A new report from European clean transport organisation T&E has predicted that the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) priced at or below €25,000 ($A40,000) is set to rise seven-fold this year compared to 2024.
“European drivers are gaining access to a rapidly expanding range of more affordable electric cars,” T&E explained in a recent EV progress report, a scenario that the organisation expects will continue to help Europeans protect themselves from costly oil dependence.
The latest progress report shows that electric car sales have already hit record highs this year, with 1.64 million battery EVs (BEVs) sold in the first eight months of the year – a 45 per cent increase over 2025.
BEVs also outsold petrol cars for the first time over a full quarter in Q2.
With a range of new EVs entering the market, T&E expects the sale of models with a starting price below the €25,000 mark to be seven-times higher in 2026 than what was seen in 2024.
These high-water marks are being driven, at least in part, by strong regulations which are helping to bring affordable models to market. Almost 40 new BEV models have already been introduced through the first half of 2026, with that number expected to increase to 60 by year’s end – taking the total number of BEVs available in Europe to over 170.
“European drivers are finally seeing more of the smaller and more affordable electric cars they have been waiting for,” said Lucien Mathieu, cars director at T&E.
“The oil crisis has further fuelled the rush by European consumers for affordable small electric cars.
“VW’s ID. Polo was quickly sold out, with over 40,000 orders and a 10-month waitlist.
“European car makers were complaining about the lack of demand for a long time. Now we can clearly see: The issue was not the demand, but what they had to offer. The consumer’s appetite for small affordable electric cars proves the car makers’ claims wrong.”
T&E’s progress report also showed that EVs are delivering lower running costs and protection from rapidly increasing fuel prices.
