If you’re driving a gas car today, you’re in the majority. In the U.S., traditional gasoline vehicles still make up roughly 9 out of 10 new car sales, even as electric vehicles (EVs) grab more attention and headlines. But with fuel prices, changing incentives, and new EV models flooding the market, the real question is simple: should your next car still run on gas, or is it time to go electric?
Gas cars aren’t disappearing overnight
Even with EVs reaching around 10% of new U.S. light‑duty vehicle sales in 2024, gasoline cars will be on the road for decades. The decision you’re making is less about short‑term survival and more about long‑term cost, convenience, and resale value.
Why gas cars still dominate in 2025
It’s easy to assume EVs have already taken over, but the sales data tells a more nuanced story. In 2024, battery electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles together reached about 10% of new light‑duty vehicle sales in the U.S., up dramatically from just 2% in 2020. That’s real progress, but it also means roughly 90% of new vehicles are still gas‑powered.
Gas vs electric in today’s U.S. market
Gas cars still dominate because they’re familiar, fueling is fast, and the purchase prices often look lower on the lot than comparable EVs. Many shoppers also worry about charging access, cold‑weather range, or what happens to EV tax credits, all reasonable questions.
New twist for 2025 shoppers
As of late 2025, the federal EV tax credit landscape has changed significantly, making advertised EV prices more confusing than ever. That doesn’t make gas cars a slam‑dunk, but it does shift the math, especially if you were counting on a big federal incentive.
Upfront price: gas car vs electric car
Walk into a dealership today, and a new gas car will usually carry a lower sticker price than a comparable EV. That’s particularly true in the compact and midsize segments, where many electric options still skew premium.
New gas car pricing
- Wide range of models under $30,000 before fees.
- Discounts and incentives are familiar, cash rebates, low APR, lease deals.
- Hybrids often sit in between gas and full EV pricing.
New EV pricing
- Average transaction prices remain higher than gas cars, often by thousands of dollars.
- Some mass‑market EVs are moving down‑market, but many popular models still start in the mid‑$30,000s and up.
- Federal and state incentives can change quickly and may no longer fully bridge the price gap.
Where used EVs change the story
The fastest way to make an EV price look like a gas car price is to buy used. Off‑lease EVs and early‑generation models now sell at steep discounts compared with their original MSRPs, especially when you shop across the national market rather than just your local dealer lot.
That’s exactly where a platform like Recharged comes in. Because Recharged specializes in used electric vehicles and uses nationwide sourcing plus a digital buying experience, you can often find an EV with a similar monthly payment to a new or nearly new gas car, without guessing about battery health or overpaying for hype.
Fuel and energy costs: gas vs electricity per mile
Sticker price is only half the story. Over five to ten years, fuel or energy costs usually become the biggest day‑to‑day difference between a gas car and an EV.
What it really costs to drive a mile
Approximate U.S. averages; your numbers will vary by state and vehicle.
Gas car
If your gas car averages 30 MPG and gasoline is around $3.18/gal, you’re paying roughly:
≈ 10–11¢ per mile in fuel.
Electric car
With average residential electricity around 13¢/kWh and EV efficiency around 3–4 mi/kWh, you’re closer to:
≈ 3–4¢ per mile for home charging.
Public fast charging
DC fast charging is pricier, often closer to gasoline on a per‑mile basis. Think more like:
≈ 8–15¢ per mile, depending on network and local rates.
Where EVs quietly win
If you do most of your charging at home, it’s common for an EV to cut your "fuel" cost by 50–70% versus a comparable gas car. For high‑mileage drivers, that can mean hundreds of dollars saved every year.
Gas cars still have an obvious advantage on refueling speed: you can add 300 miles of range in five minutes at almost any highway exit. EVs flip that equation on its head, you add range while you sleep, and occasionally plan around longer fast‑charge stops on road trips. Which feels "better" depends a lot on whether you live in a house with parking, how often you road‑trip, and how much you value never visiting a gas station again.
Maintenance and repairs: what owning a gas car really costs
Gasoline cars are based on technology that’s more than a century old, and that maturity is both a strength and a weakness. Service shops understand them well and parts are widely available. But the complexity of an internal combustion powertrain shows up in your maintenance bills.
- Regular oil and filter changes every 5,000–10,000 miles.
- Spark plugs, ignition coils, and timing components over the life of the vehicle.
- Transmission fluid changes and, eventually, potential transmission repairs.
- Exhaust system components (catalytic converter, mufflers) that can fail or be stolen.
- More frequent brake wear for many drivers compared with EVs, which use regenerative braking.
Why EVs dodge many common repairs
EVs don’t need oil changes, timing belts, spark plugs, or multi‑gear transmissions. They also tend to use regenerative braking, which can significantly extend brake pad life. Over time, that simplicity often translates into lower routine maintenance costs than a comparable gas car.
Studies consistently find that EV maintenance costs are roughly 30–40% lower than for similar gasoline vehicles, especially once you’re past the first few years of ownership. With a gas car, those savings show up in reverse: the older it gets, the more you keep feeding the repair shop.
Emissions and lifetime impact of gas cars
From a climate and air‑quality perspective, the biggest strike against a gas car is that it keeps burning fuel every time you drive. Even efficient modern engines emit CO₂ and local pollutants like NOx and particulates.
Typical lifetime emissions: gas car vs electric
High‑level view of how gas and electric vehicles compare over roughly 150,000 miles of driving, using today’s average U.S. grid.
| Aspect | Gasoline car | Electric car |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing emissions | Lower (smaller battery) | Higher (battery production) |
| Use‑phase emissions | High – tailpipe CO₂ + upstream fuel emissions | Low – no tailpipe; depends on grid mix |
| Lifetime CO₂ over ~150k miles | Highest overall | Meaningfully lower in most U.S. regions |
| Local air quality | Exhaust in neighborhoods and cities | Zero tailpipe emissions |
EVs front‑load more emissions during manufacturing but often pull ahead quickly in use.
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Why urban driving in gas cars hits harder
If you mostly drive in dense urban areas, tailpipe emissions from gas cars don’t just affect the climate, they directly impact local air quality and public health. That’s part of why more cities are exploring low‑emission zones and restrictions on older, higher‑polluting vehicles.
If your main priority is reducing your climate footprint, a reasonably efficient EV charged mostly at home will almost always beat a gas car over the long term. But even if you’re not climate‑motivated, this reality matters for policy and resale value: regulators target tailpipes, not battery packs.
Driving experience: what changes when you leave gas behind
Money and emissions aside, a gas car and an EV simply feel different to live with. For many drivers, that ends up being the deciding factor.
What gas cars do well
- Instant refueling: 5 minutes and you’re back on the road.
- Longer highway range in many cases, especially for efficient sedans.
- Familiarity: any mechanic, any parts store, any small town knows how to support you.
- Engine sound and shifting feel satisfying to some drivers.
What EVs do differently
- Instant torque: smooth, quiet acceleration with no gear shifts.
- Home "refueling": wake up with a full battery instead of detouring to a gas station.
- Quieter cabins, especially in city driving, which can reduce fatigue.
- More software‑defined features, over‑the‑air updates, advanced driver assistance, app‑based controls.
Think about your weekly routine, not your rare road trip
If you drive 20–40 miles a day and take a couple of long road trips a year, your day‑to‑day experience will be very different from your worst‑case scenario. Make your decision around the 95% of your driving you actually do, not the 5% you might do.
Resale value, regulations, and policy risk for gas cars
A decade ago, buying a gas car felt like the safe, predictable choice. Today, the long‑term outlook is murkier. Around the world, governments are debating timelines for phasing out new gasoline vehicle sales, and in the U.S. the political pendulum around EV incentives has swung sharply in just a few years.
Key risks gas car buyers should understand
These aren’t reasons to panic, but they’re worth factoring into a 5–10 year decision.
Policy whiplash
Federal and state policies around emissions and EV incentives are in flux. While recent changes have reduced EV credits, future rules could just as easily tighten emissions standards and make older gas cars less attractive.
Shifting demand
As more buyers, especially in cities, shift toward electrified vehicles, demand for used gas cars could soften, especially for thirsty trucks and SUVs.
Access restrictions
Some global cities are exploring or implementing low‑emission zones. While the U.S. is moving more slowly, this trend doesn’t favor long‑term ownership of high‑emission vehicles.
What this means if you keep cars a long time
If you typically drive a car for 10–15 years, you’re the person most exposed to long‑term policy and resale risk. Gas cars won’t become worthless overnight, but future buyers and regulators will increasingly favor lower‑emission options.
Who should still consider a gas car today?
Despite the buzz around electrification, there are still scenarios where a gas car is the pragmatic choice, at least for your next purchase.
You may be a good candidate for a gas car if…
1. You live in a remote or multi‑unit setting with no charging
If you have no realistic way to install home charging and limited access to public chargers, owning an EV can turn into a chore. In many rural or apartment‑heavy areas, a gas or hybrid vehicle still fits the infrastructure better, for now.
2. You tow or haul heavy loads frequently
Long‑distance towing remains challenging for many current EVs due to range loss and charging logistics. If you regularly tow heavy trailers or haul at high speeds, a gas or diesel truck may still be the simpler option.
3. You’re buying at the very low end of the used market
If your budget is limited to just a few thousand dollars, the used EV selection is still thin. In that price band, older gas cars dominate and may be your only realistic option.
4. You need one cross‑country car and don’t want to plan charging
Plenty of EV drivers road‑trip successfully, but if you absolutely don’t want to think about route planning, charger reliability, or charge times, a fuel‑efficient gas car remains the path of least resistance.
5. You plan to keep the car only a couple of years
If you flip cars quickly and buy at a steep discount, you might sidestep some of the long‑term cost and policy risks that make gas cars less appealing for long‑term owners.
Don’t forget hybrids
If you recognize yourself in some of the scenarios above but still want better fuel economy, modern hybrids can be a strong middle ground. They keep the gas tank and refueling convenience but drastically cut fuel use in city driving.
How to switch from gas to electric with Recharged
If you’ve decided your current or next gas car should be your last, the next step is figuring out how to switch without taking on unnecessary risk. That’s exactly the transition Recharged is built around.
How Recharged de‑risks moving beyond gas
Used EVs with real battery data, not guesswork.
Recharged Score battery health diagnostics
Every vehicle on Recharged comes with a Recharged Score Report that includes verified battery health, so you’re not gambling on the most expensive component in the car.
You can quickly compare used EVs not just on price and mileage, but on actual battery condition.
Trade‑in, financing, and delivery
Recharged offers trade‑in options, instant offers or consignment, financing, and nationwide delivery. That means you can move from your current gas car into a used EV with one coordinated, mostly digital process.
If you want to see vehicles in person, you can also visit the Recharged Experience Center in Richmond, VA.
Instead of asking, “Can I trust a used EV?” you can ask better questions: Which EV best replaces my gas car, what will it cost me per month, and how does its battery health compare to other options? That’s a much more useful way to think about electrification than just obsessing over range numbers or the latest model‑year refresh.
Gas car vs EV: quick FAQ
Frequently asked questions about gas cars vs EVs
Bottom line: should your next car still burn gas?
Gas cars still make up most of the U.S. vehicle fleet, and for some drivers, a rural contractor with no charging, a frequent heavy‑duty tower, someone shopping the very bottom of the used market, they’ll remain the practical choice for a while. But if you mostly commute, run errands, and take the occasional trip, the balance is steadily tilting away from gasoline. EVs ask you to think differently about refueling and range, but they pay you back with lower per‑mile energy costs, simpler maintenance, and a driving experience many people find hard to give up once they’ve tried it.
The real question isn’t whether gas cars will vanish tomorrow, they won’t. It’s whether tying yourself to the pump for another decade still makes sense for your budget, your lifestyle, and the direction the market is clearly moving. If you’re curious about life after gas, exploring a used EV with transparent battery health and fair pricing through a platform like Recharged is one of the most low‑risk ways to find out.
