• Fuel prices have jumped 10% in a week due to the war in the Middle East
• Trump said “if they rise, they rise” of the surging prices
• Analysis shows that EV owners will largely be protected

The knock-on effect of the US-Israel war with Iran is starting to be felt by the global consumer, with fuel prices jumping 10% in North America, as oil rose above $90 a barrel, its highest in years, according to Reuters.

In the UK, the RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, also stated that petrol has now increased by 3.7p to 136.53p a liter since Saturday in the UK, while diesel is up by 6p to a 16-month high of 148.35p.

However, Williams believes that prices are predicted to soar further, as it normally takes two weeks for price changes to work their way through to the forecourt.

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Despite vowing to lower energy costs for American citizens, President Trump shrugged off the spiraling costs, stating “if they rise, they rise” during an interview with Reuters.

But the butterfly effect could be far worse, as Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist for RSM, a middle-market assurance, tax and consulting firm told The Guardian that if US oil prices rise to $125 barrel, US gross domestic product (GDP) could drop at least 0.8% and consumer inflation could go up to 4%, despite Chris Wright, the US Department of Energy secretary, attempting to add assurances that a spike in energy prices would last weeks, not months.

While no one is willing to predict the future, new analysis has revealed that electric vehicle drivers are largely protected from price hikes resulting from global instability, particularly in the UK.

Price caps on electricity until June “will shield drivers of EVs from current shocks”, the Energy & Climate intelligence Unit (ECiU) said.

This is further aided by the fact that renewables will help soften the blow of any increases in gas prices, as well as the more pertinent point that EVs remain cheaper than petrol cars, with fueling being less than a third of the cost even during the gas crisis of 2022, according to Colin Walker, Head of Transport at the ECIU.

If EV customers can charge at home, on much cheaper, typically overnight domestic tariffs, they can take advantage of costs as low as 7 pence or 5-7 cents per kilowatt hour.

This is further reduced if the household also features solar and/or a battery storage system like Tesla’s Powerwall.

Even if you don’t want to go full “off-grid” for now, opting for an electric vehicle could be the best way to protect yourself from surges in fuel prices in the future. Here are three affordable EV options that I recommend as reviewer:

1. Nissan Leaf

• From: $29,990 / £32,249 / AU$50,990

The latest Nissan Leaf is a grand departure from the original trail-blazing EV, as this one isn’t limited by a relatively poor driving range and rattly build quality, as the all-new model offers up to 386 miles of WLTP range (303 miles EPA) and 20-80% charge speeds of around 30 minutes.

Energy efficiency is also excellent thanks to an improved aerodynamic shape, while the interior is laden with premium-feeling materials and an expansive array of digital displays. There’s even the option to fit a Bose sound system that is integrated into the driver’s headrest. An excellent option for the money.

2. Hyundai Ioniq 5

• From: $36,600 / £40,695 / AU$76,200

Granted, this isn’t exactly a bargain basement option, nor is it the newest EV on the market, but the Ioniq 5 still crams a lot of technology underneath its futuristic bodywork. There’s 800V charging, for a start, which allows for ultra-fast charging in some markets.

The larger battery option (84kWh) delivers up to 354 miles on a single charge on the WLTP cycle (318 EPA), which means many owners will only have to plug it in every few days. What’s more, the bold styling hides a very practical family hatchback, which manages to feel spacious and special at the same time.

3. Tesla Model 3

• From: $36,990 / £37,990 / AU$54,900

Tesla’s CEO may well be divisive and the company isn’t exactly a fan favorite right now, but it’s difficult to deny that the recently updated Model 3 is an otherwise excellent EV. There’s 321 miles of EPA range (332-miles WLTP) in the entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive version, which still manages an impressive 0-60mph sprint time of 6.2 seconds.

The marque’s 15.4-inch first-row touchscreen is arguably one of the best in the business and, without wishing to sound like a broken record, Tesla’s Supercharger network still leads the way in terms of ease of use and reliability.

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