The UK has ranked 10th out of 47 countries globally for EV maturity in a new study by Ayvens.

Ayvens’ 2024 Mobility Guide show EV maturity is progressing at varying speeds

The 2024 Mobility Guide from the leasing giant evaluates markets on six core factors and hurdles when transitioning to an electrified fleet, giving an overall country maturity score on a scale from 0 to 100 and revealing that EV maturity is progressing at varying speeds.

The guide assesses countries on areas ranging from EV Adoption and Charging Infrastructure, through to Taxation and regulation, Green Powertrain Offering, Sustainability Relevance and finally BEV-TCO parity vs internal combustion model equivalent comparison.

This year’s guide scores countries based on three levels of EV maturity: Developed, Transitioning and Emerging. The results help fleets make informed decisions when navigating the complexities of the evolving sustainable mobility landscape and adapting their transition strategies globally.

The annual guide draws on data from Ayvens’ fleet of 3.4 million vehicles, as well as its local presence in 42 countries and five additional countries through local alliances.

An overview and assessment of local taxation framework and regulatory requirements for electric vehicles was also compiled for 37 countries.

The results show that electrification is progressing, with Western and Northern Europe leading the way. The most advanced countries in terms of facilitating electric vehicle adoption are Norway (82/100), the Netherlands (80/100) and Finland (74/100).

These are followed by Belgium and Luxembourg (both scoring 70/100), Denmark (69/100), Austria (68/100), Switzerland (64/100) and then Germany and England (both scoring 63/100).

The report also found that 13 European countries fall into the ‘Developed’ category vs 11 in 2023, with either an established strong presence or where there are favourable conditions towards for adoption in the coming future. This increase is results from broader EV adoption and a wide range of available EV powertrains.

New geographical areas, such as Southern and Eastern Europe and Thailand (43/100), are also actively contributing to electric vehicle market growth, through greater adoption and developing charging infrastructure.

The report also reveals that a wider range of EV models and growing charging infrastructure is fostering adoption. A total of 20 countries analysed now offer more than 100 different BEV models. Over the past year, the EV market has seen a surge in the number of models available, spanning a wider range of segments for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles and including smaller and more affordable EVs.

Charging infrastructure continues to vary across countries. On a scale of 0 to 20, the Netherlands ranks as the most mature country in terms of charging infrastructure with a score of 17/20, ahead of EV pioneering Norway (15/20). Austria (16/20), Denmark (14/20), and Switzerland (12/20) has notably improved their charging infrastructure scores, providing drivers with easier access to charging facilities. However, countries such as Australia (4/20), Ireland (5/20), and Poland (5/20) face challenges as their infrastructure development struggles to keep pace with the rapid adoption of EVs.

The report also reveals that the expansion of charging infrastructures has been further bolstered by the implementation of the European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), which mandates member states to install charging points at regular interval on major highways.

The guide also shows a reversal of the BEV TCO downward trend in some EU markets from 2023 onwards. BEV TCO remains more competitive in 13 European countries – compared to 15 countries in 2023 – but overall has deteriorated compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in some markets.

In France, Sweden and Spain, TCO is now higher than ICE, notably due to the end of governmental subsidies or increase in energy costs, whereas for the UK and Austria, BEV TCO is now back at simple parity.

The guide also notes that despite a maturing market, EV adoption continues to face multiple challenges, such as price volatility, evolving TCO, geopolitical trade tensions, fragmented and changing regulation, changes in subsidies, new taxation rules, and general market conditions, which continue to shape the EV ecosystem.

Annie Pin, chief commercial officer at Ayvens, said: “The transition to electrification should and will happen, but it will take time and it will not be a linear journey. Our Mobility Guide aims to provide a nuanced and holistic approach to address the diverse set of issues that affect our customers’ transition to sustainable mobility.”

The Ayvens Mobility Guide 2024 is available to download here.