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Drive slower, go electric, don't drive at all? Americans weigh options for saving gas

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− By Camila Domonoske , Stephan Bisaha Carlos Ferre puts fuel in his vehicle at a gas station on April 06, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
+ By Camila Domonoske , Stephan Bisaha Carlos Ferre puts fuel in his vehicle at a gas station in Miami on April 6.
− Florida gas prices have risen to over $4 per gallon in early April 2026 as the war in Iran has affected global oil supplies, leading to higher crude oil costs.
+ Florida gas prices have risen to over $4 per gallon as of early April as the war in Iran has affected global oil supplies, leading to higher crude oil costs.
− Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America hide caption Nationally, gasoline prices are averaging more than $4 a gallon.
+ Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption Nationally, gasoline prices are averaging more than $4 a gallon.
− That's not an all-time record, but it's up sharply from just over a month ago, and the rapid change has left many car owners reeling … but unwilling, or unable, to give up on driving.
+ That's not an all-time record, but it's up sharply from just over a month ago, and the rapid change has left many car owners reeling — but unwilling, or unable, to give up on driving.
Americans have been logging more miles since the war with Iran started, according to the analytics company Arity, which tracks driving habits. What can you do to cut costs? We asked the experts for ideas. Loading... The key to getting the most miles out of each gallon is driving efficiently. That means smooth acceleration, soft braking and slowing down. Cars tend to be the most fuel efficient when driven at about 50 miles per hour, according to both AAA and Consumer Reports. Go much faster, and the drag can make a sedan as inefficient as an SUV.
− And the fuel efficiency of a compact SUV, like the Honda CRV, can drop by about 5 miles per gallon when driven at 75 mph, compared to 55, according to Consumer Reports.
+ And the fuel efficiency of a compact SUV, like the Honda CR-V, can drop by about 5 miles per gallon when driven at 75 mph, compared with 55, according to Consumer Reports.
Depending on how much you drive, a lead foot can cost a driver more than $400 a year. Business Gas crosses $4 a gallon in the U.S. for the first time in 3 years Middle East conflict How long will the war last? No one knows, and it's making oil prices weird Underinflated tires, heavy boxes in the back seat and an unused ski or luggage rack on the top of the vehicle can also make it less fuel efficient. Some high-performance vehicles require premium gasoline.
− But if it's only recommended, you can skip it without damaging the car, according to Consumer Reports' deputy auto editor Jonathan Linkov.
+ But if it's only recommended, you can skip it without damaging the car, according to Consumer Reports' deputy auto editor, Jonathan Linkov.
"All cars, except the most esoteric supercars or older cars, can run fine on regular," said Linkov. Data suggests that higher gasoline prices have many drivers at least thinking about giving up gas-powered cars altogether.
− On the auto marketplace website CarGurus, listing views for EVs went up 31% between the start and the end of March.
+ On the auto marketplace website CarGurus, listing views for electric vehicles went up 31% between the start and the end of March.
− Edmunds and CarMax, two other car listing sites, also reported noticeable increases in searches and pageviews for EV listings.
+ Edmunds and CarMax, two other car listing sites, also reported noticeable increases in searches and page views for EV listings.
Business Electric vehicles had a bumpy road in 2025 — and one pleasant surprise Business EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept.
− 30 tax credit deadline But the data on sales isn't so clear cut.
+ 30 tax credit deadline But the data on sales isn't so clear-cut.
− New EV sales are still depressed following the abrupt end of a $7,500 federal consumer tax credit last fall.
+ New-EV sales are still depressed following the abrupt end of a $7,500 federal consumer tax credit last fall.
− It's also tax refund season, which can push up car sales of all types, compared to the previous month.
+ It's also tax refund season, which can push up car sales of all types, compared with the previous month.
− CarGurus reports that used EV sales did seem to accelerate in the month of March, and Cox Automotive reports strong prices for used EVs at wholesale auction, noting that rising gas prices "may have positively influenced demand." On the other hand, data from the sites iSeeCars.com showed no appreciable shift in used EV sales.
+ CarGurus reports that used-EV sales did seem to accelerate in the month of March, and Cox Automotive reports strong prices for used EVs at wholesale auction, noting that rising gas prices "may have positively influenced demand." On the other hand, data from the sites iSeeCars.com showed no appreciable shift in used-EV sales.
It's not surprising to see a rise in shoppers' interest before a rise in actual sales, especially for a purchase as significant as a vehicle. "What consumers are viewing on the site tends to be an earlier indicator than sales," says Kevin Roberts, the director of economic and market intelligence with CarGurus. But analysts note that high gasoline prices do motivate shoppers to select for more fuel-efficient or entirely electric vehicles — if prices stay elevated for a long time. The more you drive, the more you stand to save from switching to a battery-powered car, says Janelle London, the co-executive director of a nonprofit called Coltura, which advocates against gasoline. "Across the entire U.S., an average driver doing, say, 15,000 miles a year already is going to save $1,800 a year by switching to an electric car," London says.
− "But if you're talking about a big driver, somebody who does maybe 25,000 miles a year, they're going to be saving on average $3,000 a year by making the switch." And as the cost of gas keeps rising, she says, "We're seeing the savings just skyrocket up," Coltura has an online tool car shoppers can use to estimate potential savings from going electric.
+ "But if you're talking about a big driver, somebody who does maybe 25,000 miles a year, they're going to be saving on average $3,000 a year by making the switch." And as the cost of gas keeps rising, she says, "we're seeing the savings just skyrocket up." Coltura has an online tool that car shoppers can use to estimate potential savings from going electric.
− Climate NPR wants your big question about reducing your climate impact and saving money Life Kit You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles Those savings vary based not just on how much you drive, but also on where you live, thanks to differences in the local prices of gasoline and electricity.
+ Climate NPR wants your big question about reducing your climate impact and saving money Life Kit You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles Those savings vary based not just on how much you drive but also on where you live, thanks to differences in the local prices of gasoline and electricity.
− Yale Climate Connections recently published a map comparing the cost of charging an EV to the equivalent dollars-per-gallon for buying gasoline state by state: In North Dakota, driving an EV is like paying less than a dollar a gallon, but in California it's more like $2.70 a gallon.
+ Yale Climate Connections recently published a map comparing the cost of charging an EV with the equivalent dollars-per-gallon for buying gasoline state by state: In North Dakota, driving an EV is like paying less than a dollar a gallon, but in California it's more like $2.70 a gallon.
Or you can crunch your personal numbers more precisely by comparing the cost per mile using your own electricity rates, local gasoline prices and the efficiency of the gas and electric vehicles you're comparing. (The extremely lazy route? Multiply your home's cost per kilowatt-hour for electricity by 10. That's very roughly comparable to how many dollars per gallon you'd pay to fuel your car. The national average cost for home electricity is $0.17 right now, so, ballpark, that's like paying $1.70 for gasoline.) If you're thinking of switching to an EV to save money, there are other factors to weigh as well. Maintenance savings can also be substantial — electric vehicles need new tires and not much else. On the other hand, insurance can be pricey.
− You might also weigh non-financial factors, like how much you value the environmental benefits of an EV or the merits of a quiet ride.
+ You might also weigh nonfinancial factors, like how much you value the environmental benefits of an EV or the merits of a quiet ride.
Business How long do electric vehicle batteries actually last? Charging is also crucial. Can you charge at home, which is far more convenient and affordable than charging at stations? If so, will you need to install a dedicated, higher-speed charger, which comes with an installation cost, or can you get by with a standard outlet? The more you drive and the larger your vehicle is, the more likely it is you'll need to add a charger. The Environmental Protection Agency has a calculator that can help with that decision. Another option, of course, is to pursue alternatives to driving. It's hard to get really robust data on walking and biking trips.
− Surveys from the bike and scooter app Veo and from the walking app WeWard suggest that a substantial chunk of their users self-report that they are walking, biking or using scooters to replace car trips more often now that gasoline prices have risen.
+ Surveys from the bike and scooter app Veo and from the walking app WeWard suggest that a substantial chunk of their users self-report that they are walking, biking or using scooters to replace car trips more often, now that gasoline prices have risen.
Middle East conflict War is pushing up energy prices now. Trump's policies could hurt for years to come Middle East conflict Why it's so hard for world leaders to bring down oil and gasoline prices But data compiled by the app Transit shows that from the beginning of March to the end of March, nationwide, public transit ridership actually dropped slightly.
− That's no surprise, says Stephen Miller, the policy lead at Transit, since prices have only been elevated for a few weeks.
+ That's no surprise, says Stephen Miller, the policy lead at Transit, since prices have been elevated for only a few weeks.
"Historically, people only make larger changes that show up as a significant shift from driving to public transit if the price of gas goes up — and stays up," he says.
− Year-over-year, transit ridership continues to increase overall, although it has yet to fully recover from the collapse in public transit use at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
+ Year over year, transit ridership continues to increase overall, although it has yet to fully recover from the collapse in public transit use at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jerick White, who lives in Houston, bought his first e-bike in March.
− There were several reasons why he switched from a car to two wheels, but saving on gasoline was one of them.
+ There were several reasons explaining why he switched from a car to two wheels, but saving on gasoline was one of them.
− Between the cost of the car, maintenance and gas, he says, "It just became too unbearable, unmanageable and expensive." He hasn't calculated exactly how much money he's saving, but, he says, it's "a lot of money for sure." One important factor in his decision: White works from home now, and lives close to a grocery store and other places where he needs to run errands.
+ Between the cost of the car, maintenance and gas, he says, "it just became too unbearable, unmanageable and expensive." He hasn't calculated exactly how much money he's saving, but, he says, it's "a lot of money for sure." One important factor in his decision: White works from home now and lives close to a grocery store and other places where he needs to run errands.
Biking around "is very, very reliable if you stay in a neighborhood and you work close by," he says.
− If getting an EV makes the most sense for people with the longest commutes, trading out of a car entirely is for the either end of the spectrum: people who don't drive much, or take a lot of short trips.
+ If getting an EV makes the most sense for people with the longest commutes, trading out of a car entirely is for the other end of the spectrum: people who don't drive much or take a lot of short trips.
Veo, the bike and scooter app, reports that its average trip length is 1.9 miles. If it works for your lifestyle, White says, biking has benefits in addition to savings on gas. "I feel like a kid again when I'm riding it," he says.
− "It's very enjoyable." And: "Oh, my goodness, I can avoid the traffic." Finally, there are some folks who are willing to spend more at the pump — but cut back elsewhere.
+ "It's very enjoyable." And: "Oh, my goodness, I can avoid the traffic." Finally, some folks are willing to spend more at the pump — but cut back elsewhere.
− High fuel prices are not enough to stop Julie and Vince Rossi from taking their first cross-country road trip in their new RV.
+ High fuel prices are not enough to stop Julie and Vince Rossi from taking their first cross-country road trip in their new recreational vehicle.
− They sold their house to live in a 22,000-pound RV full time, and are on their longest road trip yet, driving from Arizona to Virginia.
+ They sold their house to live in a 22,000-pound RV full time and are on their longest road trip yet, driving from Arizona to Virginia.
Diesel costs even more than gasoline — and its price has gone up faster since the war started — so to afford their now-doubled fuel budget, they're skipping the museums and amusement parks for free attractions.
− "If we want to continue on this lifestyle, we either look for the lowest prices or we need to cut spending somewhere else," Julie says.
+ "If we want to continue on this lifestyle, we either look for the lowest prices or we need to cut spending somewhere else," Julie Rossi says.
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