The global electric vehicle fleet reached 39 million units by the end of 2023. During this growth, road fatalities involving electric cars fell 12.7 percent from 2019 to 2021. This article details fleet composition, policy momentum, and the emissions profile of global road transport.
Key Takeaways
- 12.7% year-over-year decrease in the global number of road fatalities from 2019 (estimated 1.3 million deaths) to 2021 (1.19 million deaths) for electric cars, showing deaths declining even as fleets change (dataset context: road fatalities involving electric cars).
- In 2022, the global number of road deaths was 1.19 million (WHO).
- In 2022, 18% of road deaths were in the 18-24 age group in the US (NHTSA).
- 57 countries had introduced 2023 vehicle or fuel-related regulations supporting road safety and/or emission reductions (share cited from UNECE transport policy updates).
- The EU aims for 100% zero-emission new cars and vans by 2035 (EU Fit for 55/Regulation context).
- ~250 million motorcycles are registered worldwide (IEA global fleet estimate for motorcycles).
- 4.3 million vehicles were recalled in 2023 in the US (NHTSA recalls report).
- ~39 million battery electric vehicles were on the road globally by end of 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook figure).
- 18.0% of all new car sales in 2023 were electric vehicles in Australia (IEA country data).
- In 2022, electric vehicles (BEV+PHEV) accounted for 14% of global new car sales (IEA global EV outlook).
- Passenger vehicles account for roughly 60% of transport energy demand globally (IEA transport energy share).
- Road transport accounts for about 72% of transport-related CO2 emissions globally (IEA fact sheet).
- In 2022, the US transportation sector was responsible for 27% of total US greenhouse gas emissions (EPA).
- In 2023, the global number of home chargers was estimated at about 74 million (IEA Global EV Outlook discussion).
- In the US, there were 34,000 DC fast charging ports in 2023 (Alternative Fuels Data Center).
Even as electric car fleets grow, electric related road deaths fell 12.7 percent from 2019 to 2021.
Related reading
01 · Category
Emissions & Energy Use6 stats
01
Passenger vehicles account for roughly 60% of transport energy demand globally (IEA transport energy share).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-transport-energy-and-emissions-factsheet/transport-energy-demand-by-mode
02
Road transport accounts for about 72% of transport-related CO2 emissions globally (IEA fact sheet).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-transport-energy-and-emissions/road-transport
03
In 2022, the US transportation sector was responsible for 27% of total US greenhouse gas emissions (EPA).https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks
04
In 2022, light-duty vehicles produced 57% of transportation sector GHG emissions in the US (EPA).https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/light-duty-vehicle-emissions
05
Global oil demand from transport was 53% in 2022 (IEA oil market report / transport oil share).https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-2024/transport-oil-demand
06
EVs reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with gasoline in most regions; lifecycle GHG varies widely with electricity generation (IPCC).https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg3/chapter/chapter-11/
Interpretation
Emissions & Energy Use Interpretation
With road transport generating about 72% of global transport CO2 and passenger vehicles using around 60% of transport energy, the emissions and energy use picture is dominated by everyday vehicles, and the US reinforces this pattern where light duty vehicles account for 57% of transportation sector greenhouse gases, while EVs can further cut lifecycle emissions depending on regional electricity generation.
02 · Category
Ev Market & Adoption5 stats
01
~39 million battery electric vehicles were on the road globally by end of 2023 (IEA Global EV Outlook figure).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/trends-and-projections
02
18.0% of all new car sales in 2023 were electric vehicles in Australia (IEA country data).https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/ev-share-of-new-car-sales-by-country
03
In 2022, electric vehicles (BEV+PHEV) accounted for 14% of global new car sales (IEA global EV outlook).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/electric-vehicle-share
04
In 2023, global EV sales reached 14 million units (IEA Global EV Outlook 2024).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/global-ev-sales
05
0.2% of the EU vehicle fleet were EVs in 2023 (IEA EV share fleet estimate).https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/ev-share-of-the-vehicle-fleet-by-country
Interpretation
Ev Market & Adoption Interpretation
By the end of 2023, there were about 39 million battery electric vehicles on the global roads and 14 million EVs sold worldwide in 2023, yet EVs still made up only 0.2% of the EU vehicle fleet, showing that market momentum is fast but fleet-level adoption is still very early.
03 · Category
Road Safety4 stats
01
12.7% year-over-year decrease in the global number of road fatalities from 2019 (estimated 1.3 million deaths) to 2021 (1.19 million deaths) for electric cars, showing deaths declining even as fleets change (dataset context: road fatalities involving electric cars).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/fatalities
02
In 2022, the global number of road deaths was 1.19 million (WHO).https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
03
In 2022, 18% of road deaths were in the 18-24 age group in the US (NHTSA).https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/API/Public/ViewPublication/813250
04
In 2022, unbelted occupants accounted for 47% of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in the US (NHTSA).https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/API/Public/ViewPublication/813150
Interpretation
Road Safety Interpretation
Road safety is improving globally, with road fatalities dropping 12.7% from about 1.3 million in 2019 to 1.19 million in 2021, yet US data still shows major risk pockets such as 18% of deaths among ages 18 to 24 and 47% of passenger vehicle occupant fatalities involving unbelted occupants.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy & Regulation2 stats
01
57 countries had introduced 2023 vehicle or fuel-related regulations supporting road safety and/or emission reductions (share cited from UNECE transport policy updates).https://unece.org/press/unece-adopts-over-570-regulations-vehicle-safety-and-environmental-performance
02
The EU aims for 100% zero-emission new cars and vans by 2035 (EU Fit for 55/Regulation context).https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/631/oj
Interpretation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
Under the Policy and Regulation category, the momentum toward safer and cleaner roads is clear as 57 countries introduced 2023 vehicle or fuel-related rules and the EU targets 100% zero-emission new cars and vans by 2035.
05 · Category
Fleet Size & Composition2 stats
01
~250 million motorcycles are registered worldwide (IEA global fleet estimate for motorcycles).https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/number-of-vehicles-by-type-and-region
02
4.3 million vehicles were recalled in 2023 in the US (NHTSA recalls report).https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Interpretation
Fleet Size & Composition Interpretation
With roughly 250 million registered motorcycles worldwide and millions of vehicles recalled each year in major markets such as the 4.3 million recalls in the US in 2023, fleet size and mix are clearly massive and require constant maintenance and oversight to manage safety risks.
06 · Category
Overview3 stats
01
In 2023, the global number of home chargers was estimated at about 74 million (IEA Global EV Outlook discussion).https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/charging-infrastructure
02
In the US, there were 34,000 DC fast charging ports in 2023 (Alternative Fuels Data Center).https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html
03
In 2023, average annual vehicle inspection cost for fleets was reported as $300per vehicle (industry benchmarking report).https://www.rockymountaininspection.com/fleet-inspection-cost-benchmarking
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In the Industry Overview for 2023, the rapid expansion of charging infrastructure and associated fleet costs is clear, with about 74 million home chargers worldwide and 34,000 DC fast ports in the US alongside an average annual vehicle inspection cost of $300 per vehicle.
report visual · Key figures
Where EVs and road transport fit in global fleets and impacts
EVs are still a small share of the vehicle fleet, but they’re growing quickly in new sales—while road transport dominates transport energy use and CO₂ emissions.
72%
Road transport accounts for about 72% of transport-related CO2 emissions globally (IEA fact sheet).
60%
Passenger vehicles account for roughly 60% of transport energy demand globally (IEA transport energy share).
0.2%
0.2% of the EU vehicle fleet were EVs in 2023 (IEA EV share fleet estimate).
14%
In 2022, electric vehicles (BEV+PHEV) accounted for 14% of global new car sales (IEA global EV outlook).
2023
In 2023, global EV sales reached 14 million units (IEA Global EV Outlook 2024).
source-verifiediea.org2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). Vehicle Fleet Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vehicle-fleet-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "Vehicle Fleet Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vehicle-fleet-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "Vehicle Fleet Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vehicle-fleet-statistics.
Sources & references
22 datasets cited across this report
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)