A fuel crisis gripping Russia is beginning to alter consumer\nbehaviour. Soaring petrol and diesel prices, caused by supply\ndisruptions, have led to a sharp surge in demand for Chinese electric\nvehicles (EVs), especially in Moscow.<\/p>\n
Yevgeniy Zabelin, founder of the EN Cars dealership, stated that\ndemand for electric vehicles has increased dramatically since fuel\nsupplies became problematic. \u201cSince the situation with fuel became\ncomplicated, demand has multiplied several times over,\u201d he told Reuters.\nHe added that consumer interest has risen for both economical and\npremium electric models.<\/p>\n
The fuel supply disruptions were triggered by intensified Ukrainian\nattacks on Russia\u2019s energy infrastructure in recent weeks. The situation\nhas resulted in long queues at petrol stations, fuel distribution\nrestrictions in many regions, and retail petrol prices in some areas\nreaching the highest levels in Europe, according to Reuters\ncalculations.<\/p>\n
The impact is being felt directly in the automotive market. Zabelin\nrevealed that EN Cars, which focuses on selling Chinese brands, is now\nable to sell two to three electric vehicles per day. This figure\nrepresents a significant jump from the previous rate of around two to\nthree units per month.<\/p>\n
Sergei Udalov, Executive Director of the research agency Autostat,\nsaid sales of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are indeed\nincreasing, but stock availability remains a constraint because\nmanufacturers and importers were unprepared for the surge in demand. \u201cIf\nthe fuel crisis continues, sales will grow significantly in the near\nfuture, and China will be the biggest beneficiary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Amid this rising interest, Chinese brands dominate the Russian\nelectric vehicle market. According to Autostat data, the best-selling EV\nand hybrid models come from Geely, Dongfeng, GAC, and Chery. Meanwhile,\nthe best-selling Russian-made electric model is the Evolute, which is\nassembled using kits from Dongfeng.<\/p>\n
Data from Autostat and Russia\u2019s Ministry of Industry and Trade show\nthat sales of plug-in hybrid cars reached 24,600 units in the first five\nmonths of 2026, a 125 percent increase compared to the same period last\nyear. Sales of pure electric vehicles rose by 19 percent to 4,460 units.\nAutostat head Sergei Tselikov also noted that 1,754 new plug-in hybrids\nwere registered last week, nearly 50 percent above the weekly average\nfor the year, as the fuel crisis worsened.<\/p>\n
Despite this, the adoption of electric vehicles in Russia still faces\nchallenges, including limited charging infrastructure, vast distances\nbetween cities, and extreme weather conditions. Digital mapping service\n2GIS recorded a 20 percent increase in the number of charging stations\nby July 2026, but this has not yet kept pace with market needs.<\/p>\n
One EV owner, Vasiliy, said he was unaffected by the fuel crisis\nbecause he can charge his car at home. \u201cEspecially in the current\nsituation, I have no problems at all,\u201d he said. However, he believes the\nsurge in demand for electric vehicles may not last long, as charging in\nMoscow remains a challenge for many users.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fuel-crisis-in-russia-drives-surge-in-demand-for-chinese-electric-vehicles-1783234250", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }