Rapidly rising fuel prices could become the catalyst that accelerates the shift toward electric vehicles (EVs). In a recent column for Oboz.ua, Tetiana Dumenkova, Deputy Head of the Fuel and Energy Business Association (FEBA), analyzes the psychological price limit for gasoline, how it influences driver behavior, and why the decline of small gas station operators could fundamentally reshape competition in Ukraine’s fuel market.

The Economic Shift to Electric Vehicles
Current gasoline price hikes are creating a powerful economic incentive to switch to EVs. Simple arithmetic reveals a stark contrast: under high-price scenarios, the cost of operating an EV can be ten times lower than a traditional internal combustion engine vehicle, forcing many owners to reconsider their transportation choices.
However, the situation in Ukraine remains unique. Wartime energy challenges, power outages, and the current state of charging infrastructure act as temporary brakes on a total “EV boom.”

Structural Challenges in the Fuel Market
A significant portion of the article focuses on the structural issues within Ukraine’s fuel market. The shrinking number of small and medium-sized operators (SMEs) weakens market competition and directly impacts price formation.
Dumenkova notes that current regulatory approaches—specifically the advance corporate income tax payment mechanism—place a disproportionate burden on smaller operators, potentially leading to their gradual exit from the market.
According to FEBA’s “Fuel Market 2025” study, if regulatory policies are not adjusted, the market share of small and medium operators will likely continue to decline in the coming years.

The Global Perspective
From a global standpoint, a sharp and sustained spike in oil prices is not in the interest of the world economy. Excessively high costs only serve to accelerate the development of alternative technologies, ultimately undermining the long-term position of the oil industry.
Read the full column by Tetiana Dumenkova on Oboz.ua.