‘Crazy not to’: soaring fuel prices send more Australians into U-turn towards electric cars

Sales of EVs and hybrids have increased in Australia ever since the US-Israel war on Iran sent oil prices soaring and raised the prospect that fuel could be rationed Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast A self-described car enthusiast with a long-held passion for combustion engines, Matt Hurlston never wanted an electric vehicle. “My son was getting his diesel [car] serviced, and he was complaining about the price of fuel, so I went home, opened up my phone, put my credit card in, got the finance done and bought an EV,” says Hurlston, who lives in Melbourne’s south-east. “Petrol was already expensive when I was considering a purchase, and then as fuel prices kept going higher, it was an easy decision.” Sales of electric vehicles have been rocketing in Australia ever since the US-Israel war on Iran unleashed a global energy shock that has sent oil prices soaring and raised the prospect that fuel could be rationed. Car yards are reporting a sharp increase in sales of EVs and hybrids, while brokerage firms are seeing a spike in loan applications for electric vehicles, and used EVs are attracting st