Ukrainians set a record for electric vehicle purchases: why did demand increase?

Ukrainians set a record for electric vehicle purchases: why did demand increase? shutterstock.com

Illia Fedun

Almost 23% more electric vehicles were purchased in Ukraine than a year ago

In August 2025, Ukrainians set a record in the automotive market, purchasing 11,500 vehicles (passenger cars, trucks, and buses). This is 12.5% more than in July of this year.

This was reported by the Automotive Market Research Institute.

Experts note that the main reasons for the increase in demand are:

1) Rising fuel prices at gas stations.

2) Electric cars have become much more affordable.

3) And most importantly, from January 1, 2026, VAT will be returned on the customs clearance of electric cars, so electric cars may rise in price by almost a third.

According to analysts, demand will not decline until the end of the year, but after the introduction of additional duties, there will be a pause in demand for electric cars for several months. Then the market will stabilize again, and demand for electric cars will rise again.

As EcoPolitics wrote earlier, in July 2025, Ukrainians purchased more than 7,000 electric cars. This figure increased by 47% compared to July 2024.

Related
Almost 60% of the policies set out in Ukraine’s National Climate Plan have been implemented
Almost 60% of the policies set out in Ukraine’s National Climate Plan have been implemented

The plan has also been updated – the climate target has been revised and the areas of decarbonisation and monitoring have been expanded

The Energy Efficiency Fund has awarded 5.4 billion UAH in grants for energy-saving projects
The Energy Efficiency Fund has awarded 5.4 billion UAH in grants for energy-saving projects

Thanks to the implementation of these measures, CO₂ emissions have been reduced by 82,3 thousand tonnes each year

Rivers in Zakarpattia are drying up due to deforestation, off-roading and the construction of wind farms — says an environmentalist
Rivers in Zakarpattia are drying up due to deforestation, off-roading and the construction of wind farms — says an environmentalist

A separate issue is the drainage of marshes and floodplains, which is taking place due to the rapid urbanisation of Lviv and Uzhhorod

The world’s first solar-powered ambulance has passed a test on African off-road terrain
The world’s first solar-powered ambulance has passed a test on African off-road terrain

The car is not only completely climate-neutral, but also powers mobile diagnostic equipment