Chinese marques in driving seat as high petrol prices accelerate EU shift to electric cars

Chinese carmakers have gained ground in Europe’s shift to electric cars, emerging as the biggest winners in plug-in hybrids despite moves by Brussels to curb their expansion.

As petrol prices climbed across the EU, hitting a record high of more than €2. 30 a litre (US$9. 91 a US gallon) in Germany this month, the move to battery power gathered pace. Battery-electric registrations jumped 62. 7 per cent year on year in…