Fresno gas prices remain near an all-time high, with drivers paying roughly 35% more compared with a year ago.

As of Friday, regular unleaded gas in Fresno averaged $6.23 per gallon, while diesel was $8.49.

Just a year ago, drivers were paying $4.59 per gallon.

At least one Fresno business, though, is benefiting a bit from the increase in gas prices.

At Blackstone Toyota, electric vehicle sales have nearly tripled compared with last year, with part of the increase attributed to soaring gas prices.

Blackstone Toyota said it sold 20 new electric vehicles last year, accounting for 1% of its total sales. This year, the Fresno dealership has sold 55 EVs, representing 2.5% of its sales.

And that’s with Toyota offering only two fully electric models: the bZ, a compact crossover SUV, and the C-HR, a subcompact crossover SUV.

EV Sales Down Nationwide

The rise in electric vehicle sales isn’t happening everywhere.

Overall, EV sales in California and across the United States have declined, partly because President Donald Trump’s administration eliminated federal incentives for electric vehicles, according to Reuters.

Higher upfront costs for electric vehicles also continue to hinder sales.

California officials said Friday that roughly 12,000 residents purchased electric vehicles using rebates through a new $270 million program funded by the state and automakers, Reuters reported.

The program, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, offers a $3,500 rebate on new electric vehicles with retail prices up to $50,000 and a $1,750 rebate for used EVs costing no more than $25,000.

The California Energy Commission announced in July that Californians purchased 86,857 new zero-emission vehicles during the second quarter of 2026.

Gas prices in California, meanwhile, averaged $6.21 per gallon for regular unleaded and $8.49 for diesel Friday, according to AAA.

The national average was $4.33 for regular unleaded and $6.33 for diesel. A year ago, those figures were $3.06 and $2.44, respectively.