Europe's Electric Vehicle Transition Advances Unevenly as Structural Barriers Persist Reports Acea Auto 

Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML) has released its fourth quarterly update of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), offering a fresh assessment of Europe's progress toward zero-emission mobility, according to a report published by Acea Auto on 16 February 2026.

The Q4 report, as cited by Acea Auto, found that progress remains uneven across EU member states. While some nations are advancing rapidly toward electrification, others continue to fall behind, exposing persistent structural and economic disparities that could complicate Europe-wide decarbonisation goals.

Four key areas under scrutiny

The quarterly update assessed four critical dimensions of the electric mobility transition. On electricity grid readiness, TML found only gradual, incremental improvements rather than the step-change required to support widespread vehicle electrification. Continued investment and modernisation, the report noted, will be necessary to ensure capacity, reliability, and resilience as demand grows.

From a consumer standpoint, high Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) remains a significant barrier to EV uptake across the continent. National tax policies, subsidies, and purchase incentives continue to be regarded as essential tools for stimulating demand.

On charging infrastructure, the report raised questions about whether the network is expanding quickly and equitably enough to meet rising demand. Geographic coverage, accessibility, and reliability were identified as essential to building consumer confidence and enabling mass adoption.

Manufacturing competitiveness rounded out the assessment. The viability of Europe's automotive and battery industries, the report found, depends heavily on manageable energy costs, secure supply chains, and robust domestic production capacity — factors described as vital to sustaining growth and maintaining global competitiveness.

Monitoring highlighted as essential

Acea Auto's reporting of the TML findings underscored that regular KPI monitoring remains essential to tracking progress, identifying shortfalls, and guiding targeted policy action as Europe works toward its zero-emission objectives.

Source: This is a press pick-up based on reporting originally published by Acea Auto on 16 February 2026, summarising the fourth quarterly KPI update produced by Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML).