Sales of Alternate-Fuel Vehicles Jump 29% in Europe

Deliveries in the EU of passenger vehicles powered by batteries, fuel cells, electric hybrid systems or gaseous fuels climbed 29% to 144,400 units in the first quarter of 2014, industry group ACEA reports. Overall volume in Europe grew 158,100 units from 122,500 a year earlier.

ACEA says first-quarter sales within the EU doubled to 24,600 units for EVs, grew 21% to 56,700 units for hybrids and climbed17% to 63,100 for natural-gas-powered vehicles.

The five largest markets for such vehicles all posted double-digit gains. Deliveries rose in Italy (+18% to 61,000 87% of them fueled with natural gas or LPG), the U.K. (+64% to 20,800), France (+34% to 17,400), Germany (+11% to 12,500) and Norway (+33% to 10,900).

Europe's highest-volume markets for EVs in January-March were Norway (+40% to 8,100), the U.K. (+454% to 8,000), Germany (+99% to 4,500), France (+102% to 3,700) and the Netherlands (+6% to 3,300).

Hybrid-electric vehicle sales in the first quarter were strongest in France (+23% to 13,700 units), the U.K. (+14% to 12,800), Italy (+28% to 6,600), Italy (+28% to 6,600), the Netherlands (+22% to 5,000) and Germany (-15% to 4,900).