As electric cars surge in popularity it’s without a doubt that they will become more prominent in everyday life including the movies and TV shows we watch. For example, in February 2023 Netflix announced they will increase the presence of EVs in Netflix-produced shows and movies, where relevant. 

In light of this GRIDSERVE has analysed 463 movies from the past 72 years and 462 past, current and future EVs to reveal how EVs are being portrayed in movies. Including the most popular EVs in movies, the rate at which EV appearances are increasing in movies, and the most popular EV body types in movies. 

Tesla Model S appears in movies more than any other EV

It’s little surprise that Tesla takes the top spot with a total of 75 appearances, it comfortably trumps the Nissan Leaf (51 appearances) and BMW i3 (49 appearances) in second and third respectively.

In total, Tesla has 176 appearances, thanks to strong showings from the Model 3 (36 appearances), Model X (35 appearances), first-gen Roadster (20 appearances) and Model Y (10 appearances).

You’ve likely never heard of the seventh most popular EV in movies

Sitting in seventh place, between the relatively well-known likes of the Renault Zoe and Twizy, is the Bolloré Bluecar. The small four-seater is currently on 29 appearances (mainly all in French language movies), making it more popular than the Volkswagen ID.3 (10 appearances) and Model Y (10 appearances).

Although a subtly designed city car, the Bluecar was actually thought up by Pininfarina, the automotive design giant behind many notable models such as the Ferrari Testarossa and Alfa Romeo 6C.

There’s been a 2,967% increase in the number of EVs in movies since 2010

In 2010, only three EVs appeared on the big screen, but that number has sky-rocketed since, rising to 92 in 2022 – a 2,967% jump and an all-time high. While it might seem low in actual numbers, it indicates that on-screen EV representation is moving in the right direction.

EV appearances are much more sparse the further back you go. For example, in the noughties (2000-2009), there were 20 appearances of all-electric cars and only 10 appearances in the entire 1900s. 

The first on-screen example of an electric car was way back in 1951, when the Baker Electric Stanhope appeared in Excuse My Dust. The car itself predates the movie by many years, however, as production started in 1904.

Half of on-screen EVs are hatchbacks

Despite the ever-growing popularity of SUVs, it’s hatchbacks that account for the largest portion of EVs in movies. With 250 appearances out of a total 533, these make up 47% of the results.

SUVs and off-roaders make second, way down on 91 appearances, followed by superminis on 57 appearances. Pick-ups are the least popular car type, with only two appearances across our entire research, which covers 463 movies and 72 years’ worth of data.

Methodology: Starting with a comprehensive list of 462 past, current and future EVs, we then cross-referenced with Internet Movie Cars Database to determine how many films each of the models appeared in. TV series and documentaries are excluded. The results are also broken down by EV body type and year to give a wider look at EV representation in film and whether this is improving over time.