Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) across continental Europe jumped 51% in March, with 224,000 new registrations recorded in the month and 500,000 in the first quarter of the year — a 33.5% rise compared to the same period last year, according to analysis by New AutoMotive and E-Mobility Europe. The spike is being partly attributed to climbing petrol and diesel prices linked to the ongoing war in Iran, which began in late February, making the lower running costs of electric cars more attractive to buyers. Norway led the shift most dramatically, with EVs accounting for 98% of all new cars sold in March, while major economies including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland collectively recorded a 40% increase in EV uptake in the first quarter, bolstered by government subsidies — France, for example, offers grants of up to €5,700 to low-income buyers.