We recently compiled a list of the 11 Small Cap EV Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) stands against the other small-cap EV stocks.

An Overview of the Global Electric Vehicle Market

The global electric vehicle (EV) market continues to expand, driven by the need for sustainable transportation and advancements in technology.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nearly 14 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2023, marking a 35% increase from the previous year, with 95% of these sales occurring in China, Europe, and the United States. This surge brought the total number of electric vehicles on the road to 40 million. Electric cars represented about 18% of all car sales in 2023, up from 14% in 2022 and just 2% in 2018. The growth is primarily driven by battery electric vehicles, which made up 70% of the electric car stock in 2023. The electric vehicle market is expected to expand rapidly as consumer demand for cleaner transportation grows.

Electric car sales are expected to rise to about 17 million in 2024, which would be an increase of over 20% compared to 2023. Electric vehicles could make up more than 20% of all car sales in 2024. This forecast is supported by current trends, government policies, and the usual seasonal patterns seen in EV sales.

China remains the largest market for electric vehicles, accounting for nearly 60% of new electric car registrations in 2023. Europe follows with approximately 25%, and the United States accounts for around 10%.

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There is significant potential for growth in emerging markets, where EV adoption is taking off. We could soon see a shift from early adopters to mass-market consumers. The introduction of new models and innovations, such as improved battery technologies and charging solutions, will play a crucial role in this transition.

Additionally, government policies and incentives continue to support the transition to electric mobility, further fueling demand. To compete with China in the EV market, the US is focusing on localizing its EV supply chain and increasing production capacity. Reuters reported on October 22 that US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced that the Department of Energy is quickly working to finalize $1.7 billion in grants aimed at converting automotive plants for electric vehicle production. This funding will help automakers change their existing facilities to make electric vehicles and their components.

With continued advancements, investments, and increasing acceptance among consumers, the future looks promising for the electric vehicles market.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 11 best small-cap EV stocks to invest in, we reviewed our own rankings and consulted various online resources to compile a list of the best small-cap EV stocks. Please note that we defined small-cap stocks as those with a market capitalization between $500 million and $10 billion.

From an initial pool of more than 20 small-cap EV stocks that met our criteria, we focused on the top 11 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 database of 900 elite hedge funds. The 11 best small-cap EV stocks to invest in are ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them.

Why do we care about what hedge funds do? 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).

EnerSys (NYSE:ENS)

Market Capitalization: $3.68 Billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 30

EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) is a leader in stored energy solutions for various markets and industrial applications. It produces batteries and energy storage solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). The company operates through four main divisions: Energy Systems, Motive Power, Specialty, and New Ventures. These sectors allow EnerSys to cater to various industries, including telecommunications, defense, and electric vehicles (EVs). Motive Power batteries and chargers are used in industrial electric-powered vehicles. Through its New Ventures division, EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) provides energy storage and management systems for various applications including utility backup power and dynamic fast charging for electric vehicles.

In September 2024, the company announced that it had been selected for a $199M Department of Energy award negotiation to partially fund EnerSys’ (NYSE:ENS) planned lithium-ion cell production facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The investment aligns with the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which seeks to enhance domestic battery manufacturing capabilities. EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) plans to invest around $615 million over four years in this facility, which is expected to create approximately 500 jobs and produce five-gigawatt hours (GWh) of lithium-ion cells annually. The plan includes developing a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will cover 500,000 square feet. This gigafactory will produce lithium-ion cells for a variety of products in all its business areas, including fast charging systems, NexSys iON batteries for electric forklifts, Alpha XRT-Li power systems for communication networks, and future high-energy Li6T batteries for military vehicles.

Previously, in July 2024, EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) completed its acquisition of Bren-Tronics to further strengthen its portfolio in the military and defense sectors. This acquisition enhances its capabilities in lithium product offerings, which are critical for both commercial and defense applications. With its comprehensive approach to energy storage and management, along with significant investments and strategic moves, EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) is well-positioned for growth.

Overall, ENS ranks 1st on our list of the small-cap EV stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of ENS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ENS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.