Iran War Drives Electric Vehicle Trend in Asia

JAKARTA - The war between Israel and the United States (US) against Iran is said to be driving a massive trend in the use of electric vehicles or cars. The war in the Gulf region has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that serves as the main route for oil distribution from West Asian countries, including Iran. Ember global energy think tank research manager Sam Butler-Sloss stated that the energy crisis resulting from the war in Iran is similar to the Ukraine war, which forced European Union countries to reduce their dependence on gas. “(The closure of the) Strait of Hormuz will push Asia to reduce its dependence on oil but with even cheaper technology,” said Butler-Sloss, as quoted from CNBC on Saturday (11/4/2026). However, the surge in global oil prices due to the war has led consumers to switch to cheaper electricity-based technology. According to him, this transition push is occurring in various countries around the world. “The Iran crisis accelerates the shift to renewable energy and electrification,” he said. The Bamboo Curtain country is massively implementing energy transformation based on solar, wind, water (hydro), and nuclear. Butler-Sloss mentioned that the use of electric vehicles could reduce oil import costs by up to 600 billion dollars per year. “This is Asia’s Ukraine moment. Just like Ukraine forced Europe to reduce its dependence on gas,” said Butler-Sloss.