Drive costs dominate planning as Americans head into Memorial Day travel
AAA says the national average for a gallon of gasoline is $4.55, a four-year high, as the U.S. heads into one of its busiest travel weekends of the year. Even with prices elevated, the outlook for Memorial Day movement remains high: AAA estimates a record 45 million Americans will travel this weekend despite steep costs for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
NPR reports that gasoline prices have stayed elevated since the start of the war in Iran, and that the persistent increases are angering voters and straining household budgets. In that environment, drivers looking for ways to reduce costs are focusing on everything from short-term driving behavior to longer-term vehicle choices, including electric cars and alternatives to driving.
What drivers can do right now to stretch a tank
NPR points to practical ways to reduce fuel use without giving up driving entirely. The segment advises drivers to improve fuel economy by “driving efficiently,” including smooth acceleration and soft braking, and by slowing down.
It also flags common sources of wasted fuel such as underinflated tires and extra weight in vehicles. The reporting notes that heavy boxes stored in the back seat and unused racks on top can make cars less fuel efficient.
For those considering whether they need more expensive fuel, Consumer Reports’ deputy auto editor, Jonathan Linkov, said in the story that “All cars, except the most esoteric supercars or older cars, can run fine on regular.” The advice is aimed at drivers whose vehicles require premium only as a recommendation rather than a strict requirement.
Electric car savings look larger for high-mileage drivers
The NPR story also lays out why some consumers are turning their attention toward electric vehicles as gasoline costs climb. It notes that higher gasoline prices can increase interest in switching, though sales data are not always straightforward.
The reporting points to the timing effects on new-vehicle purchases, including the end of a $7,500 federal consumer tax credit and the fact that tax refund season can lift sales across vehicle types compared with the previous month. It also cites mixed signals in used-EV markets, including CarGurus reporting acceleration in March used-EV sales and Cox Automotive reporting strong prices at wholesale auctions—while iSeeCars.com data showed “no appreciable shift” in used-EV sales.
Analysts quoted in the story emphasize that consumer “viewing on the site” can arrive before sales. CarGurus director of economic and market intelligence Kevin Roberts said, “What consumers are viewing on the site tends to be an earlier indicator than sales.”
For those who decide to switch, Coltura’s co-executive director Janelle London told NPR that the average savings depend on how much people drive. She said that “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,” and that someone driving 25,000 miles a year could save “on average $3,000 a year.” She added that as gas prices keep rising, “we’re seeing the savings just skyrocket up.”
Charging costs vary by location, and other expenses matter too
The story notes that potential savings change depending on where drivers live, because electricity and gasoline prices differ by region. It references a map from Yale Climate Connections that compares the cost of charging to the cost of enough electricity to take a driver about as far as a gallon of gas would in a similar gasoline car; NPR reports that the comparison comes out to under $1 per gallon equivalent in North Dakota and about $2.70 in California.
NPR also highlights that drivers can estimate personal savings by comparing their own electricity rates, local gasoline prices, and vehicle efficiencies. It cites the story’s “extremely lazy route” suggestion: multiplying a home’s cost per kilowatt-hour by 10 as a rough dollar-per-gallon comparison, using a national home electricity cost of $0.17 as an example.
The reporting stresses that switching is not only about fuel. It says maintenance savings can be substantial because electric vehicles need new tires and not much else, while insurance can be higher. It also lays out the importance of whether drivers can charge at home, and whether they would need a dedicated, higher-speed charger.
The story quotes the Environmental Protection Agency as having a calculator that can help assess whether a driver is likely to need additional charging infrastructure.
Alternative to driving: transit, biking and scooters
For people considering whether they can reduce driving rather than just changing vehicles, NPR points to ridership patterns for transit and to the growing role of micromobility options. It reports that ridership was steady for most of March and dropped slightly in the week ending April 4, citing an app called Transit.
Stephen Miller, the policy lead at Transit, said the pattern reflects how larger shifts away from driving tend to appear only when gas prices rise and stay high. He said, “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.”
NPR also includes examples of consumers using alternatives. Jerick White, who lives in Houston, told NPR he bought his first e-bike in March and said gas costs were one factor making car ownership “too unbearable, unmanageable and expensive.” The story also notes that Veo, a bike and scooter app, reports an average trip length of 1.9 miles.
Political fights over gas prices ripple into consumer behavior
The NPR report also describes a local fight over pricing that can affect where people fill up. In California—described as having the highest gasoline prices in the nation—Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and Chevron have been trading public messages.
The story says Newsom’s office urged Californians to “AVOID Chevron,” while also telling drivers they can get cheaper gas at unbranded stations. It says Chevron and the state have had a tense relationship for years, including Chevron’s decision to move its headquarters out of California in 2024 after complaining about state and local regulations, and the company’s purchases of oil shipped through an offshore pipeline that California has tried to keep shut down.
In the latest exchange described by NPR, Chevron posted placards at California gas stations blaming state policies for high prices, while Newsom’s office directed drivers toward unbranded stations.