As a leader in clean energy and given the growing share of renewable sources in the energy mix, Spain faced a noticeable setback in its electric bus sector. The number of registered zero-emission buses in the country declined in 2022, while diesel-powered buses regained some momentum. This retreat is particularly puzzling since Spanish electric bus manufacturers are increasingly selling vehicles abroad, raising questions about domestic adoption and policy support.
According to data from the private portal forococheselectricos.com, the share of diesel-powered buses rose from 52.9% in 2021 to 67% in 2022. Meanwhile, electric buses contracted from 6.6% in 2021 to 6% in 2022. Hybrid and petrol-powered buses also fell, helping to explain the shift toward diesel power within the market.
Another cause for concern is the limited geographic spread of electric buses. They are adopted in only a handful of cities, which means the technology has not yet taken root nationwide.
According to the same portal, 2022 saw a total of 141 electric buses sold in Spain, with 54 of them going to Barcelona, about 40% of the national total. Madrid accounted for 28 units and Zaragoza for 13 more. In other words, two thirds of the year’s electric buses were purchased by these three cities.
In reality, only 17 city councils bought any units of this type of clean vehicle that year, underscoring what many observers describe as insufficient attention from both public administrations and service concessionaires. [Citation: ForoCochesElectricos]
Recently, the regional government of Murcia announced a purchase of 17 electric buses for the Cartagena region, signaling continued regional interest in electrification of urban transport.
Spanish companies also export electric buses at a brisk pace. For instance, Irizar secured a contract to supply 113 units to Paris in 2021, while CAF, another Spanish firm, sold 183 units to the Oslo City Council in Norway. [Citation: ForoCochesElectricos]
Spain is next in electric cars: 3.8%
Provisional data show that Spain closed 2022 with total passenger car electric sales at 31,388, representing a 31.1% year-on-year increase. This implies that electric cars accounted for about 3.8% of the market share in that period.
These numbers position Spain as a fellow traveler in Europe on electrification. By comparison, Portugal posted 12%, France 15.1%, and Germany 22% in the same timeframe.
Gas-powered cars accounted for 40% of sales in 2022, marking a 12% drop from the previous year. Non-plug-in hybrids rose by 9% to 30%. Diesel slipped 21%, representing 17% of the market. Plug-in hybrids increased 11% to 6.2% of the market, while pure electric vehicles accounted for 4.8% of the total, up 31% from the prior year. Gasoline-powered cars represented 2% of the market.
For a broader view, figures from the cited portal illustrate the overall trajectory of transport electrification in Spain and highlight the ongoing balance between different propulsion technologies as markets evolve. [Citation: ForoCochesElectricos]
Note: The reference to the original data in ForoCochesElectricos has been retained for context and comparative purposes. The information reflects published statistics from the cited portal and is intended to provide a snapshot of how the Spanish market has evolved in recent years.