The war in the Middle East and the prices of petrol and diesel are pushing the sales of electric vehicles: share at 22% on the continent, with Germany and France in the lead and a surprising Italy at +65%
The electric car market in Europe is booming, driven by the war in the Middle East and expensive fuel. The numbers released by E-Mobility Europe and the research company New Automotive speak of a real boom. In the first quarter of the year, Battery electric vehicle registrations grew by more than 30% year-on-yearreaching almost 560 thousand units in the main markets of the continent. Even more impressive is the figure March: over 224 thousand new registrations in the 15 countries monitored, with a 51% jump compared to the same month of 2025. The market share has thus reached 22%: in practice, more than one new car in five is electric. Electric therefore not only holds up, but accelerates despite regulatory uncertainties and discussions on stopping combustion engines.
The role of war and high fuel prices in the growth of BEVs
Behind this boom there is a decisive factor: the increase in fuel prices. The rise in petrol and diesel prices is pushing families and businesses towards electric, seen as an energy security tool. According to estimates, the over 500 thousand electric cars registered since the beginning of the year will make it possible to reduce oil consumption by around 2 million barrels per year. The acceleration in March, in particular, is seen by operators as one of the most evident signs of this change: no longer a growth driven only by incentives, but by the perception of the risk linked to fossil fuels.
But, is the cost of charging electric cars immune from price increases? No, but the comparison remains clearly in favor of battery-powered vehicles. According to a study by Federcarrozzieri, traveling 100 kilometers with an electric car can cost up to 53% less than a diesel. On average, around 5.6 euros per 100 km are enough, a figure that can drop further in the cheapest time slots or go to zero for those who have a photovoltaic system. The situation is different for public charging: without subscriptions it costs around 12 euros per 100 km, a level similar to diesel. But there are dedicated packages and rates that significantly reduce costs (between 6.8 and 10.4 euros). According to estimates, in one year the savings by using electricity can reach 637 euros, a cost reduction of more than 50%.
Country-by-country data: Germany and France are leading, Northern Europe is leading
The growth of electric cars is affecting all the main European markets. Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland have recorded increases of more than 40% since the beginning of the year. With the new incentives, Germany recorded a growth of 42% and a share that in March approached 25% of new registrations. In France, where the market is supported by social leasing, the BEV share reached 28% in March, with growth close to 50%. The record is still in Northern Europe: in Denmark 76.6% of registrations in March were electric, while Finland approached 50%. Norway always at the top, here 98.4% of new cars sold are fully electric.
Italy, electric turning point: +65% and rising share
Among the large European countries, Italy is the one that surprises the most. Electric car registrations grew by 65% in the first quarter of the year, with over 38 thousand units registered. In March, monthly sales exceeded 16 thousand units and the market share rose between 7.8% and 8.6%, compared to the 5% recorded at the end of 2025. The Italian recovery is particularly relevant because it signals an extension of the transition also to the most refractory markets until now, reinforcing the idea that the transition to electric is entering a new phase.
