Chapter 01 · Climate & transitionEnergy & Transition
Battery electric vehicle (BEV)
Definition
A road vehicle propelled entirely by one or more electric motors powered by an externally rechargeable battery pack, with no internal combustion engine. BEVs are distinguished from plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which retain a combustion engine, and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which generate electricity from hydrogen on board. BEVs made up around 65% of global electric car sales in 2025.
References
Definitions distinguishing BEV, PHEV and FCEV; sales and stock data by vehicle type.
2025 sales >20 million electric cars (25% of new car sales); BEV share ~65% of electric sales; regional breakdown.
Overview
What it means
BEVs have zero tailpipe emissions; their life-cycle advantage over combustion vehicles depends on electricity carbon intensity and battery production impacts, and grows as grids decarbonise. In 2025 more than 20 million electric cars were sold worldwide — one in four new cars — with China the largest market (over 13 million electric cars, ~55% of new car sales).
How it is used
Policy drives adoption through emission standards, purchase incentives and charging infrastructure; lifecycle and footprint analysis compares BEVs with alternatives across use phases. Battery supply chains (critical minerals, manufacturing emissions, end-of-life) are the main sustainability frontier for the segment.
Why it matters
Road transport is a leading source of energy-related emissions, and BEVs paired with clean power are its primary scalable decarbonisation route — making sales shares and fleet turnover key indicators of transition pace.