Pure electric vehicles (EVs) are regaining their lost ground in mainland China as new battery technologies ease range anxiety while lower lithium prices make it increasingly affordable for consumers to own environmentally friendly cars.
Advertisement
Sales of pure electric cars, also known as battery EVs (BEVs), reached 1.93 million units in the first quarter, a 48 per cent surge from a year earlier, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Sales of plug-in hybrid cars jumped 46 per cent to 1.15 million units.
“We are witnessing a shift in consumer sentiment with growing interest in BEVs this year,” UBS analyst Paul Gong told a media briefing on Friday. “The market share of BEVs has bounced back since they hit an all-time low in mid-2024.”
EVs comprise pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars, or PHEVs. Hybrid cars run a short distance on battery and switch to fuel for longer drives. Cars with extended-range battery technology fall into the hybrid category, using a small internal-combustion engine to generate additional power to charge the battery when needed.
03:30
Global carmakers cede world’s largest auto show to Chinese EVs
Global carmakers cede world’s largest auto show to Chinese EVs
BEVs made up 63 per cent of total EV deliveries last quarter in the world’s largest automotive and EV market, increasing their market share from 53 per cent in July, when more consumers opted for plug-in vehicles on cost and range advantages.
Advertisement
Extended-range EVs (EREVs) were about 10 per cent cheaper than pure EVs last year, because of the high cost of the big battery packs required to power up to 500km of driving range in pure EVs.