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New Study : Why 100% Electric Vehicles (BEVs) Are Key to Decarbonization by 2035
3 sep 2025
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The study by Charge France, Alpitronic, and Transport & Environment carries a strong ambition to demonstrate that the transition to electric vehicles is both feasible and desirable for purchasing power, ecological transition, and European industrial sovereignty. These findings are reinforced by unprecedented analyses from the Boston Consulting Group presented in the study, which show that plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles appear more as short-term transitional solutions.
The Transition to Electric Mobility is Accelerating in Europe
In just a few years, the market share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased from 2% in 2019 to 16% in 2025, and could reach 90 to 100% by 2035 if transition trajectories remain on track. While some still believe that plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or range-extended electric vehicles (EREVs) could be a sustainable alternative, the data clearly shows that BEVs are by far the best solution for decarbonizing light transportation.
Barriers to Adoption Are Disappearing Rapidly
Concerns about range, charging time, cost, and resale value are gradually fading:
Charging: New ultra-fast chargers allow recovering 60% of range in less than 10 minutes.
Range: Models launched in 2024 average 544 km of range.
Resale Value: The gap with thermal cars is narrowing year by year.
Cost: As of 2025, a BEV is cheaper to buy and operate than most PHEVs and thermal vehicles, especially in the urban and family segments.
BEV vs. PHEV/EREV: The Verdict is Clear
The numbers speak for themselves:
A BEV costs up to €1,600 less per year than a PHEV for an average driver.
PHEVs run in electric mode only 45-50% of the time for individuals and 10-15% for corporate fleets, far from the expected 80%.
EREVs, popular in China, use their thermal generator 35% of the time on average.
From a climate perspective, the advantage is even more pronounced:
Over their entire lifecycle, BEVs emit 3 to 5 times less CO₂ than a PHEV or EREV and 9 times less than a thermal vehicle.
After just 20,000 km, a BEV systematically becomes more environmentally friendly than a PHEV, regardless of the European energy mix.
An Economic and Social Lever for Europe
The transition to BEVs is not just an ecological issue:
It could reduce oil imports by 15% by 2035, saving up to €45 billion per year.
It supports European reindustrialization, with 100,000 jobs expected in battery factories and 70,000 in charging infrastructure by 2030.
Three Actions to Accelerate the Transition
The report recommends that European decision-makers:
Maintain the 2035 deadline for ending sales of new CO₂-emitting vehicles.
Favor BEVs fiscally (for both businesses and individuals), with clear and consistent incentives across the European Union.
Ensure that PHEVs are no longer considered virtuous solutions by public authorities in public policy support.
Strengthen the European sector (supply chain, transparency, worker training) to ensure sustainable and competitive electric mobility.