Attleboro, MA – With gasoline hovering around $4 per gallon, Rhode Island drivers are looking for ways to stretch their dollars, but local dealers say the strongest response has been a surge in hybrid‑vehicle sales rather than a jump in fully electric purchases.
Dealers point to price differentials and tax‑credit loss
“The electric vehicles, not all that much,” said Dana Drowne, general manager of Kia of Attleboro. “It’s the hybrid that everybody’s looking for.” Drowne’s observation reflects a broader sentiment echoed by other area dealers who note that the elimination of the $7,500 federal tax credit last year has dampened demand for battery‑electric models even as fuel prices climb.
Antuan Goodwin, an EV and transportation analyst for CNET, confirmed the trend, explaining that a brief spike in electric‑vehicle sales occurred after the tax credit was announced, but sales cooled sharply in the months that followed. Goodwin added that the used‑car market remains the only segment where electric vehicles continue to attract buyers.
Hybrid models dominate new‑car inquiries
According to Drowne, manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda are seeing the strongest interest in their hybrid line‑ups. “All the manufacturers – Toyota, Honda – everybody’s gravitating towards the hybrid,” she said.
To illustrate the financial calculus many shoppers are using, NBC 10 compared three 2026 Kia models: the gas‑powered Telluride ($38,500), the Telluride Hybrid ($48,200) and the all‑electric EV9 ($56,500). Using an average commute of 14,000 miles per year and a gas price of $4.15 per gallon, the analysis calculated annual fuel costs of $3,057.89 for the gas model, $1,874.19 for the hybrid and $0 for the EV9.
Pay‑back periods favor hybrids, but EVs remain viable for high‑mileage drivers
Dividing the price premium by yearly fuel savings shows a pay‑back period of just over 8.2 years for the hybrid and about 5.9 years for the EV9. Goodwin noted that drivers who log significantly more miles will see those savings accrue more quickly, making the electric option more attractive for high‑usage households.
“The long tail on EVs is significantly less expensive than gasoline cars,” Goodwin said. Drowne added a forward‑looking comment: “I’m guessing probably in 10 years from now, everything is going to be hybrid.”
Additional costs keep hybrids ahead for many families
The analysis also warned that the EV9’s zero‑fuel advantage does not account for extra expenses such as home‑charging installation, higher utility bills and increased insurance premiums. Hybrids avoid those items, though Rhode Island does impose an annual registration surcharge on both hybrid and electric vehicles.
For families weighing the trade‑off between upfront price and long‑term operating costs, the hybrid option currently offers the most balanced solution in a market where fuel costs remain high and federal incentives have vanished.
Original reporting: NBC 10 WJAR (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
