Is A Double-Shock What Will Really Change Auto Purchasing & Oil Use Again?

Gas prices have been swinging with world events. A gallon averaged $4.56 on May 21, after conflict in the Middle East pushed oil prices up, following an earlier spike tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prices have since eased, with the national average now at $3.943 a gallon. But tensions remain, including U.S. military action against Iran and Iran's move to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil. The question being raised is whether repeated price shocks like these could push more drivers toward electric vehicles, the way the oil crises of the 1970s led to a lasting drop in gasoline use.

There's no new program, rebate, or deadline here, just a look at whether history might repeat itself. In the 1970s, two big oil shocks caused a sharp, long-term decline in oil consumption as people changed how they drove and what they drove. Some now wonder if a similar "double shock" from Ukraine and the Middle East could speed up the shift away from gas-powered cars in a lasting way, rather than just causing temporary pain at the pump.

For homeowners, the direct takeaway is limited: this is about gas prices and vehicle trends, not home energy upgrades or rebates. But if you're weighing a switch to an electric vehicle, and possibly charging it with home solar, this is a reminder that gas price swings tied to global conflicts remain a real, if unpredictable, part of that math.