High gas prices are prompting many car shoppers to reconsider electric cars, and it turns out EV drivers in some states may be saving more than their counterparts in other places.
Electric vehicles accounted for 6.4% of all U.S. new car sales in the third quarter of 2026, up from 5.8% in the second quarter, according to Cox Automotive. This comes as the price of gas in the U.S. averaged $4.32 on Oct. 16, according to AAA. That's up from $3.05 one year ago on Oct. 16, 2025.
Stephanie Valdez Streaty, director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive, said in a statement that elevated gas prices this year have helped the U.S. EV market find its footing after President Donald Trump ended a popular $7,500 tax credit for EVs that had existed since the end of former
President George W in September 2025.
“The third quarter was the highest EV sales volume in a year, and improvement through 2026 suggests the reset phase is largely behind us," she said. "The next stage of growth will be driven by great products, competitive pricing, and automakers that continue to give consumers compelling reasons to make the switch. And high pump prices are likely helping as well. With gas prices well above $4 a gallon, electric vehicles look better than ever.”
With that in mind, the USA TODAY Cars team took a look at data that was compiled by the Zero Emission Transportation Administration that compared the expenditures of a typical gas and electric Chevrolet Silverado to see which states would have the biggest savings.
Which states' drivers save the most on EVs?
ZETA compared the average annual charging cost for a gas-powered and electric Chevrolet Silverado. Here is what they found about where drivers would save the most:
1. Washington
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,029.70
Total Annual Gas Spending: $4,303.38
Annual EV Savings: $3,273.68
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $5.41
2. Utah
Total Annual Charging Spending: $918.40
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,889.42
Annual EV Savings: $2,971.02
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.83
3. Idaho
Total Annual Charging Spending: $961.10
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,892.56
Annual EV Savings: $2,931.46
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.85
4. Oregon
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,117.90
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,953.71
Annual EV Savings: $2,835.81
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.96
5. California
Total Annual Charging Spending: $2,352.70
Total Annual Gas Spending: $5,018.38
Annual EV Savings: $2,665.68
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $6.21
6. Arizona
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,076.60
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,736.54
Annual EV Savings: $2,659.94
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.65
7. Wyoming
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,005.20
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,513.89
Annual EV Savings: $2,508.69
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.49
8. Montana
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,049.30
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,552.30
Annual EV Savings: $2,503.00
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.48
9. New Mexico
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,126.30
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,443.33
Annual EV Savings: $2,383.86
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.38
10. New Mexico
Total Annual Charging Spending: $1,345.40
Total Annual Gas Spending: $3,683.23
Annual EV Savings: $2,337.83
Oct. 16 Gas Price Average: $4.70
What are some advantages of owning an electric car?
EV supporters say plug-in models provide many advantages to car buyers who are willing to consider them. Here are a few of the advantages electric car backers usually cite:
- Saving on gas: A driver who opts for a new or used EV could save $2,200 annually on gas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Even hybrid drivers can save $1,500 on gas annually, according to the agency.
- Saving on maintenance: Owners of electric models saved an average of about $8,811 on ownership and maintenance compared to the best-selling traditional cars over the length of time it takes them to drive the car 200,000 miles, according to Consumer Reports.
- Slower depreciation: Consumer Reports also said EVs have historically depreciated faster than gas-powered cars, but the gap is narrowing as the used EV market expands. EVs typically lose around 58% to 60% of their value over five years, compared to a typical depreciation rate in the low-to-high 40% range for gas cars over five years.
Keith Laing is an automotive reporter on the National Trending Desk at USA TODAY. Contact Keith at klaing@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Electric vehicle drivers in these states save over $2K per year on gas
