“It’s going crazy!” EV sales surge as oil crisis accelerates Aussie buyer interest
A new survey has backed up feedback from the Australian auto industry that interest in EVs and electrified vehicles is surging as the Middle East war drives up oil prices and puts supply in doubt.
The survey suggests geopolitical tensions and concerns about fuel supply could accelerate electric vehicle adoption in Australia, with one in four Australians now considering buying an EV for the first time.
The research, commissioned by renewable energy installer Green.com.au and conducted by Primara Research, found 25 per cent of Australians are now considering switching to an EV in light of the ongoing Middle East crisis.
That compares with just seven per cent who had previously considered purchasing an electric vehicle before the crisis began.
READ MORE: The Middle-East war, the price of oil and how it impacts on EV owners | Analysis (and some opinion)
Speaking to EV Central on the condition of anonymity, several dealership and auto company executives confirmed substantial lifts in interest and sales this month.
“It’s going crazy,” reported one dealer. “There are queues in the dealership.”
One auto company with a strong EV line-up estimated a 70 per cent explosion in EV interest.
The Green/Primara survey suggests that if current conversion trends continue – where 35 per cent of those considering an EV eventually go on to purchase one – Australia’s EV ownership rate could rise significantly from current levels.
According to the report, EV ownership currently sits at around four per cent of Australian vehicles. If the increased interest translated into purchases at similar rates, ownership could potentially climb to around 13 per cent of the national fleet.
The research also found fuel security and petrol prices were the most significant concerns linked to the crisis. In a separate survey conducted by Primara as the crisis began, 71 per cent of Australians rated petrol availability and fuel supply as a high concern, scoring it eight or higher out of 10.
Younger Australians were the most likely to say they are now considering an EV purchase. Among those aged 25–34, 42 per cent said they were considering switching to an EV, compared with around six per cent prior to the crisis. Current ownership in that age group is estimated at about three per cent.
Among Australians aged 35–44, 40 per cent said they are now considering an EV, with current ownership at about five per cent. In the 45–54 age group, 25 per cent reported they were considering making the switch, compared with seven per cent current ownership.
Interest among Australians aged over 55 also increased, with 17 per cent now considering purchasing an EV compared with 11 per cent before the crisis, despite current ownership in that demographic sitting at around two per cent.
Commenting on the findings, Green.com.au founder Dave Green said concerns about fuel costs and supply appeared to be influencing consumer attitudes towards electric vehicles.
“The Middle East crisis has fundamentally shifted the EV conversation from environmental choice to economic necessity,” said Green . “With more than 400,000 EVs already in Australia, the increase in remand that we are seeing could push the national EV fleet past 1 million if conversion patterns hold true.”
Primara Research spokesperson Peter Drennan said the survey suggested rising fuel costs and geopolitical uncertainty could prompt some consumers to reassess their vehicle choices.
More than 400,000 electric vehicles are currently estimated to be on Australian roads. The researchers said continued growth in consumer interest, combined with falling EV prices and rising fuel costs, could influence future adoption rates.
The findings are based on a survey commissioned by Green.com.au and conducted by Primara Research in March 2026 that asked respondents whether they were considering buying an EV for the first time in light of the situation in the Middle East.
