EV vs Gas Savings by State (2026)
Electricity costs vary 4x across states — from 9¢/kWh in Louisiana to 40¢/kWh in Hawaii. That makes the EV savings math completely different depending on where you live. State-specific electricity rates and gas prices, 12,000 miles/year, 30 MPG gas comparison.
Bottom line
EVs save money on fuel in every state — but the gap ranges from $713/year (Texas) to $1,258/year (Washington). States with cheap hydro power and high gas prices are where EVs really shine.
Annual EV vs gas fuel cost — 10 largest states
| State | Elec rate | Gas price | EV/yr | Gas/yr | Savings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 10.2¢ | $4.02 | $350 | $1,608 | $1,258 |
| Illinois | 13.8¢ | $3.68 | $473 | $1,472 | $999 |
| Pennsylvania | 15.0¢ | $3.58 | $514 | $1,432 | $918 |
| California | 24.5¢ | $4.35 | $840 | $1,740 | $900 |
| Florida | 13.2¢ | $3.2 | $453 | $1,280 | $827 |
| Ohio | 12.8¢ | $3.15 | $439 | $1,260 | $821 |
| Georgia | 13.0¢ | $3.08 | $446 | $1,232 | $786 |
| North Carolina | 13.5¢ | $3.12 | $463 | $1,248 | $785 |
| New York | 20.5¢ | $3.7 | $703 | $1,480 | $777 |
| Texas | 14.2¢ | $3.0 | $487 | $1,200 | $713 |
12,000 miles/year · 3.5 mi/kWh EV · 30 MPG gas car · 2026 EIA electricity rates and GasBuddy gas prices
What drives the difference between states?
Electricity rate is the bigger lever
Washington's 10¢/kWh rate means 12,000 EV miles costs $411. California's 24.5¢/kWh means those same miles cost $1,009. A $600 swing from electricity alone — gas prices barely matter by comparison.
Gas prices matter less than you think
The states with the worst EV savings aren't necessarily low-gas states. Hawaii has $4.52 gas but 40¢ electricity — EVs still save money, just only $420/year. High electricity neutralizes high gas.
See full breakdown for your state
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