Iran conflict triggers surge in EV demand - here's what to know before swapping to electric
As the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran dominates headlines, so too has rising fuel prices and the cost of driving.
In the past two weeks, petrol prices have jumped by 17p a litre and diesel by more than 34p, with costs forecast to continue rising with oil currently trading over $100 a barrel.
The rapid acceleration in motoring costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East has triggered interest towards electric vehicles as people turn to a more affordable way of driving that isn't impacted by oil price surges.
Autotrader, the UK's largest car buying platform, says it has seen a 28 per cent increase in EV interest since the war began less than a month ago.
With pump prices rocketing, buying an EV looks more attractive: drivers have control over the cost of charging (which has remained largely unaffected as energy prices haven't soared like oil, at least not yet); the price of used EVs has dropped significantly making them a more affordable buy; and the long term cost of running savings to be made by owning an EV become ever more tempting.
So, if you're thinking of buying an EV, what else might you need to know?
We've looked into current trends in the EV ownership, from the war's impact on electricity prices, waiting times for home charger installations, and the average cost of used EVs, all so that you can make an informed decision on whether it's time to make the switch.
If you're thinking of buying an EV due to the Iran War pushing up the price of fuel, what should you know? Here's a lay of the land
EV demand - is it skyrocketing?
According to various car selling platforms, rising fuel prices since the US-Israel and Iran conflict has led to a record surge in EV demand.
Oil prices have risen by more than 50 per cent since the end of February, with petrol on course to tip over £1.50-a-litre this week, while diesel could breach £1.80 in the coming days.
Online car buying platform Autotrader has recorded a spike in EV enquiries since the conflict broke out, with 'leads' - expressions of interest passed to dealers - at record highs.
New EV leads were up 28 per cent since the start of the war, while used EV leads were up 15 per cent, it said.
EVs now account for almost one in five Autotrader enquiries for used vehicles under five years old. This exceeds the 5 per cent of electric vehicles on the roads.
AA Cars, another major second-hand car selling site, too says it has seen a significant uplift in searches for EVs, up 26 per cent compared to demand before conflict broke out.
This is based on comparing the three-week period prior to the war starting on February 28 with the three weeks that have followed up to March 21.
Similarly, Octopus Electric Vehicles (Octopus EV) has seen EV leasing enquiries jump 36 per cent since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.
The AA found that used EVs were 10% cheaper than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles during Q1 2026
EV prices are falling - is it a great time to buy?
This is Money recently reported that falling used EV prices is the largest reason The AA's quarterly EV readiness index shows an overall 'readiness' score of 53.8 in the first three months of 2026, up from 48.8 in October to December 2025.
The Index found that average prices for second‑hand electric models fell below those of comparable petrol vehicles for the first time since the Index began in September 2025.
Used EVs were 10 per cent cheaper than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles during the quarter.
The availability of lower-priced vehicles – particularly from ex-fleet supply entering the market – has created new opportunities for motorists considering switching to electric.
However, the AA cautions that rapid depreciation presents a significant challenge for fleets and manufacturers, which rely on strong residual values to support new vehicle sales and leasing models.
Are EV charging prices impacted?
Energy prices fluctuate far less than fuel prices and as such haven't been impacted to the same scale of oil since the outbreak of the Iran War.
And suppliers of dedicated EV energy tariffs says they aren't planning on hiking their prices.
In fact, E.ON Next has refreshed its EV tariff to ensure EV drivers can continue charging their vehicles overnight at consistently low rates, providing confidence and cost certainty amid ongoing fluctuations in the energy market.
E.ON’s Next Drive Smart v6.1 features two rates: off-peak (12am – 6am) at 8p/kWh and day rate (6am – 12am) at 29.04p/kWh.
E.ON says customers charging off-peak on Next Drive Fixed v19 can save £377 per year compared to charging on the energy price cap, and those charging off-peak on Next Drive Smart can save £401 per year compared to charging on the energy price cap.
For those not on an EV tariff, what do you need to know about the Energy Price Cap?
As the new April to June cap is already announced, there will be no change there. It is dropping 6.7 per cent.
We're in the assessment period for the July to September cap but even so it's based on three-month average prices, so unless the rise in wholesale rates is sustained, it's unlikely to have a huge impact.
Pointing to the benefit of being in control of your own charging costs, Gurjeet Grewal, chief executive of Octopus Electric Vehicles said: 'Electric vehicles provide something petrol cars simply cannot: flexibility.
'EV drivers have far more control over what they pay. Many choose to charge overnight when electricity is cheapest and demand on the grid is lower, saving hundreds of pounds a year.'
Octopus Energy has reported a 20% increase in EV home charger sales as drivers look to escape unpredictable costs at the pumps
Has the demand for a home charger gone up?
As demand for EVs has skyrocketed, so too has demand for EV chargers.
Octopus Energy has reported a 20 per cent increase in EV home charger sales as drivers look to escape unpredictable costs at the pumps.
Overall, across EV chargers, heat pumps and solar sales Octopus says 'what began as a spike in interest has turned into a full‑blown installation boom, with energy independence now the top reason cited for homeowners making the switch'.
It's also worth noting that the Government recently increased its home chargepoint grant for renters, flat owners, homeowners without driveways and businesses to £500, up from £350. This will last until March 2027.
Ohme, the UK’s largest home EV charging company, has experienced no negative effect whatsoever on its services to customers as a result of the conflict
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Has the waiting time for a home charger gone up?
We asked three major EV home charging providers if the Iran conflict had impacted charger installation wait periods.
E.ON told us: 'While interest in EV chargers continues to grow, we’re currently able to offer customers next day installation (at an additional cost) or installation on any weekday this week.'
Similarly, home charger provider Cord told us there's no impact on its lead times for charger installation: 'As a Which? Trusted trader we have built a national network of Cord-approved installers precisely so that we can scale with demand, and we are continually adding capacity.
'The short answer is no, customers are not waiting longer, and we are in a good position to maintain that.'
Paul Tomlinson, co-founder of Cord added: 'Nine in ten of our customers have their home charger installed within two weeks of ordering. This means that in most cases, your charger will be ready and waiting before your new car even arrives.'
And Ohme, the UK’s largest home EV charging company, has experienced no negative effect whatsoever on its services to customers as a result of the conflict.
'In the past year, we have worked very hard on speeding up and improving our processes for customers to give them the best service we possibly can,” said David Watson, Ohme CEO.
‘Once our simple home survey is completed and passed, we’re now able to get a charger fitted at the majority of customer’s homes within two weeks - one of the fastest times in the industry.
'We are committed to no driver being left behind in the switch towards EVs and with the electricity price reducing from 1st April, the lower running costs and the increasing volatility of petrol prices both mean it’s a great time to swap.’
The UK public EV charging network grew by just over 19 per cent in 2025, with 14,097 new charge devices added over the year, according to new figures from Zapmap
Public charging infrastructure is improving - is it easier than ever to charge on the network?
The AA Index found that the Charging score also increased to 43 compared to 40 in the last three months of 2025, which has been helped by the increase to 118,321 public chargers - around 39.4 per cent of the Government's 2030 target of 300,000 chargers.
The UK public EV charging network grew by just over 19 per cent in 2025, with 14,097 new charge devices added over the year, according to new figures from Zapmap.
And even better for recharge and range anxiety, growth continued to be strongest among ultra-rapid chargers rated at 150kW and above, which are typically installed at charging hubs and en-route locations.
There are now 9,893 ultra-rapid devices in operation, up 41 per cent on December 2024. These chargers allow EV drivers to top up their electric car in as little as 15 minutes in some cases.
Have a question about buying an EV? editor@thisismoney.co.uk
