Electric vehicle drivers in Illinois are spending about $46 less a month than drivers of gasoline-powered vehicles as higher oil prices widen the gap between the two, according to a new Washington Post analysis.
A typical Illinois driver traveling 943 miles a month would spend an estimated:
That works out to annual savings of about $552 for an electric vehicle driver compared with someone driving a conventional gas-powered car.
The Washington Post calculated the costs using state gasoline and electricity prices, an average daily driving distance of 31 miles and standard efficiency estimates for each type of vehicle.
Nationally, a driver covering the same distance spends an estimated $149 a month on gasoline, compared with $106 for electricity and $93 for gasoline in a hybrid.
Charging access varies sharply from state to state.
The U.S. Department of Energy counted 1,800 publicly accessible charging locations with a combined 5,897 charging ports in Illinois as of July 16. Of those, 2,764 were DC fast-charging ports, which can charge a vehicle substantially faster than the Level 2 chargers commonly found at workplaces, hotels and shopping centers.
Nationally, California had the most charging infrastructure, with 65,880 ports, followed by New York with 21,093 and Florida with 15,021.
Gas prices have risen an average of 37 percent since the first week of February, while electricity prices have increased 16 percent, according to the analysis. The widening difference means electric vehicles are now cheaper to fuel in nearly every state.
That was not always the case. Before the latest spike in gasoline prices, it cost more to fuel an electric vehicle than a gas-powered car in eight states, including West Virginia. Electricity prices remain comparatively high in some areas, but gasoline costs have risen enough to erase that advantage almost everywhere.
The size of the savings varies substantially by state. Gas prices, electric rates and the way electricity is generated all influence how much drivers pay. In states such as Wisconsin, for example, gasoline prices rose sharply while electricity costs changed relatively little.
The estimates are averages rather than a prediction of what every driver will pay. Actual costs depend on miles driven, vehicle efficiency, local utility rates and whether an electric vehicle is charged at home or at a public station.
Larger trucks and sport utility vehicles also use more fuel than compact cars and sedans. The Washington Post’s calculator estimates that a gas vehicle getting 20 miles per gallon costs considerably more to operate than one getting 36 miles per gallon.
Purchase price remains another part of the equation. Electric vehicles can cost more upfront, and federal tax incentives that once lowered their cost have ended. Hybrid vehicle sales have increased as some buyers seek lower fuel costs without relying entirely on charging infrastructure.
Still, the latest figures show how quickly changing energy prices can alter the monthly economics of driving.
Illinois drivers can use The Washington Post’s calculator to enter their weekly mileage, vehicle type and fuel efficiency for a more personalized estimate.
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