Big Take $100 to Fill Up Your Tank? Some Drivers Look Elsewhere
Mar 23, 2026
Akshat Rathi, energy policy reporter who tracks global markets, and Todd Woody, Bloomberg energy and clean-tech reporter, discuss rising gas prices sparking renewed interest in EVs and hybrids. They talk about regional EV adoption patterns, automakers’ limited short-term pivots, growing demand for home electrification like solar and heat pumps, and how crises reshape energy policy and industry strategy.
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$100 Fill-Up Seen In San Francisco
- Todd Woody saw a San Francisco station selling gas at $6.61 a gallon, about $100 to fill an average car.
- That visible price spike has driven more showroom visits and a surge in EV searches since February 28th.
Sustained Prices, Not Short Spikes, Push EV Purchases
- Searches and showroom traffic for EVs spiked after late February, though sales data lag.
- Economists say sustained high fuel prices for months, not short shocks, are likeliest to change car-buying decisions.
Used EV Supply Lowers The Entry Barrier
- After the 2022 Russia invasion, U.S. EV sales jumped about 66% aided by a $7,500 tax credit.
- Today a growing supply of used EVs (2–3 years old) at ~ $30,000 may further accelerate adoption.