BEV is now challenging petrol in Europe’s largest markets
Germany and the United Kingdom are the clearest signals. In Germany, 223,980 BEVs were registered between January and April 2026, up 41.3% year on year. That puts BEV ahead of petrol, which declined to 212,478 registrations. In the UK, BEVs also moved ahead of petrol, with 176,698 BEV registrations versus 176,522 petrol registrations.
This is important because these are not small markets. Germany and the UK are Europe’s two largest Automotive markets. When BEV becomes the number-two powertrain and starts to overtake petrol, the European market structure changes.
France remains the strongest among the top five markets in BEV share, with 27.4% of new registrations fully electric. Germany and the UK are close behind, with BEV shares of 23.6% and 23.1% respectively. Southern Europe still has lower BEV penetration, Italy at 8.0% and Spain at 9.0%, but the momentum is changing quickly.
Southern Europe is accelerating
The most striking growth rates are now coming from Italy and Spain.
Italy recorded 51,286 BEV registrations, up 73.1% year on year. PHEV registrations reached 54,000, an increase of 99.2%. Spain also showed strong progress, with BEV registrations up 41.9% and PHEV registrations up 64.3%.
For the EV charging industry, this matters. Southern Europe has historically lagged Northern Europe in EV adoption and charging infrastructure density. If demand now accelerates in Italy and Spain, CPOs, utilities, OEMs, leasing companies and fleet operators will need to adjust their market priorities. The next phase of European EV growth will not only be shaped in the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and the UK. It will increasingly be shaped in the markets that are still catching up.
Petrol and diesel are in structural retreat
The decline of combustion is now visible across all major markets. Europe-wide, petrol registrations fell 16.5%, while diesel declined 16.7%. Diesel has already become a niche powertrain, with only 6.7% share across EU, EFTA and the UK.
Petrol is still larger than BEV in Europe overall, but the gap is narrowing fast. BEVs reached 978,845 registrations, compared with 1,047,346 petrol cars. That is a gap of less than 70,000 units. With BEV growing almost 30% and petrol falling more than 16%, BEV overtaking petrol as Europe’s second-largest powertrain is no longer a distant scenario. It is now a question of timing.
The Iran war adds a new energy dimension – Energy management will become increasingly important
The Iran conflict is adding another layer to this transition. Higher oil and gas prices increase the pressure on fossil-fuel mobility, but they also make energy management more strategically important for EV charging companies.
For EV adoption, higher petrol and diesel prices can strengthen the total cost of ownership case, especially for high-mileage drivers, company cars, taxis and fleets. But the benefit is not automatic. In markets where gas still heavily influences electricity prices, charging costs can also become more volatile.
That means the next competitive advantage in EV charging will not be limited to network size alone. It will be an energy strategy. Access to renewable power, dynamic pricing, smart charging, storage, grid flexibility and strong site economics will become increasingly important.
The strategic longterm implication
Europe’s powertrain hierarchy is being rewritten in real time. BEV is moving into the mainstream. PHEV is showing renewed momentum. Diesel is fading. Petrol is under direct pressure.
For investors, this creates both opportunity and risk. The opportunity lies in infrastructure, software, fleet solutions, energy services and grid-integrated charging models. The risk is assuming that EV growth will automatically translate into profitable charging growth. It will not.
The next phase for the industry will be more operational, more energy-driven and more commercially demanding.
EVBoosters, building future ready EV Charging leadership
EVBoosters (Since 2018) helps EV Charging and e-Mobility companies build the organization and leadership needed for the next phase of growth. We combine deep market expertise with leadership advisory, organizational development, and executive search, so companies do not just hire senior talent but attract the right leaders for the challenges ahead. From scaling teams to strengthening C-level capability, EVBoosters helps founders, investors, and boards prepare for what comes next.
Contact Paul Jan Jacobs for more information.
