Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State

The report finds that electric vehicle (EV) drivers in all U.S. states can expect cost savings per trip and annually compared to gas vehicle drivers. The highest savings occur in Washington State due to high gasoline prices and low residential electricity rates, while the lowest savings are found in Hawaii due to higher electricity costs. The analysis focuses on three vehicle classes—sedans, SUVs, and trucks—using 2023 base models and a mix of home and public charging data.

• Driving an electric vehicle is more cost-effective than driving a gas-powered vehicle across all primary passenger vehicle classes, including sedans, SUVs, and trucks, in every state.
• Washington State offers the most significant savings for EV drivers because it has the highest gas prices ($4.98/gallon) and the lowest residential electricity prices ($0.10/kWh) in the U.S. Savings per trip in Washington range from nearly $50 for SUVs, nearly $60 for sedans, and over $80 for trucks.
• Hawaii has the lowest EV cost savings due to its high average residential electricity rates of $0.43/kWh, with savings per fill-up ranging from $15 for SUVs to $26 for sedans.
• In the Southeast states of Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, which have the five lowest gas prices in the U.S., EV pickup trucks provide approximately $30 in cost savings per trip compared to fossil fuel versions.

APA

Baldwin, S., & Conness, J. (2023). Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State. Energy Innovation. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/EV-Fill-Up-Savings-by-State-3.pdf

Chicago

Baldwin, Sara, and Jack Conness. Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State. Energy Innovation, 2023. https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/EV-Fill-Up-Savings-by-State-3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Baldwin |first1=Sara |last2=Conness |first2=Jack |title=Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State |publisher=Energy Innovation |date=August 2023 |url=https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/EV-Fill-Up-Savings-by-State-3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{baldwin2023comparing, author = {Baldwin, Sara and Conness, Jack}, title = {{Comparing the Cost to Travel: Electric Vehicle Fill-Up Savings by State}}, institution = {Energy Innovation}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://energyinnovation.org/wp-content/uploads/EV-Fill-Up-Savings-by-State-3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }