Iraq’s Kurdistan Region is shifting toward electric vehicles as consumers in this oil-rich place are increasingly considering buying plug-in hybrids and full battery EVs over concerns about the environment, poor quality gasoline, and the cost of traditional cars. And as the region’s electricity infrastructure improves, people are also becoming less worried that they might end up stranded on a remote roadside with an exhausted EV battery.

ERBIL, Iraq—One day in July, rush hour traffic crowded Erbil’s 60 Meter Street, one of Erbil’s growing number of ring roads, under a smoggy sky. Tan Nissan Sunny taxis merged against the flow of Ford SUVs and Kia sedans. Junky Toyota farm trucks idled next to pricey Land Rovers at stop lights. And Chinese-made electric vehicles from companies such as BYD made up a sizable portion of the traffic.

ERBIL, Iraq—One day in July, rush hour traffic crowded Erbil’s 60 Meter Street, one of Erbil’s growing number of ring roads, under a smoggy sky. Tan Nissan Sunny taxis merged against the flow of Ford SUVs and Kia sedans. Junky Toyota farm trucks idled next to pricey Land Rovers at stop lights. And Chinese-made electric vehicles from companies such as BYD made up a sizable portion of the traffic.

Iraq’s Kurdistan Region is shifting toward electric vehicles as consumers in this oil-rich place are increasingly considering buying plug-in hybrids and full battery EVs over conc