North Carolina

Gas vs. electric driving costs · adjust vehicle and price period below

2018Jan '26May '26
201820192020202120222023202420252026
⚡ Electric wins
$345/yr
at 12k mi/yr
⛽ Gas · $2.67/gal
7.0¢/mi
⚡ Elec · 13.7¢/kWh
4.2¢/mi

Why is it like this in North Carolina?

North Carolina currently sits in the electric-wins column at about 13.8¢/kWh, but the advantage is shrinking. Duke Energy filed rate increase requests of 11.9% and 14.1% (depending on territory) for 2027, plus a pending June 2026 fuel-cost surcharge of roughly $7/month. Analysis found that Duke Energy rate changes have added about $50/month to reference bills since 2020 — nearly a 45% increase — and the trajectory points toward parity or a gas-wins outcome within a few rate cycles.

In the news · North Carolina

Curated coverage of North Carolina's EV/PHEV cost, policy, and infrastructure story. External links open in a new tab.

Southeast region comparison

State Electric ¢/mi Gas ¢/mi Cheaper Annual diff
West Virginia 4.5¢ 7.5¢ ⚡ Electric $363/yr
North Carolina 4.1¢ 7.0¢ ⚡ Electric $346/yr
Arkansas 3.7¢ 6.4¢ ⚡ Electric $319/yr
Louisiana 3.8¢ 6.4¢ ⚡ Electric $313/yr
Tennessee 4.0¢ 6.6¢ ⚡ Electric $310/yr
Georgia 4.4¢ 6.9¢ ⚡ Electric $307/yr
Florida 4.8¢ 7.3¢ ⚡ Electric $295/yr
Kentucky 4.3¢ 6.8¢ ⚡ Electric $295/yr
Virginia 4.8¢ 7.3¢ ⚡ Electric $294/yr
Mississippi 4.3¢ 6.4¢ ⚡ Electric $247/yr
South Carolina 4.7¢ 6.6¢ ⚡ Electric $230/yr
Alabama 4.9¢ 6.5¢ ⚡ Electric $201/yr