Electric vehicle adoption is growing across Europe, driven by subsidies and new models; regional comparisons show varied trends.
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Romania’s electric vehicle market has grown significantly, increasing from only seven new registrations in 2014 to over 15,000 last year, accounting for over 10% of total new car sales, driven by several factors. An analysis conducted as part of the European PULSE project examined how other European countries have developed their electric vehicle markets. Initially, EVs were not widely recognized in Romania; only a few dozen existed until around 2020 when subsidies from the Rabla Plus program spurred growth. Early challenges included limited charging stations and low range on initial models, though modern options now offer over 250 km of real-world autonomy.
The market has advanced considerably since its early days, with figures showing steady increases in new registrations across Romania between 2014 and 2023. Key drivers for growth in Romania included substantial subsidies (up to €9,000 via Rabla Plus) and the introduction of models like the Dacia Spring. Currently, nearly 50,000 electric cars are on Romanian roads, with Dacia Spring making up about 40% of them.
In comparison, Greece is seeing strong growth due to government incentives offering subsidies up to €8,000 and rewards for scrapping old vehicles, although high purchase costs still make EVs a luxury for most citizens. Spain has seen a thirty-fold increase in electric vehicle registrations over six years, supported by the MOVES III plan providing grants up to €7,000.
Across Europe, while the total EU market saw growth in 2023, new full-electric car registrations experienced an 11% drop last month across the EU. In Romania, registrations fell by 36% compared to March 2023, though the three-month total showed an 8% increase over Q1 2023.
