The Middle East crisis is reshaping transport choices worldwide, turning electric vehicles from a long-term climate goal into an immediate economic calculation.
Since late February 2026, conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran, combined with attacks on oil infrastructure and a near-total halt to tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, has sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
The strait typically carries around 20% of global oil flows, and its disruption helped push Brent crude above U.S. $100 a barrel - a level that rapidly alters fuel economics for consumers and governments alike.
With petrol prices averaging over U.S. $4 a gallon in the U.S. and rising sharply elsewhere, the spike has triggered a renewed surge in demand for electric cars, bikes and scooters across Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. Analysts say the scale and speed of the shift suggest fuel insecurity, rather than climate policy alone, is now a major driver of electric mobility.
Across Germany, France, Poland, the United Kingdom and Spain, demand for electric vehicles has risen sharply since fuel prices jumped in the wake of the crisis. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence said European EV sales rose 37% year on year in March 2026, reaching almost 540,000 units for the month.
At the same time, petrol prices climbed rapidly. European Commission data showed prices rose by around 8% on average across the E.U., and by 13–14% in countries including Germany and Austria. The impact has been immediate: online searches for electric vehicles surged, with some markets recording increases of up to 160%, suggesting many drivers began reassessing their options as fuel costs climbed.
Dealers say interest that had cooled earlier in the year has returned quickly. Michal Bowsza, a Polish electric vehicle dealer, said the change has been clear since March. “We see, since March, it (sales of EVs) is being back. My expectation is that this percentage year by year, the share of EVs will go up, probably maybe even double,” he said. For many European buyers, the volatility of petrol prices has become a decisive factor rather than a background concern.
In Pakistan, where motorcycles are central to daily transport and incomes are far lower, the shift has been even more pronounced. A Reuters report said electric motorbike sales surged by as much as 70% at some dealerships in March, while electric vehicles accounted for more than 10% of monthly two-wheeler sales for the first time. Demand for government EV schemes has exceeded expectations several times over.
For many households, the choice is driven by affordability rather than environmental considerations. Ali Gohar Khan, owner of Ali Khan Company, said rising fuel costs have left little alternative. “Prices have already increased so much and the per capita income in Pakistan is, as you know, very low; that is why people are purchasing more electric scooters … having an electric scooter has become a necessity,” he said.
In parts of Africa, governments are using policy to lock in change as global fuel markets remain volatile. Ethiopia has taken one of the most aggressive steps worldwide by banning the import of new petrol and diesel vehicles. According to EV market data platform EV24, Ethiopia’s electric vehicle fleet has grown from about 4,600 in 2023 to over 100,000 by early 2026, with adoption rising from under 1% to around 6% in just two years.
Rwanda is also emerging as a regional leader, offering zero VAT and import duty exemptions for electric vehicles, alongside investment incentives aimed at accelerating adoption and reducing reliance on imported fuel.
In Azerbaijan, an analyst said the Middle East crisis has not led to a rise in electric car imports, arguing the figures are “not so much”, “do not exceed hundreds” and have “reduced” rather than increased.
Eldaniz Jafarov, a transport expert in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, told AnewZ that around 100,000 vehicles entered the country over the past year, but only a small percentage were fully electric, with most imports being hybrid and petrol-powered.
He attributed the drop to local factors, saying the earlier duty exemption for new EVs has ended: “the period of their exemption has expired,” meaning “it is not convenient for entrepreneurs to import such vehicles”, and stressing that “this is not related to the conflict in the Middle East.”
The key question is whether the current surge represents a short-term reaction or a lasting change. Ajay Bhatia, chief executive of Mobile.de, one of Germany’s largest online car marketplaces, described high fuel prices as a “catalyst” for an “E-Auto-Boom”. In an interview with The Guardian, he said: “In my view, this is a spike that will go down, but it will not go down completely,” adding there would be “a new, higher normal than we had before.”
As oil markets remain unstable and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is limited, analysts say the crisis may have permanently shifted how consumers and governments think about transport - making electric mobility not just a climate choice, but a hedge against the next energy shock.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on ...
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the st...
Georgia’s International Maritime Forum has closed in Batumi with officials setting out investment targets, timelines and technical plans aime...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Volkswagen’s supervisory board has approved a major overhaul aimed at cutting 100,000 jobs by 2030 as the German carmaker battles weaker sales, falling profits and intensifying global competition.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on American companies to expand their presence in China and pledged that Beijing would address their "reasonable concerns," as China looks to stabilise trade ties with Washington ahead of President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the U.S. later this month
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
Volkswagen is heading towards a decisive showdown with labour representatives as Germany's largest carmaker weighs sweeping restructuring measures that could lead to factory closures and tens of thousands of job losses.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment