Fact Check: Europe leads the world in electric heavy goods vehicle adoption.

Fact Check: "Europe leads the world in electric heavy goods vehicle adoption."

What We Know

The claim that "Europe leads the world in electric heavy goods vehicle adoption" is nuanced and requires a closer examination of the current data on electric heavy goods vehicles (eHGVs). According to the Global EV Outlook 2025, Europe is indeed a significant market for electric buses, with sales increasing by almost 15% in 2024, bringing the sales share to over 13%. However, when it comes to heavy-duty trucks, the market share of electric models remains relatively low. In the first quarter of 2025, electric trucks accounted for only 1.5% of total heavy-duty vehicle sales in Europe, which is a slight increase from 1% in the previous year (ICCT).

In contrast, China continues to dominate the electric heavy vehicle market, with a much larger share of electric buses and trucks. As of 2024, China holds a significant lead, with approximately 30% of its bus fleet being electric, compared to just 2% in Europe (Global EV Outlook 2025). This indicates that while Europe is making strides in electric heavy goods vehicle adoption, it does not hold the top position globally.

Analysis

The evidence suggests that Europe is a strong contender in the electric heavy goods vehicle market, particularly in the electric bus segment. The IEA report highlights that several European countries, such as Denmark, Finland, and Norway, have achieved electric bus sales shares exceeding 40%. The United Kingdom leads in overall electric bus sales within Europe, accounting for about 20% of the region's total in 2024.

However, the electric heavy-duty truck segment tells a different story. The European Heavy Duty Vehicle Market Development indicates that while the share of electric trucks is growing, it remains minimal. The increase from 0.8% to 1.5% in market share for electric trucks signifies progress but not dominance. Furthermore, the Europe Heavy Duty Trucks Market Size report notes that the market is expected to grow, but the current figures do not support the claim that Europe leads globally.

China's substantial investment in electric vehicles and its established market presence provide a stark contrast to Europe's position. The Mobility Portal corroborates this by showing that despite Europe's advancements, it still lags behind China in overall electric heavy vehicle adoption.

Conclusion

The claim that "Europe leads the world in electric heavy goods vehicle adoption" is Partially True. While Europe is indeed making significant progress in the adoption of electric buses and has a growing market for electric trucks, it does not lead globally, particularly when compared to China's substantial market share and advancements in electric heavy goods vehicles. Therefore, while Europe is a key player, it does not hold the top position in the global context.