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Global EV sales surge during Iran war

Jun 16, 2026, 7:08pm EDT
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Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters

Global EV sales are expected to hit 23 million this year, an 11% jump from 2025, as the Iran war drives demand for cheaper electric mileage.

Thanks to falling lithium-ion prices, EVs are becoming more affordable just as gas prices have risen, prompting more drivers to make the switch even as demand slows in the world’s largest market: China’s domestic EV sales slumped last month, but its exports soared by 73%, reflecting the extent to which “war in Iran has changed the math” around EVs, The New York Times wrote.

In the US, it’s nearly three times more expensive to fuel a gas car as an EV, and Carbon Brief found that the UK’s EV drivers save nearly $1,500 annually over their petrol counterparts.

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