It was reported that as Germany, Europe's largest economy, strives to comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations, it is expected that there will be 14 million all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles driving on the road by 2030.

The latest forecast is at least 40% higher than previous due to the recent surge in electric vehicle sales, German economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on July 13. Germany estimates there will be about 1 million such vehicles driving on the road this month. Altmaier said to the reporter in Berlin: "This is good news for environmental protection and carbon emission reduction, but it will certainly have an impact on electricity consumption."

The German government expects that a surge in electric vehicle sales will push demand for electricity to about 655TWh by 2030, Altmaier said, quoting preliminary estimates. By contrast, International Energy Agency shows that electricity consumption in 2018 was 568TWh.

It was reported last week that the EU would propose that all vehicles sold from 2035 must be zero-emission vehicles, which is a part of the EU's unprecedented plan to align its economic development with its climate goals.

In recent months, a number of carmakers have announced plans to generate most or all of their European sales from electric vehicles by 2030. Volkswagen AG plans that 70% of the sales of its core Volkswagen will come from electric vehicles from 2030.