. Battery-electric vehicles outsold pure petrol cars across a full quarter for the first time in the EU during the second quarter of 2026.
However, the transition continues to face practical obstacles. Earlier reporting on Europe’s electric car market highlighted gaps in public charging infrastructure, particularly for people living in apartments who cannot easily charge at home. Addressing those barriers remains important for sustaining growth beyond buyers with convenient access to charging.
T&E urged European policymakers to preserve longer-term emissions targets, warning that weakening them could slow investment in affordable electric models. That assessment is the advocacy group’s policy position; its latest sales findings nevertheless point to a market gaining momentum as manufacturers offer buyers more accessible options.
