Energy think tank Ember assigned a modeled $20 billion value to crude oil displaced by electric-car fleets in importing countries over the six months ending in August 2026.
The estimate covered battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids, with total displacement put at 200 million barrels. Ember attributed $3.1 billion to European Union member states, including about $760 million for Germany and $560 million for France. It put the United Kingdom’s fleet at roughly $790 million.
Euronews separately reported nearly €2 billion in avoided oil imports for Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Ember’s published analysis does not give that six-country subtotal.
The figures are estimates of oil displacement, not records of reduced import spending or cash saved by governments. Ember’s model compares electric cars with average new cars without a plug traveling the same distance. For its valuation, Ember applied each month’s average Brent crude price to that month’s estimated displacement, then combined the six results.
Ember’s method does not deduct fuel used to generate electricity for charging. Newmobility.news reported that the calculation also leaves out electricity-production costs, vehicle purchases and charging infrastructure.
Official UK trade data recorded £21.5 billion in crude-oil imports for the year ending August 2026. That figure is at current prices and is not seasonally adjusted.
Ember says lower oil demand can reduce import exposure and strengthen energy security and economic resilience. Euan Graham, the group’s senior energy analyst, said wider EV adoption could make importing countries less vulnerable to oil-price swings and supply interruptions.
Ember says it refreshes its electric-vehicle registration data monthly, usually two to six weeks after month-end, with timing varying by country.
