Energy research organization Ember estimated that electric vehicles in oil-importing countries displaced approximately 200 million barrels of crude oil consumption between March and August 2026, equivalent to an estimated value of $20 billion. This comes as energy supply disruptions linked to the Hormuz crisis gave countries with large electric fleets greater scope to reduce their reliance on oil.
China accounted for the largest share of the oil consumption avoided, with an estimated value of $14 billion, while European Union countries contributed approximately $3.1 billion. Germany and France had the largest shares within the bloc.
The Impact Extends Beyond Emissions Reduction
Ember considers early investment in electric vehicles to have become a factor in energy security, because every electric vehicle on the road reduces the exposure of its owners and economies to oil market volatility. As fleets grow, this impact could become a way to mitigate future supply shocks, in addition to supporting economic resilience.
The figures are based on a new Ember electric vehicle sales tracker covering 56 countries that represent more than 90% of global electric vehicle sales and more than 80% of total vehicle sales. The tracker estimates the amount of oil displaced by electric vehicle fleets in each country.
The United States Loses Its Competitive Position
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for only about 6% of light-duty vehicle sales in the United States during the first eight months of 2026, following the cancellation of federal tax incentives for electric vehicles in September 2025. Of the 56 countries tracked by Ember, 49 recorded a higher sales share than the United States, including 15 countries that surpassed it for the first time this year.
The list includes India, Brazil, Italy, Malaysia, and New Zealand. India surpassed the United States every month since April, while Brazil benefited from growth in its market and the start of an expansion in its manufacturing capacity. This comparison does not mean that these countries sell more electric vehicles in total than the United States; rather, it means that their share of new vehicles that are fully electric has become higher.
What Is Changing in Practice?
Global sales of fully electric vehicles rose 11% year over year during the first eight months of 2026, bringing their share to 18% of new vehicle sales, compared with 16% a year earlier. By contrast, sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles fell 12%, while sales of internal combustion engine vehicles declined 6%.
The global average conceals significant variation. Excluding China and the United States, Ember estimates that sales of fully electric vehicles rose 45% in the remaining markets. Their sales also doubled in Japan after a policy helped buyers bear the upfront cost, while their share exceeded 30% in France for the first time thanks to the social leasing program. Sales in Germany also improved after consumer support was introduced at the beginning of 2026.
Ember indicates that oil supply disruptions helped accelerate sales in India, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand, alongside policies to reduce purchase costs and expand domestic manufacturing. In India, Tata and Mahindra accounted for more than 60% of electric vehicle sales during the first half of the year, while Brazil expanded its role as a regional manufacturing hub, and Vietnam's VinFast increased its production presence outside the country.