Where EVs win in the U.S. — and the states that flip each verdict

By Ivan H., EVCostIQ · reviewed against our public methodology · every source dated on this page

As of August 2026: at U.S.-average rates (12,000 mi/yr, 5-year hold) the electric car wins 3 of the 37 EV-vs-combustion head-to-heads we track; the gas or hybrid car wins the other 34. Of those, local electricity and gas prices flip 1 back to the EV in at least one state — and 33 stay with the combustion car in every state we track.

Matchups the EV wins at U.S.-average rates (3)

Rivian R1S Dual-Motor (Standard Pack) vs Cadillac Escalade →

The Rivian R1S Dual-Motor (Standard Pack) wins by $15,858 over 5 years at U.S.-average rates. No state’s rates flip it — the EV wins in all 51 jurisdictions we track.

Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) vs Porsche Cayenne →

The Tesla Model S Long Range (electric) wins by $2,585 over 5 years at U.S.-average rates. Honest flip side: local rates hand it back to the Porsche Cayenne in 3 states — Hawaii, Indiana, Rhode Island.

Audi Q6 e-tron (base RWD, electric) vs BMW X5 xDrive40i →

The Audi Q6 e-tron (base RWD, electric) wins by $355 over 5 years at U.S.-average rates. Honest flip side: local rates hand it back to the BMW X5 xDrive40i in 33 states — Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Where the EV wins only locally (1 matchups)

These EVs lose at U.S.-average rates, but a state's own electricity and gas prices flip the verdict — the same gating our comparison pages use, never a softened re-count.

2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV FWD vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo →

Nationally the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo wins by $1,663 — but the 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV FWD comes out ahead in 4 states: Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington (each link opens that state's per-model cost table).

And where the EV never wins

Method (one line): every figure is the same pair computation behind our comparison pages — the shared cost kernel at each state's dated EIA electricity and AAA gas prices, 12,000 mi/yr, 5-year hold; a “flip” is a genuine winner change, not a gap shift. Global picture: where EVs win worldwide.

Independent estimates for planning, not financial advice. No referral fees. We tell you when gas wins.