In this article, we discuss the 10 hot EV stocks to buy now along with the latest updates around the industry.

Just like any new technology, there is a lot of skepticism about the electric vehicle (EV) industry as well. Some believe that the technology is not viable while others are worried if the infrastructure will be enough to meet the charging demand and so on.

However, the electrification of vehicles is inevitable in the future. While there has been a slowdown in EVs in the US and Europe, China’s dominance and growth in the industry are a testament to the fact that the technology will take over internal combustion engines relatively soon.

We discussed the dominance of the Chinese EV industry in our article, 11 Small Cap EV Stocks to Invest In. Here is an excerpt from the article:

“While the growth in the US and Europe is slowing down, China is picking up a significant pace and dominating the EV landscape. According to a World Economic Forum report, Chinese EVs are much cheaper than their Western counterparts, with an average price of $34,400, compared to $55,242 in the U.S. The price gap is driven by lower labor costs, favorable government subsidies, and more affordable battery sourcing.

Chinese automakers now produce more than half of the world’s EVs and are using their cost advantages to potentially dominate the global market. As Chinese brands gain scale and expertise, their competitive pricing could allow them to challenge Western automakers.”

A lot of the EV slowdown in the West is attributed to the removal of subsidies, higher prices compared to gas-powered cars, and limited charging infrastructure. Nevertheless, some governments are now considering reinstating subsidies, and automakers are working to introduce more affordable EV models to boost demand and recover market share.

Burning Question: Is EV and Battery Manufacturing Worse for Climate?

While it is clear that EVs are better for the environment, many people have raised questions about the impacts of EVs and battery production on the environment. According to a report posted on the MIT Climate portal in 2022, Sergey Paltsev from MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change explained that despite the manufacturing emissions, EVs have a significantly lower environmental impact compared to gasoline-powered cars.

The higher emissions from manufacturing EVs, especially due to the production of their lithium-ion batteries, are offset by the cleaner operation of EVs over their lifetime. Charging emissions vary depending on the energy source.

In regions using clean energy like hydropower, EVs have a very low carbon footprint, while in areas reliant on coal, the emissions are higher. However, even in the worst scenarios, EVs generally outperform gasoline vehicles in terms of emissions.

Moreover, studies from MIT and the U.S. Department of Energy show that EVs consistently produce less carbon dioxide per mile driven than hybrids or gas-powered cars. For example, the average EV emits 25% less CO2 than hybrids when using the U.S. grid’s energy mix, and this gap widens in regions with cleaner energy.

With that, we look at the 11 Hot EV Stocks to Buy Now.

Our Methodology

For this article, we scoured stock screeners and ETFs to identify nearly 50 stocks that were involved in the EV industry in a significant capacity. Next, we narrowed our list to 11 stocks that had double-digit year-to-date share price growth as of September 30 and were most widely held by institutional investors. It is important to note that the share price returns were calculated while the market was open which could result in fluctuations compared to the provided data. Finally, we listed the 11 hot EV stocks to buy in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment, which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 elite hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

11 Hot EV Stocks to Buy Now

11. CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBAT)

Year-to-date Share Price Returns: 17.19%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 3

CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBAT) is a manufacturer and distributor of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, operating primarily in Mainland China, the United States, Europe, and other international markets.

Its batteries are used for several applications, including EVs, such as cars and buses, as well as light electric vehicles like bicycles and scooters. The company also provides energy storage solutions.

The company recently reported its second-quarter earnings and showed a revenue of $47.8 million, which was 13% up year-over-year. The battery segment alone saw impressive growth, with revenues rising to $35.6 million, a 60% increase.

The energy storage area also performed well, reaching $33.57 million, while electric vehicle batteries brought in $200,000 and light electric vehicles contributed $1.83 million, representing increases of 46% and 59%, respectively.

Moreover, unlike last year’s Q2, the company reported a profit as its net income reached $6.45 million, compared to a net loss of $2.7 million in the same quarter last year. The battery segment had a net income of $7.89 million, compared to a loss of $1.13 million in the same quarter last year. The company also announced its plan to launch a new large cylindrical battery model, which is expected to increase sales even more.

According to Insider Monkey’s database, CBAK’s (NASDAQ:CBAT) stock was owned by 3 hedge funds in Q2, with positions worth $313,000. This brings the company to 11th position on our list of hot EV stocks to buy.

10. China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD)

Year-to-date Share Price Returns: 52.31%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 5

One of the hot EV stocks, China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE:CYD) is a diversified machinery company. The company’s main subsidiary Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited (GYMCL), is a major engine manufacturer in China. GYMCL produces a wide variety of engines for light, medium, and heavy-duty applications, including trucks, buses, industrial machinery, and marine equipment.

The company has a diversified portfolio that includes diesel, natural gas, hybrid, and new energy powertrains. GYMCL has been increasingly focused on new energy solutions, introducing a suite of hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered systems.

In the first half of 2024, China Yuchai (NYSE:CYD) reported a significant increase in revenue, operating profits, and earnings compared to the same period in 2023. Sales rose by 12.4%, driven by a 16.3% increase in unit sales. The truck and bus market saw combined engine unit sales grow by 32.8%.

Heavy-duty truck engine sales grew by 32.9%, while medium-duty truck engines rose by 33.1%, and light-duty truck engines experienced a whopping 45.6% increase. The bus engine market also performed well, with growth across all segments. Off-road engine sales exceeded 104,000 units, representing a 6.4% year-over-year growth.

On September 3, Greenridge raised its price target for China Yuchai (NYSE:CYD) from $12.50 to $15 and maintained a Buy rating on the company stock. The firm said that the company’s first-half performance exceeded expectations, especially in the on-road engine segment.

Based on this positive outcome, Greenridge believes that China Yuchai’s core financial health and performance have improved compared to previous periods.