Russia's EV Registrations Double as Fuel Supply Woes Bite

New data from Russia shows a sharp jump in uptake of plug-in and fully electric vehicles over the summer months. Compared with the same period a year earlier, the number of such cars entering the fleet more than doubled. The surge points to a market reacting to unusually constrained petrol supplies rather than to any new pro-EV policy push. Strikes on refining infrastructure linked to the conflict with Ukraine have disrupted fuel availability, pushing some drivers toward alternatives that do not depend on the pump. The figures cover both battery-only models and plug-in hybrids, suggesting buyers are casting a wide net when seeking a way around fuel uncertainty. It remains to be seen whether the trend holds once supply conditions stabilise, since the underlying driver appears to be circumstance rather than long-term consumer preference. For now, the numbers offer an unusual case study of how energy security concerns can reshape purchasing behaviour in a market not traditionally associated with electrification.