The open road awaits for summer fun, but with high gas prices, driving a hybrid or full-electric vehicle can help lower travel costs.
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Skyrocketing gas prices couldn’t come at a worse time for Americans who are preparing for summer road trips, in many cases to avoid the increasingly difficult and costly experience that is modern air travel.
The national average for a gallon of regular-grade gas is $4.53 at publication time, according to the AAA, with drivers in California suffering the highest prices in the nation at a wallet-draining $6.15. By comparison, a gallon of regular averaged $2.98 back on February 28. And no matter how long the current turmoil in the Middle East lasts, don’t expect to see fuel prices fall back to that level any time soon.
Not surprisingly, interest in higher-mileage hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full-electric cars is on the upswing among new-vehicle shoppers looking to save money at the pump. All three types can well serve one’s daily commute and around-town errands efficiently, but which is best for a family looking to hit the road in the weeks and months ahead without breaking the proverbial bank?
A hybrid-powered vehicle pairs a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor to boost gas mileage to as high as 57 mpg in the $28,550+ Toyota Prius. The EPA says that comes out to $1,200 in fuel costs at today’s national average when driven 15,000 miles annually, which means $1,200 less than it would take to take the average 2026 vehicle the same distance. Most hybrids are rated in the 30 and 40 mpg ranges, but with somewhat higher sticker prices than comparable gas-only models.
Here, the electric motor does much of the heavy lifting in around-town use, and it gives the vehicle a needed boost when accelerating to highway speeds. Like most vehicles these days, the gas engine shuts down automatically while at idle to further save fuel. This is one reason why hybrids typically get better mpg ratings in city rather than highway driving. Hybrids keep the powertrain battery charged via a process called regenerative braking that recovers energy that would otherwise be lost by decelerating and braking.
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Hybrids are plentiful in virtually all vehicle classes, including family-minded three-row SUVs and both the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna minivans. They never need to be plugged into an electric outlet, and on long trips can take advantage of the myriad gas stations along most any given route for quick fill-ups when needed. Most hybrids, with the exception of some luxury-branded models, run on regular-grade gas.
The hybrid technology does, however, add another layer of mechanical complexity to a vehicle that can fail, with a battery replacement several years down the road being an especially expensive possibility.
And be aware that some hybrid cars are more efficient than others. So-called mild hybrids in which the electric motor provides less muscle to the gas engine—often found in big and heavy pickup trucks and SUVs—get only get modestly improved fuel economy. Fuel economy ratings for all current and past makes and models can be found on the EPA’s fuel economy website.
A plug-in hybrid vehicle is essentially a standard hybrid with a larger battery that enables it to run exclusively on battery power for a certain number of miles. This tops out at 44 miles on a full charge in the PHEV version of the $40,445+ Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, with most competitors in the 30-mile range.
Once the battery is depleted to a certain point, the vehicle continues to operate as a conventional hybrid under a combination of gas and electric power. Those with modest commutes or who mostly drive locally may only rarely have to visit a gas station.
Of course, the only way for a PHEV to reach its full potential is to be tethered to the grid to recharge the battery. When running exclusively on electricity, a PHEV’s fuel economy is expressed as “MPGe,” which is the EPA’s miles-per-gallon equivalent measurement used for comparison purposes.
On the down side, there are fewer choices among PHEVs than with conventional hybrids, and they tend to be higher-priced. While a PHEV’s battery-only range can be a real gas-saver around town, it has a minimal financial effect when driving 300 or miles per day on an extended road trip. Plus, vacationers would need to seek out a hotel with or located near a public charging station to take advantage of the vehicle’s fuel-free range.
EVs are currently selling with generous discounts, rich cash-back rebates and cut-rate financing offers to help spur what have recently been slow sales. When charged at home (preferably with a 240-volt Level 2 service for quicker recharging) most full-electric vehicles will cost far less to run than either a comparable hybrid or PHEV model.
Kilowatts of electricity are not only less expensive than gallons of gasoline, they’re sold at rates that tend not to fluctuate as quickly or wildly due to supply, demand and/or political issues. Plus, they’re literally delivered to one’s home via the power grid, or (even better) a solar panel installation. The EPA estimates the most frugal version of the popular $39,990+ Tesla Model Y will cost $600 annually to be driven for 15,000 miles a year versus $1,800 for the average new vehicle.
It’s also cheaper to maintain an EV than an internal combustion model, as an electric motor requires no fluid or belt changes, comes with far fewer moving parts and associated systems and requires just a single-speed transmission. Preparing for a road trip is usually limited to checking the air pressure and tread depth in each of the tires and topping off the windshield wiper fluid.
However, the parameters change when taking an extended excursion, especially since EVs are limited in terms of how far they can run on a full charge. An EV’s expected operating range can make or break any road trip, though fortunately most on the market these days can easily muster 250 to 300 miles at time. A few costly luxury models can even reach and exceed the 400-mile mark. Again, the MPGe ratings and projected average ranges for all EVs can be found at fueleconomy.gov.
Still, planning a route requires a certain amount of time and effort to consult smartphone apps or websites and ensure there are sufficient Level 3 public fast-charging stations along the way and/or at a given destination. While Level 2 home charging can take a depleted battery to full strength in around 8 to 12 hours, Level 3 public units can bring most of today’s EVs back to 80% capacity in around 20 to 45 minutes. It reverts back to Level 2 at that point to help preserve the battery’s longevity.
Unfortunately, having to rely exclusively on public charging can be nearly as costly as filling up a gas-dependent model, with the per-kilowatt rate varying from one network to another. And there’s always the possibility of a given charger on one’s route being incapacitated, so it pays to plan ahead and choose an area that’s accessible to multiple stations as backups.
There are also circumstances in which battery capacity can be less—sometimes far less—than anticipated. As with conventionally powered rides, an EV tends to be less energy efficient when loaded up with passengers and their belongings or towing a heavy boat and trailer, and it will also burn through kilowatts more quickly when piloted at higher speeds. In addition, an EV’s range tends to suffer under extreme temperatures—especially when running the climate control system—which should be a consideration when preparing for a desert vacation or a winter road trip.
Those who are simply looking for a higher-mileage car than the one being replaced should consider a standard hybrid. The premium over a conventionally powered vehicle is relatively minimal, with the only range limitations depending on the amount of fuel in the tank unless you’re in a remote region.
Plug-in hybrids generally get equivalent fuel economy to the standard variety, with the larger battery enabling the first 30 miles or so to run exclusively on battery power. This, however, tends to be much less of a money saver on extended road trips than with local excursions, especially given the added cost.
Around town, EVs can be cheaper to run, though savings tends to be less when having to rely on public charging. Still, EV owners can make an extended road trip both gas and emissions free, though it requires some research on stations along the way to and including a destination to avoid being stuck with a dead battery.
Source: Fueleconomy.gov. Both mpg and MPGe ratings noted are based on 15,000 annual miles driven with 45% highway and 55% city use at current average gas and electricity rates. Your mileage and operating costs will vary.
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