While gas prices are climbing past $4 a gallon and putting a serious strain on people’s wallets, a growing group of electric vehicle owners are basically laughing all the way to their driveways. Since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran sparked a surge in gas prices, EV drivers have been quietly celebrating their decision to go electric, and honestly, we’re here for it.

Take Tim Heitman, a 75-year-old from Seattle who switched from a gas-guzzling Audi Q7 to a Ford Mustang Mach-E last June. He estimates he saved around $70 just in March by charging at home instead of pumping gas. “I smile every time I drive by the gas line at Costco”, he said. And he’s not alone. Over a dozen EV owners have shared similar stories about dodging the affordability crisis that’s hitting regular drivers hard.

What’s particularly smart about some of these EV owners is how they’ve maximized their savings. Angela Kantola, a retired conservation biologist near Denver, installed solar panels on her roof that generate enough juice to charge both her Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq 5. She literally drives on sunshine. Trevor Khurana in Houston did something similar, he switched from a Prius to a Toyota BZ4X and added solar panels, and now he pays zero dollars for gas and an average of $42 monthly for electricity. “I feel bad for people with gas cars, but I made the right decision at the right time”, Khurana said.

For some folks, going electric wasn’t just about environmental values or being ahead of the curve. Jason Widdoss, a tech worker in Douglas, Wyoming, would struggle to afford his 100-mile daily commute without his Volkswagen ID.4. His family is already squeezed by rising costs for groceries, clothing, and repairs. Charging his EV at home overnight costs way less than the current gas prices would, and it’s helping stabilize what he describes as an “otherwise hemorrhaging budget”.

But here’s the reality check: despite the obvious advantages, EV sales aren’t about to explode. In 2025, EV purchases actually dropped by about 30,000 vehicles, going from 1.23 million to 1.2 million. This happened mostly because the $7,500 federal tax credit expired. Edmunds predicts another 20% drop this year, which would be the biggest decline on record. The main issue? EVs are expensive, and automakers aren’t exactly ramping up production to meet demand.

Still, EV owners are hoping that high gas prices will eventually convince more people to make the switch. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: if you’ve already invested in an electric vehicle, you’re sitting pretty right now.