As fuel prices in Israel climbed past 8 shekels per liter amid the war with Iran, the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry urged the public on Tuesday to consider switching to electric vehicles — a proposal that some say is out of touch with the financial reality of many households.

In its statement, the ministry noted that approximately 230,000 drivers in Israel are already insulated from rising fuel costs thanks to their use of electric cars.

“The transition to an electric vehicle is an available, cost-effective and accessible alternative that allows households to save thousands and even tens of thousands of shekels per year,” said Nachum Yehoshua, head of the Clean Transportation Division at the Energy Ministry. “The rise in fuel prices illustrates the economic cost of dependence on oil and its direct impact on every citizen’s pocket.”

According to ministry data, an average family could save about 8,000 shekels annually on fuel alone by using an electric vehicle, with savings in more remote areas potentially reaching as much as 20,000 shekels per year. Additional savings of several thousand shekels can come from reduced maintenance and servicing costs.

Fuel prices have jumped sharply over the past month, rising by 1.03 shekels per liter to 8.05 shekels for self-service — one of the steepest increases in years. The surge has been driven by a roughly 49% spike in global gasoline prices, fueled by the ongoing conflict with Iran and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry also pointed to increasing affordability in the electric vehicle market, saying that by 2026, average prices for electric cars have reached parity with — and in some cases dropped below — comparable gasoline-powered models. The secondhand EV market has also expanded, offering a broader range of vehicles at more accessible prices.

At the same time, charging infrastructure across Israel continues to grow rapidly, with more than 10,000 charging points now installed nationwide. The cost of setting up a home charging station has also declined significantly, with some solutions now available for just a few hundred shekels.

Officials further noted that recent studies indicate electric vehicle batteries typically last as long as the cars themselves, strengthening the economic case for making the switch.

Despite these arguments, some members of the chareidi community criticized the recommendation as impractical. “An average chareidi family with many children cannot afford to buy a new electric vehicle, even if it is cheaper than gasoline,” one commenter said. “We buy older, used cars — not new ones.”