Opinion: Electric vehicles are taking the lead – almost one in two new cars in August were fully electric
BEVs remain the most popular powertrain for the third month running – the 600,000 mark for electric passenger cars is in sight
Brussels, 2 September 2026 – The Belgian car market has reached a new tipping point. After fully electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to gain ground throughout 2026, electric vehicles overtook petrol as the most registered powertrain for the first time in June. This trend continued in July and was confirmed even more strongly in August: 46.2 per cent of all newly registered passenger cars were fully electric. This makes BEVs the most popular powertrain on the Belgian new car market for the third month running and sets yet another monthly record.
600.000 electric cars are on the horizon
Source : Febiac Press release 1//9/2027 Inschrijvingen nieuwe voertuigen augustus
For EV Belgium, the figures also show that the market and the sector are ready to continue supporting this growth. The range of electric models on offer has expanded significantly, and in recent years there has been substantial investment in public, semi-public and fast-charging infrastructure.
“The vehicles are here and the charging infrastructure is in place. Our sector has invested heavily in recent years to make this growth possible. We are past the stage where electric driving was a niche market or a distant prospect. What we need most of all now is continuity and predictability to continue this transition.”
Next challenge: winning over the private sector as well
However, the record does not tell the whole story. Electrification in Belgium is still largely driven by the commercial market. The private market is also gaining momentum: in the first half of 2026, the share of BEVs amongst private customers exceeded the 10 per cent mark for the first time, compared with 8.9 per cent in 2025. But the gap with the commercial market remains significant.
For EV Belgium, further engaging private motorists is therefore an important next step.
“We talk a lot about why consumers might or might not choose an electric vehicle. But just as interesting is the experience of those who have already made the switch. Why did they choose an electric vehicle? What is their experience of charging in practice? Is range anxiety still an issue? And would they choose an electric vehicle again? Is social leasing an option?”
Belgian EV drivers: make your voices heard
That is why EV Belgium is calling on Belgian EV drivers to take part in the Global EV Alliance’s Global EV Drivers Survey 2026. This international survey maps out the experiences of EV drivers in areas including purchase motivation, charging, driving range and the day-to-day use of an electric car.
Last year, more than 27,500 EV drivers from 30 countries took part worldwide. This year, EV Belgium wants to ensure that the voice of Belgian EV drivers is once again strongly represented.
The 2025 results already reveal a striking discrepancy between certain perceptions of electric driving and the experience of those who drive them on a daily basis: globally, 98 per cent were satisfied or very satisfied, 93 per cent would choose an EV again, and 76 per cent stated they did not experience range anxiety.
“There is a great deal of talk about electric vehicle drivers. We want to listen to them too. The more Belgian EV drivers take part, the better we will understand what is working well today, where the barriers still lie, and what we can learn from this for the next phase of the transition.”
Do you drive an electric car? Have your say in the Global EV Drivers Survey 2026.
