Online searches for electric and hybrid cars have surged in the United States after Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran caused a major jump in gasoline prices. The average national price of gas reached $3.90 a gallon on Friday, the highest level in nearly three years.
The increase has been driven by rising global oil costs following the US and Israel's bombing of Iran, a major oil producer. The conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carries about a fifth of the world's oil.
According to CarEdge, a car-buying platform, searches for electric car models are up by 20% since the attack on Iran began three weeks ago. Justin Fischer, an automotive analyst at CarEdge, said: 'You saw that within 48 hours of the war starting a spike started – it is directly connected to that news. If we see these higher gas prices dragging on for a month or more we will see bigger and bigger numbers.'
Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds, which has also recorded a jump in online research into EVs, said: 'Gas isn't something you can hide from, it's right in your face, you see the cost as you fill up each time. It's a conversational point for a lot of people, too.'
It remains unclear whether the new interest in EVs will endure. The US lags behind many wealthy countries in electric car sales and charging infrastructure, and sales were hit last year by a Republican spending bill that phased out Biden-era incentives. Trump has also rolled back regulations on fuel efficiency and pollution emissions, prompting automakers to focus on SUVs and pickups.
However, used EVs are becoming an attractive option for lower-income drivers. Preowned Teslas, Chevy Equinoxes and Nissan Leafs are now affordable for many Americans, with prices under $25,000. Hybrid cars are also expected to see a surge in sales as consumers seek alternatives to fully electric vehicles.
