In sales terms Germany has been ahead of the US since 2023, but because the European nation’s EV manufacturing output includes a large number of plug-in hybrids which have inherently smaller batteries, it has lagged behind in GWh terms.
Down the rankings there are a few outliers, notably General Motors with an average battery size of 109.7 kWh, beefed up by the GMC Hummer, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup, and its upscale Cadillac marque.
Global penetration of EVs powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries sped to a new monthly record of over 48% in August this year after Chinese LFP deployment reaches second highest on record.
Of the total battery capacity of Chinese-made EVs made and sold from January through August, 56.3 GWh hit roads outside the country.
BEV battery capacity deployment growth surpassed that of PHEVs in January for the first time since 2022 and exceeded it for five of the last eight months.
Cobalt thrifting per-kWh overall is most noticeable in BEVs with average loadings down 24% to 3.3 kg globally so far this year.
Europe and the Americas made up 41% of the global total with LCE deployment over the first eight months of 2025 rising by 21% year on year to 135.7 kt across the three continents.
The batteries of EVs, including plug-in and conventional hybrids, sold year to date contained 221.4 kt nickel, up 12% compared to 2024.
Graphite deployment in all EVs made and sold in China and exported by the country’s automakers total 406.8 kt – an eye-popping 67% of the global total.
BEV battery capacity deployment growth surpassed that of PHEVs in January for the first time since 2022 and exceeded it for five of the last eight months.
