Almost one in every six new cars sold around the world in 2025 will be electric vehicles, according to a new report by experts from UBS who have lifted their EV sales forecasts sharply.

In Europe the electric vehicle share of new sales will be even greater, with UBS predicting one in every three cars sold in Europe will be electric in 2025.

Electric vehicles at a charging station. Credit:Bloomberg

‘’Electric vehicle sales have accelerated strongly in the second half of 2017 both in China, where changes to subsidies in 2018 are driving strong sales now; and in the rest of the world,’’ the report said.

After undertaking a survey of about 10,000 consumers in the world’s six biggest car markets, UBS said consumer interest in electric vehicles was rising, while ‘’the popularity of diesel cars has dropped sharply’’. It also noted rising interest in EVs among fleet buyers.