Budget Electric Cars Lure Europe’s Drivers After Fuel Price Jump

A Renault Zoe EV.Photographer: Benjamin Girette/Bloomberg

Demand for affordable electric vehicles is soaring in Europe as the fuel price increases caused by the Middle East conflict spur lower-income households to go green.

Inquiries about EVs costing less than €30,000 ($35,000) on Mobile.de, Germany’s largest car marketplace, have jumped 87% since the start of March, led by models like Renault SA’s Zoe. That’s outstripping a 77% rise in inquiries about all EVs, regardless of price.