The rapid expansion of electric vehicles is now a major factor driving the world’s need for more electricity, contributing significantly to the overall rise in consumption. In 2025, the growing fleet of electric cars and trucks accounted for nearly one-tenth of the total increase in global power demand, according to the authors of the newly released report.
“As a result, EVs are becoming a structural driver of electricity demand growth. In 2025, the expanding EV fleet contributed about 8% (66 TWh) of the 849 TWh rise in global electricity demand.”
This means that as more people switch from gasoline-powered cars to electric ones, the sheer number of these vehicles on the road is starting to fundamentally change how much power the world needs to produce. Rather than just being a small part of the market, the energy required to charge these vehicles has become a steady and significant part of the annual growth in global electricity usage.
The report “Global Electricity Review 2026” was published by the energy think tank Ember on April 21, 2026. Prepared by a team of researchers led by Nicolas Fulghum, the study offers a comprehensive overview of how clean energy met all global electricity demand growth over the past year.
