EVs Prevent 1.2 Million Barrels of Oil Daily
Electric vehicles on the world's roads now avoid around 1.2 million barrels of daily oil consumption, with projected savings rising sharply by 2034.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Electric vehicles on the world's roads prevent consumption of around 1.2 million barrels of oil daily and more than 200 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually. Daily oil savings were 215,000 barrels in 2021, a figure that has since grown fivefold.
Why it matters
Road transport uses almost half of the oil consumed globally, so electrifying vehicles directly reduces demand for fossil fuels. The shift also cuts emissions at a time when transport remains a major source of climate-warming gases.
Electric buses account for around 5% of the global bus fleet and electric trucks for about 1% of the global truck fleet. Together, electric buses and trucks save up to 320,000 barrels of oil daily.
The players
Glasgow Climate Summit
The Glasgow climate summit, held in 2021, was a major United Nations conference that set global climate commitments, and its anniversary prompted assessments of progress such as transport electrification.
The details
Electric vehicles replace fossil-fuel-powered passenger cars, buses and trucks on roads worldwide. Norway, Denmark and Hong Kong have reached very high levels of electric vehicle use, and electric heavy-duty vehicles make up more than half of new sales in some markets.
Timeline
2021: Daily oil savings from electric vehicles were 215,000 barrels.
Five years after the Glasgow climate summit: Electrification of transport was described as a major climate achievement.
2034: Electric vehicles could prevent use of around 5.8 million barrels of oil daily under current policies.
Roadmap
The growth of electric vehicles marks a major shift away from fossil-fuel road transport, which accounts for almost half of global oil use. Electrification of buses and trucks lags passenger cars, but heavy-duty vehicles are beginning to take a larger share of new sales.
Electric vehicles on the road reduce the amount of fuel drivers and fleet operators need to buy. Households and businesses that switch to electric buses, trucks or cars may see lower fuel costs over time, depending on local electricity prices.
The takeaway
Electrifying road transport is one of the most direct ways to cut global oil demand, and buses and trucks represent a largely untapped share of that gain. Tracking fleet adoption in your own region shows how quickly those savings are growing.
Further reading
For more on how the shift is changing transport fuel demand, explore our Electric Vehicles coverage.
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