As war spikes gas prices, drivers wonder how long it will last and if they should go electric

Experts say prolonged high gas prices may drive some EV interest and sales, especially if drivers assume their electricity prices won't be affected by the crises.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:54am

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Oil and gasoline prices are rising as the war in Iran intensifies and other global conflicts affect supply. Experts say prolonged high gas prices may drive some interest and sales of electric vehicles, especially if drivers assume their electricity prices won't be affected by the crises. However, electricity prices have been increasing nationally for a variety of reasons, including surging power demand from new data centers. The extent to which oil and gas conflicts could translate to the electricity sector is yet to be seen.

Why it matters

The rise in gas prices due to the war is causing drivers to consider switching to electric vehicles, which could have implications for the auto industry and the transition to clean energy. However, the impact on electricity prices is complex and uncertain, raising questions about whether EV owners are truly insulated from price hikes.

The details

Drivers of gas-powered vehicles are much more vulnerable to fluctuating prices that result from global conflict than those who charge their electric cars. The national average for a gallon of regular gas this week was $3.57, up from $2.94 a month ago. Meanwhile, residential electricity prices are regulated and less volatile than gasoline prices, so EV owners are largely unaffected by oil price shocks. However, electricity prices have been increasing nationally for a variety of reasons, including surging power demand from new data centers. Experts say the extent to which oil and gas conflicts could translate to the electricity sector is yet to be seen.

  • The national average for a gallon of regular gas this week was $3.57, up from $2.94 a month ago.

The players

Kevin Ketels

A 55-year-old Detroit man who bought an electric 2026 Chevrolet Blazer last year, not thinking about the cost of gas but wanting to be "part of the future".

Erich Muehlegger

A professor of economics at the University of California, Davis who says residential electricity prices are regulated and much less volatile than gasoline prices, so EV owners are largely unaffected by oil price shocks.

Holt Edwards

The principal in Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group who says the war is an "inflationary event" and a contributing factor to increasing electricity prices, though probably not the main driver.

Pierpaolo Cazzola

An energy expert at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy who says the variation in the price of the energy component used to generate electricity is smaller in the U.S. than elsewhere.

Euan Graham

An analyst at energy think tank Ember who says clean power and electrification combined is what provides the most security.

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What they’re saying

“Electricity can go up, but it won't go up nearly as much as gas will and it won't go up nearly as fast, either.”

— Kevin Ketels, Assistant professor of global supply chain management at Wayne State University

“As a result, EV owners are largely unaffected by oil price shocks.”

— Erich Muehlegger, Professor of economics at the University of California, Davis

“This is an inflationary event. Is this the driver in electricity prices? I think probably not. But it's certainly a contributing factor.”

— Holt Edwards, Principal in Bracewell's Policy Resolution Group

“The energy component varies depending on the energy you're using and the price of the energy that you're using to generate electricity. What happens is that in the U.S., the variation of the price of the energy component is smaller than it is elsewhere.”

— Pierpaolo Cazzola, Energy expert at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy

“Clean power and electrification combined is what provides the most security.”

— Euan Graham, Analyst at energy think tank Ember

What’s next

The extent to which oil and gas conflicts could translate to the electricity sector is yet to be seen, and experts say persistent war could affect electricity bills in the future. This is all the more reason for countries to transition to clean power.

The takeaway

The rise in gas prices due to the war is causing some drivers to consider switching to electric vehicles, but the impact on electricity prices is complex and uncertain. While EV owners may be largely insulated from oil price shocks, electricity prices have been increasing for other reasons, raising questions about whether EV owners are truly protected from price hikes. The transition to clean power and electrification is seen as a way to provide more energy security.