Gasoline Shortage Has Led Russians To Turn To Electric Cars

Sales doubled following the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes.

This summer, sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in Russia more than doubled—due to a fuel shortage following Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. This is reported by Reuters.

From June through August, approximately 26,500 electric cars and hybrids were sold in Russia, compared to 12,200 during the same period a year earlier. Almost all of these were Chinese brands.

This coincidence is no accident. By the end of August, domestic gasoline production had fallen to about 70% of consumption. In some regions, drivers spent hours searching for a working gas station and stood in long lines. “The shortage has prompted some consumers to switch to electric vehicles or convert their cars to run on natural gas,” writes Reuters.

The electric car market, however, remains small: in 2025, electric cars accounted for just 4.3% of new car sales. It continues to be held back by the same factors—a lack of charging stations, vast distances between cities, and a harsh climate.

Supply issues are also a factor. Neither manufacturers nor importers anticipated such a large-scale fuel crisis — and did not have time to prepare for the surge in demand for alternatives to gasoline.

So the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ strikes on oil refineries proved effective enough to significantly change the market.

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