Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Electric and hybrid vehicles: Overview

Motors, batteries and hybrids reshaping how the world drives

What this tile covers Vehicles driven by electric motors from batteries, and hybrids that combine an engine with a battery. Share of use 0.2% share of final energy use (2024)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. The EV fleet used about 180 TWh in 2024, about 0.7% of final electricity; at 21% electricity share that is about 0.15% of final energy (calculated). Hybrid fuel use is counted under combustion road vehicles. Source: Global EV Outlook 2025: Outlook for energy demand, International Energy Agency.

Key facts

ChainGrid AC → charger → battery → inverter → motor → kinetic; braking returns energy

Included from the reference tables

  • Battery electric vehicles
  • Hybrid cars
  • E-bikes and e-scooters
  • Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles

Linked to the material world

Li LithiumNi NickelCo CobaltGr GraphiteCu Copper

Also in Transport systems

ICV Combustion road vehiclesRail Rail tractionJet Aviation propulsionShp Ship propulsionRkt Rockets and human power

Explore paths from here

More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.