Latvia Fleet Data

Data analysis for the project of electric vehicles in Latvia

Objectives of the study

The study had several objectives. First, assessing and analysing the situation regarding electric mobility in Latvia, considering the trend of the share of electric cars in the fleet and the infrastructural endowment of charging facilities, also assessing their geographical distribution. Then, verifying the state-of-the-art and the potential of hydrogen cars as well as the conditions that could facilitate their penetration into the fleet. Then, developing scenarios for the growth of electric mobility and, based on those, quantifying the need for electric infrastructures and the resulting environmental benefits.

Some results of the study

The study showed that the registration of electric vehicles (mainly passenger cars) has grown at a high rate in recent years, but the share of these vehicles in the fleet remains limited.

The provision of public charging infrastructure appears consistent with needs in all Latvian regions. The role of public administrations as pioneers for the deployment of electric vehicles is relevant.

Regarding hydrogen cars, the analysis showed that they currently represent a negligible share of the fleet, with significant numbers in only a few countries. Given also the attitude of manufacturers, it seems preferable at the moment for public intervention to focus on the electric mode.

Future scenarios of electric vehicle penetration were defined as projections based on European-scale studies, considering at what extent the observed trend so far has been more or less consistent to the predictions of these studies. In general, the scenarios suggest that in the short to medium term it will be mainly electric cars that will enter the fleet, while in the long term the highest shares of electric penetration will be achieved for commercial vehicles.

From an emissions point of view, electrification of the fleet will provide a contribution, but the improvement of the efficiency of conventional vehicles can be even more relevant.