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Iran War Sparks Global Energy Panic as Electric Vehicle Demand Surges Worldwide

goodinfo.net — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:30:00 +0800

Iran War Sparks Global Energy Panic as Electric Vehicle Demand Surges Worldwide

SYDNEY — Until recently, Rosco Jewell sold about one used electric vehicle every month at his Sydney dealership. But in the weeks since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran, his business has transformed dramatically — he’s now shifting a second-hand EV roughly every two weeks.

“It is now getting very hard to find used EVs to buy in the $20,000 to $50,000 range. And we’ve also seen prices increase by 10 to 15 percent — in some cases, 20 percent as well,” the Sydney-based businessman told Al Jazeera.

Global EV Sales Surge

As the Middle East conflict continues to drive petrol and diesel prices worldwide, demand for electric vehicles has been surging in numerous countries.

Australia: Battery EVs accounted for 14.6% of total vehicle sales in March, nearly double the proportion recorded during the same month in 2025, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. David Smitherman, CEO of BYD distributor EVDirect, which manages 90 of the Chinese automaker’s showrooms, said he has seen a sharp uptick in inquiries expected to translate into sales. “We’ve just seen a lot of people come into the stores, obviously concerned about the price of fuel and their ability to control their own transport needs,” he said.

Vietnam: Local EV brand VinFast reported a 127% rise in year-on-year sales in March.

Japan: EV sales nearly tripled year-on-year last month.

South Korea: Domestic EV purchases surged by 172%.

China: Chinese manufacturers reported an 82.6% rise in month-on-month EV sales in March, according to the China Automotive Dealers Association.

United States: US EV sales topped 82,000 units last month, down by a quarter year over year but up by more than 20% from February, according to Cox Automotive.

Europe: France recorded a three-fold increase in new Tesla registrations, while Norway, Sweden, and Denmark reported similar surges for the EV brand.

The Second Fossil Fuel Shock

Euan Graham, an analyst at the energy think tank Ember, said the Iran war has accelerated a trend of growing EV adoption in emerging markets, mirroring patterns seen after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“We’re now in a period in the 2020s where we’ve seen two fossil fuel shocks, one after the other,” Graham told Al Jazeera. “What usually happens, based on past examples, is countries look for alternative solutions, and in the 2020s, there are increasingly competitive alternative solutions, and EVs are one of them.”

“So I would really expect this to be a kind of permanent shift in the pace of EV adoption in a number of countries,” he added.

Reshaping the Global Auto Industry

Analysts say the energy crisis triggered by the Iran war is reshaping global automotive consumption patterns. In 2025, the global EV market had faced a slowdown due to reduced subsidies and insufficient charging infrastructure. But rising fuel prices have fundamentally changed consumers’ cost calculations — in many countries, the per-kilometer cost of driving an EV is now significantly lower than that of a petrol vehicle.

This demand shift is reshaping global automotive supply chains. Chinese EV manufacturers, with their competitive pricing and diverse product offerings, have emerged as the primary beneficiaries of the surge. BYD, NIO, and other Chinese brands are expanding their market share across Southeast Asia and Australia.

Meanwhile, traditional automakers are facing mounting pressure to accelerate their electrification timelines in response to this geopolitically driven energy transition.

Source: Al Jazeera, Bloomberg

UK Minister Warns Iran War Price Impacts Could Last Eight Months

goodinfo.net — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0800

UK Minister Warns Iran War Inflation Effects May Persist Through Year-End

On April 26, 2026, a UK government minister warned that supply chain disruptions stemming from the US-Israel military operations against Iran could keep prices elevated for the next eight months. The statement represents one of the most direct official assessments of the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict on British consumers.

Supply Chain Under Severe Strain

Speaking to media on Sunday, the minister said government departments are closely monitoring stock levels of essential goods and developing contingency plans for any potential disruptions to supply chains. The impact of the Iran war on global energy markets and shipping routes has already begun filtering through to British consumer prices, with multiple industries reporting rising raw material costs and transportation delays.

Energy price volatility has been particularly pronounced. As an economy heavily dependent on energy imports, the UK is acutely sensitive to shifts in oil and gas supplies from the Middle East. Since the outbreak of hostilities, international oil prices have experienced sharp swings, directly driving up domestic fuel, electricity, and transport costs.

Food and Consumer Goods Under Pressure

The ripple effects of supply chain disruption are now spreading into food retail. Several major UK supermarket chains have reported shortages and price increases on certain imported goods, particularly food products, electronics, and textiles from the Middle East and Asia. Industry insiders expect this trend to widen if shipping routes remain threatened.

Food industry analysts note that the UK’s food supply chain is highly globalized, with approximately 46% of food consumed in the country being imported. Rising shipping insurance costs and route diversions caused by the war are adding to logistics expenses, which are ultimately passed on to consumers.

Government Response Measures

In response to inflationary pressures, the UK government is implementing a series of countermeasures. The Treasury and the Department for Business and Trade have reportedly activated a cross-departmental emergency mechanism, focusing on monitoring the supply of key commodities including energy, food, and pharmaceuticals. The government is also maintaining close communication with major retailers and logistics companies to ensure supply chain resilience.

Additionally, the government is evaluating whether strategic reserves need to be deployed to cushion short-term supply shocks. Sources indicate officials are considering temporary adjustments to import tariffs on certain critical goods to reduce costs for businesses.

Economic Outlook Uncertainty Grows

Economists have warned that a prolonged Iran conflict could cast a shadow over the UK’s nascent economic recovery. Bank of England policymakers are facing a difficult balancing act: controlling inflation on one hand while avoiding overly restrictive monetary policy that could damage economic growth on the other.

Market analysts note that if the war does not conclude in the near term, UK inflation could climb back above the government’s target level in the coming months. This would add further pressure on household living costs, particularly for lower-income families already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

Source: BBC News - Higher prices could last for eight months after Iran war, minister says

NATO Rift Deepens as Trump Furious Over Europe's Refusal to Join Iran War

goodinfo.net — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:15:00 +0800

NATO Rift Deepens as Trump Furious Over Europe’s Refusal to Join Iran War

Divisions within NATO are widening as US President Donald Trump expresses fury over European member states’ refusal to join the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The transatlantic alliance is facing its most severe test in decades.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump is reportedly considering measures against the United Kingdom and Spain in response to their refusal to participate in the Iran conflict, raising further concerns about the future cohesion of the military alliance.

The crisis centers on the Iran situation. Since the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in February, the Middle East has remained in turmoil. Despite the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the initial strikes, Iran has continued its resistance, including restricting passage through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US military pressure.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. The US has since increased its naval presence in the strait to block Iranian oil exports.

European nations have been broadly cautious about participating in the Iran war. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has explicitly stated that Britain will not be drawn into the conflict — a position that has drawn public criticism from Trump. The US president previously disparaged UK aircraft carriers as “toys,” sparking diplomatic friction.

Trump’s anger goes beyond rhetoric. According to sources familiar with the matter, the White House is discussing various pressure options, including reassessing security commitments and trade relationships with the relevant countries.

Carne Ross, a former British diplomat and founder of Independent Diplomat, told Al Jazeera: “NATO is facing its most severe existential crisis since the end of the Cold War. If the US continues to treat NATO as an instrument for unilateral action rather than an alliance, the organization’s cohesion will be fundamentally threatened.”

Retired US Air Force major and Republican strategist Eli Bremer offered a different perspective: “While the current divisions are serious, NATO’s institutional resilience remains. The key is finding a compromise that all parties can accept.”

Pablo Calderon Martinez, head of politics and international relations at Northeastern University London, said: “Europe’s refusal to participate in the Iran war reflects fundamental divergences in transatlantic strategic interests. These divisions are unlikely to be bridged in the short term.”

King Charles III’s upcoming four-day state visit to the US is seen as a critical opportunity to repair the UK-US relationship. However, analysts note that the visit is fraught with uncertainty given the current political climate.

The NATO Secretary-General has called for member unity, but the fissure over Iran appears to be deepening. If US-Europe divisions persist, NATO’s collective defense principle and global influence could face long-term consequences.

The alliance, founded in 1949 to provide collective security against the Soviet Union, now faces internal challenges that may prove more difficult to manage than any external threat. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the transatlantic bond can withstand the current strain.

Source: Al Jazeera, BBC News