A new study has named the Netherlands as the world leader in electric vehicles, with the country nabbing the top spot when it comes to setting the standard for lower carbon emissions and beating out the likes of China and Germany.
The ranking was compiled by car rental comparison site Stress Free Car Rental. Researchers looked at the number of electric vehicles sold in relation to population size, as well as government investment in the necessary infrastructure and the number of charging points per electric vehicle.
The research found that the Netherlands was the most advanced in the roll-out of electric-friendly infrastructure and technology. Almost 300.000 electric cars have been sold in the country, equating to one for every 58 members of the population. The country also has more public charging stations per car than any other country, with one station for every five electric cars currently on the road.
Interestingly, while the Netherlands may not have the highest number of electric vehicles in comparison to population size, the country is significantly ahead of the other nations, with a spot in the top 10, when it comes to the availability of charging stations, thanks to significant investment from the Dutch government and municipalities.
A spokesperson for the site said that drivers in the Netherlands “have been very receptive to the new technology,” and that the size of the country perhaps helps to encourage the use of electric vehicles, as the distances driven on a daily basis are generally shorter than in larger countries like the United States.
According to the ranking and based on date from 2020, the top 10 countries in the world for electric vehicles are:
| Rank | Country | Electric vehicles sold | People per electric vehicle | Public charging points | Electric vehicles per charging point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Netherlands | 297.380 | 58 | 60.000 | 5 |
| 2 | Norway | 480.008 | 11 | 16.000 | 30 |
| 3 | Sweden | 193.054 | 52 | 30.000 | 16 |
| 4 | France | 470.295 | 143 | 30.000 | 16 |
| 5 | China | 4.595.100 | 304 | 516.000 | 9 |
| 6 | Germany | 700.000 | 119 | 27.730 | 25 |
| 7 | Japan | 325.000 | 389 | 30.000 | 11 |
| 8 | UK | 434.282 | 154 | 13.505 | 32 |
| 9 | Canada | 188.100 | 2.002 | 5.004 | 38 |
| 10 | USA | 1.741.566 | 189 | 26.000 | 67 |
For more information about the study, visit the Stress Free Car Rental website.