(The Center Square) – As the biggest holiday travel week of the year begins, Ohioans are getting a break at the gas pumps.
Prices are down nearly 30 cents from last year and more than $2 from two years ago as Americans begin hitting the road for the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
The state also announced Friday that seven new electric vehicle charging stations have opened. There are now 13 operational stations across the state, and another six are expected to open by the end of the year.
Each station has multiple ports to handle at least four vehicles per location and at least 150 kilowatts of power, which will charge most electric vehicles in 30 minutes.
The stations are at existing businesses along Ohio’s interstates. According to the Automobile Association of America, the cost to charge in Ohio is $0.37 per kilowatt hour. The national average is $0.35 per kwh.
“Opening these charging stations along our interstates provides EV travelers with increased fueling options that are convenient and reliable this holiday season and beyond,” Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn said.
The majority of travelers on the highways, however, will be driving traditional, gas-powered vehicles, and filling up will be cheaper this year than last.
AAA says the average price per gallon in the state is $2.83, lower than the national average of $3.06.
Ohioans paid $3.02 per gallon a year ago and more than $5 a gallon two years ago.
Several pockets of the state, especially in the central and northwest areas, show prices between $2.63 and $2.79 per gallon. Shelby County is showing the lowest average price at $2.66.
The highest prices can be found along the eastern border with West Virginia and Pennsylvania, stretching into central Ohio near Columbus.
Morgan County, in southeastern Ohio, is showing an average price of $3.03 per gallon, the highest in the state.