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China’s EV surge shields economy from Iran war oil shocks

From heavy-duty trucks in Tangshan to taxis in Beijing, drivers in China are ditching diesel and embracing electric vehicles because of their relatively stable running costs.

Published: 4:27pm, 7 Apr 2026

As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to destabilise energy supplies, China’s recent shift to electric vehicles (EVs) appears to be paying off. The switch to renewables, however, is still not expected to fully insulate the economy from wider turmoil in the global energy market.