u/pintord

While China used coal to power its industrialization, India is turning to solar to meet its growing energy needs. Though India faces major hurdles — a rickety grid, a lack of storage — its solar buildout could be a model for other emerging economies.

After the December end-of-incentive sales rush (NEVs are no longer exempt from purchase tax this year), and the following sales slump, high gas prices and a never ending wave of new models has allowed April to reach record EV market share, with plugins surpassing the 60% barrier for the first time!

But while in the past it was achieved thanks to record EV sales, this time, this is thanks to a significant ICE (internal combustion engine) crash. The overall market dropped 22% year over year (YoY), to around 1.4 million sales. ICE-powered models were at the epicenter of this disruption, crashing 37% YoY, but plugin hybrids (PHEVs) were also down 25% in April, and even extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) dropped, albeit a more moderate 11% YoY.

The only thing that grew in April? Pure electrics. Despite having fewer incentives, BEVs were up 2% YoY, to 579,000 sales. So, this meant that BEVs scored a record 42% BEV share in China!

Adding PHEVs (13% share) and EREVs (6%) to the tally meant that in April a record 61% of all cars sold in China had a plug!

This result pulled the 2026 share to 49% (in the same period last year, it was at 48% share). BEVs on their own were also up, to 32% (30% BEV in Jan–April ’25). Expect to see plugins north of the 50% mark, and BEVs over 33%, at the end of the first half of the year.

Another interesting statistic is that the breakdown between pure electrics and plugin hybrids is shifting, to the profit of BEVs. At the beginning of the year, PHEVs were profiting from the incentive-derived BEV drop, but pure electrics are returning with a vengeance. April showed a 68% vs. 32% breakdown, to the benefit of BEVs, significantly above the 65%/35% average of 2026 so far.

Having a quick look at Chinese exports — even here plugins are breaking new ground. EV share scored a record 53%, or 406,000 units, in April alone. And with Chinese OEMs fast winning share overseas, markets where they are present in large volumes are also being quickly electrified….

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BloombergNEF’s New Energy Outlook 2026 says rising electricity demand, energy security concerns and rapid electrification are accelerating the global transition toward renewable energy. The report projects solar could become the world’s largest source of electricity by 2032 as countries invest more heavily in batteries, grids and electrified infastructure.

ABB announced a $200 million investment in medium-voltage manufacturing across Europe over three years. The program includes a $100 million facility in Dalmine, Italy for SF₆-free switchgear and breakers. Another $100 million will expand facilities in Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Norway and Poland.

You just can't get good tampers anymore.