Electric car: Thank you, President!
The war against Iran, by raising the cost of our dependence on oil, provides an additional argument in favor of electric vehicles. From purchase intentions to factories, its effects are already evident, even though Donald Trump is clearly not the sole driver of this trend.
Contrary to expectations, President Trump has inadvertently become the best advocate for electric vehicles. The benefits of his actions in this regard became apparent soon after, despite his temporary dispute with Elon Musk, who is ultimately one of the main beneficiaries of his war with Iran.
Who would have thought? While the U.S. president is not really known for his support of ecology, let alone electric vehicles (aside from a brief, somewhat surreal interlude), it is under his administration that this market is experiencing its strongest growth. At least in Europe, and thus in China. But also within his own country. In fact, almost everywhere in the world, as the globe remains dependent on oil and seeks every means to escape the soaring prices that have emerged since Donald Trump decided to target the Iranian regime, with the well-known consequences for crude oil prices.
If war is always the result of failure as much as a humanitarian disaster, and it would be highly inappropriate to rejoice over it, one must acknowledge that from a purely economic standpoint—and, to some extent, ecological— the electric vehicle industry has greatly benefited from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on oil tanker traffic, thereby affecting gasoline prices. While gasoline prices had already been rising sharply for several months in a row, the surge observed since April 2026 is both unprecedented and massive.
It must be said that the panic caused by diesel prices sometimes exceeding 2.50 euros and soon expected to reach 3 euros, at least in France, has created a kind of psychological shock capable of questioning even the most firmly held convictions and beliefs, including among those who did not plan to switch to electric vehicles until forced to, or at the latest by 2035.
And that is where the U.S. president, against his will, does some favors to a technology he otherwise opposes.
That said, it should be clarified that the situation is no longer solely due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, as crude oil exports from the region have largely recovered, thanks in part to alternative routes.
The difference in usage costs is now truly becoming apparent
It’s easy to explain and prove that electric vehicles are cheaper to use, with numerous comparisons and personal experiences available. As long as fuel costs remain manageable, many drivers have no urgent reason to change their habits. That changes when they face extreme expenses.
The Alphabet France barometer conducted by Ifop provides an indication of this trend. Between June 22 and 26, 2026, 1,002 French adults were surveyed about their travel habits and intentions. Among them, 24% said they would consider an all-electric car for their next vehicle, up from 17% a year earlier. More importantly, 73% stated that fluctuations in fuel prices are pushing them to consider this type of vehicle.
Well, okay, these are primarily intentions, and not everyone in this group will sign a purchase order tomorrow morning, but it shows that attitudes are changing, even among those who don’t particularly cite environmental motivations.
Is there anything better than a good war? In any case, Donald Trump has helped make an argument audible that communication campaigns sometimes struggle to convey, even though the cost is quite high: at 2.50 euros per liter, a diesel car that consumes 6 liters per 100 kilometers will cost 15 euros in fuel for every 100 kilometers traveled. An electric car with an average consumption of 15 kWh per 100 kilometers, charged at 0.16 euros per kWh (during off-peak hours at home), costs 2.40 euros for the same distance.
Over 15,000 kilometers per year, the difference amounts to 1,890 euros, solely for energy costs. Of course, even if some pretended to ignore this reality, these savings existed before Trump’s war. In his account of his three electric vehicles, one of our readers reported saving approximately 2,700 euros on energy in 2024 and 2,400 euros in 2025 for his household. His comparison was based on a gasoline car consuming 6 liters per 100 kilometers and fuel priced at 1.70 euros per liter.
Rising sales of electric vehicles, including used ones
The trends are also reflected in vehicle registrations. According to the September report on the French market, 65,247 electric cars were registered, representing a 107.5% increase year-over-year—more than double the previous figure. As a result, electric cars account for 41.6% of new vehicle registrations, surpassing other types of vehicles individually. Several brands benefit from this trend. The Tesla Model Y had 8,183 registrations that month, ahead of the Renault 5 with 5,224 units, while the electric Twingo had 4,992 registrations.
It would be somewhat presumptuous to attribute all of these results to the occupant of the White House. New models, promotional offers, and government incentives also contribute to this growth. In particular, the return of social leasing has played a role in the momentum observed since August.
In reality, the war adds an economic urgency to a transition that was already underway, likely accelerating a decision that had been put off until later.
But perhaps the change is most evident in the used car market. A market that was considered sluggish just a short time ago. Data on the second-hand market show that in August, sales of electric vehicles rose by 32.1%, while overall used car sales declined by 4.8%. According to La Centrale, inventory levels have been cut in half over a year, and the average price of used electric city cars has increased by 9%.
Another indirect effect is that car owners worried about the resale value of their vehicles may find reason to be satisfied, as better price stability can also reassure those who hesitate to buy new cars. On the other hand, it’s definitely bad news for buyers who were hoping to get a cheap electric vehicle.
As fuel prices soar, some charging costs drop
Another war, that waged among large retail chains over the price per kWh, can also be seen as a consequence of the Iranian crisis: Leclerc and Lidl have engaged in fierce competition over charging prices, with the former lowering its rate to 0.17 euros per kWh after the latter raised it to 0.18 euros. This competition exacerbates the perceived gap between the two types of fuel, especially for those who do not have a charging outlet at home or in their residential parking lot.
Another consequence is that at Stellantis, the renewed interest already runs into supply chain limitations. The planned shutdowns at Sochaux and Rennes in October are due to a shortage of certain batteries for long-range electric versions, which are particularly sought after by professionals, although production challenges with ACC already existed prior to this surge in demand. At Renault, François Provost announced additional investments of over 10 billion euros in France over five years, contingent on a favorable political and social environment. The group aims to continue electrification efforts and make its vehicles more affordable, with the goal of having an electric car priced at the same level as a current hybrid by 2030.
Again, these projects predate the Ormuz crisis, but increased demand could bolster investments, allowing for better distribution of industrial costs.
Tesla’s Paradox
On Tesla’s side, can Elon Musk thank his former ally? For the sales of its Model Y in France, he might have some reasons to do so. Globally, however, the results, while largely positive, remain uneven. Tesla delivered 486,532 vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, exceeding analysts’ expectations but still down 2.1% year-on-year. Deliveries exceed production, which helps reduce inventory levels. The comparison with 2025 is also unique, as American buyers had anticipated the end of federal subsidies.
