ENC electric car drivers save on gas amid rising fuel costs

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN) - Fuel prices continue to fluctuate across Eastern Carolina as peace talks in Iran persist, pushing some stations above $4 a gallon and leaving many drivers watching the numbers climb at the pump.

Electric car owners say they’re feeling less of the pain. David Fischer, who recently bought an EV, said he didn’t anticipate a spike but now feels “lucky with the timing,” adding that he hasn’t felt stressed about rising gas prices.

“I’ve never noticed that the gas prices have gone up,” Fischer said.

Fischer said he has seen only a slight increase in his electric bill since switching, and that charging at home remains far cheaper than filling up. “When I’m at home, it’s like two cents a kilowatt hour,” he said. “It’s not stressful not having to deal with $4 gas prices.”

For Craig Becker, the decision to go electric was driven by environmental concerns, but he said the financial upside is becoming clearer as gasoline costs rise. “I did it because it was the right thing to do, and I feel like I’m contributing to a healthier environment,” Becker said. “But it’s also saving me money now, too.”

Patsy and Harold Davis said home charging costs them only a few dollars, even when starting from empty. They estimate that a full charge of their vehicle’s 75-kilowatt-hour battery costs about $6 based on their electricity rate — far less than what it would cost to fill a gas tank.

“Not many gas cars, you can do that,” they said.

Still, EV owners expressed sympathy for drivers who don’t have the option to switch, or who are now paying significantly more to commute and run errands.

“I feel for people who are paying double what they’re used to,” Fischer said. Davis added, “We were there, so we know how it feels to have those bills, plus the gas.”

EV drivers say the current spike isn’t the reason they bought their vehicles, but it has reinforced their decision — especially as uncertainty remains around when prices might ease. After President Donald Trump’s latest rejection of Iran’s proposed peace plan, a clear timeline for when gas prices could come down is still uncertain.