KARACHI – China, South Korea and Singapore are the leading markets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption and readiness in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a new index published by Australia-based insurance comparison platform Compare The Market.
The EV-Friendly Countries Index assessed 25 countries using five indicators: charging infrastructure, EV market share in 2025, operating costs, government incentives and policies to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles.
Norway topped the global rankings with a score of 75.43 out of 100, followed closely by China with 75.27. South Korea ranked third with 68.17, while Singapore was seventh overall with a score of 54.59, making it the only other Asia-Pacific country to feature in the top 10.
According to the index, Singapore ranked second globally for EV market share and third for charger accessibility, with 10.54 charging points per 1,000 drivers. However, it also recorded one of the highest operating costs, at $56.10 per 100 kilometres.
The remainder of the top 10 was dominated by European countries, with France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom and Germany all securing places in the rankings.
Other Asia-Pacific countries ranked lower, with India placing 16th, Australia 19th, Japan 20th and New Zealand 22nd.
The report noted that while Australia benefited from relatively low charging costs, limited charging infrastructure, lower EV market penetration and the absence of government incentives weighed on its overall ranking.
Compare The Market said the findings suggest that higher charging costs do not necessarily discourage EV adoption, as several countries with strong EV uptake also recorded above-average operating costs, indicating that factors such as infrastructure, policy support and market maturity play a more significant role.
