Oil's electric shock
More EVs will push their way onto the road as new affordable models are rolled out
In 2018, Nissan will finally release an update to its popular electric vehicle (EV), the Leaf. It will get 150 miles a charge, in the mid-range of EVs on the market. The breakthrough is in the price: $30,000. In California, generous state- and federal-tax credits will bring that cost down as much as $10,000. Even a middle-income buyer in Texas, which doesn't offer a tax credit, whose tax liability only allows them to use half the federal credit, could buy the Leaf for $26,250. For a car that will save at least $4,000 in fuel costs over the first decade of its life, that's a great price. It's also a dangerous price for both the auto industry and especially the oil industry. The EV-affordabili
Also in this section
24 December 2025
As activity in the US Gulf has stagnated at a lower level, the government is taking steps to encourage fresh exploration and bolster field development work
23 December 2025
The new government has brought stability and security to the country, with the door now open to international investment
23 December 2025
A third wave of LNG supply is coming, and with it a likely oversupply of the fuel by 2028
22 December 2025
Weakening climate resolve in the developed world and rapidly growing demand in developing countries means peak oil is still a long way away
