2023’s Best Cities to Own an Electric Car

A woman plugs her light blue electric car into a public chargepoint while other cars drive by in the background.

Which U.S. cities go the extra mile to support electric vehicle ownership?

To mark Zero Emissions Day on Sept. 21 and the release of Tesla’s new Cybertruck, Roof Gnome ranked 2023’s Best Cities to Own an Electric Car.

Why conduct this study? Solar power helps maximize the value of an EV, and Roof Gnome connects consumers with top local solar installation companies.

To come up with our ranking, we compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on EV incentives, infrastructure, costs, and safety. More specifically, we factored in EV laws, electricity costs, charging station access, and even solar energy potential from viable roofs in each city, among 15 key metrics. 

Find out which cities lead the way toward EV adoption below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.

Contents

Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Infographic showing the Best Cities for Electric Car Value, a ranking based on EV incentives, infrastructure, costs, and safety
Note: For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.

In the Driver Seat: Top 5 Cities

Check out the slideshow below for fast facts on each of the top 5 cities steering the EV scene in the right direction.

Note: For some metrics, such as gasoline spending, car maintenance costs, and commute time, a higher value is considered better, as these serve as incentives to purchase an electric vehicle.

Boats float while docked at the marina at sunset, with the San Diego skyline glittering in the background.
No. 1: San Diego | Overall Score: 62.9

EV Charging Stations per 100,000 Residents: 45.6 (Rank: 34 most)
Number of EV Laws and Incentives: 202 (Rank: 1 most – tie)
Number of Local Solar Panel Programs and Incentives: 2 (Rank: 1 most – tie)
Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium (as % of Income): 0.42% (Rank: 17 lowest)
Traffic Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 8.54 (Rank: 88 fewest)

Photo Credit: Lucas Fonseca / Pexels / Pexels License
An aerial view of the Downtown Houston, Texas, skyline with clouds snaking through the buildings
No. 2: Houston | Overall Score: 57.67

Annual Solar Energy Potential (MWh AC) from Viable Roofs: 18.5 Million (Rank: 1 highest)
Number of State Solar Panel Programs and Incentives: 37 (Rank: 1 most – tie)
Average Residential Electricity Cost (as % of Income): 0.2566% (Rank: 87 lowest)
Portion of Average Annual Household Income Spent on Gas: 2.6% (Rank: 20 highest)
Average Commute Time in Minutes: 26.4 (Rank: 57 longest)

Photo Credit: Vlad Busuioc / Unsplash / Unsplash License
A view of Downtown Irvine, California, with mountains in the distant background
No. 3: Irvine, California | Overall Score: 57.33

EV Charging Stations per 100,000 Residents: 211.64 (Rank: 1 most)
Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium (as % of Income): 0.43% (Rank: 20 lowest)
Number of State Solar Panel Programs and Incentives: 30 (Rank: 38 most)
Traffic Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 2.27 (Rank: 11 fewest)
Motor Vehicle Thefts per 10,000 Residents: 9.32 (Rank: 14 fewest)

Photo Credit:  Kevin Zollman / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
An aerial shot of the New York City skyline with the Empire State Building in the center and One World Trade Center in the background
No. 4: New York | Overall Score: 55.86

Number of EV Laws and Incentives: 108 (Rank: 50 most)
Annual Solar Energy Potential (MWh AC) from Viable Roofs: 8.8 Million (Rank: 6 highest)
Average Commute Time in Minutes: 39.8 (Rank: 1 longest)
Motor Vehicle Thefts per 10,000 Residents: 10.93 (Rank: 17 fewest)
Traffic Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 2.98 (Rank: 19 fewest)

Photo Credit: Roberto Vivancos / Pexels / Pexels License
The Griffith Observatory stands atop a hill overlooking the Los Angeles skyline.
No. 5: Los Angeles | Overall Score: 55.77

EV Charging Stations per 100,000 Residents: 46.76 (Rank: 33 most)
Annual Solar Energy Potential (MWh AC) from Viable Roofs: 15.6 Million (Rank: 2 highest)
Hybrid Car Repair Shops per 100,000 Residents: 0.3 (Rank: 33 most)
Average Residential Electricity Cost (as % of Income): 0.2568% (Rank: 89 lowest)
Average Commute Time in Minutes: 29.8 (Rank: 23 longest)

Photo Credit: Roberto Nickson / Pexels / Pexels License

Fast Stats: Key Findings

The Big Picture

The greenest U.S. cities generally have been quickest to embrace the recent surge in EVs. Geared up for the change are big cities like San Diego (No. 1), Houston (No. 2), and New York (No. 4). Smaller cities in large metros — such as Fort Collins, Colorado (No. 6), Plano, Texas (No. 13), and Alexandria, Virginia (No. 17) — also raced to the top.

Ironically, Detroit — aka Motor City and once HQ of all “Big Three” automakers until Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) moved overseas — finished last overall. This gets even more ironic given that GM and Ford were top-5 EV sellers in the U.S. during the first half of 2023. However, it didn’t land on the tail end for the reasons you might expect. 

Detroit actually has the infrastructure to support EVs, and the city does offer some EV incentives. Relatively unaffordable electricity and insurance premiums, which tend to be higher for EVs — along with rampant car thefts and a high rate of traffic fatalities — slowed the city to a halt in our ranking.

Standout Stats

Early Adopter

  • California offers the most EV laws and incentives to drivers, over 200, nearly 2X as many as in Colorado, with 111. In California, 1 in 4 new car sales are zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The state represented about a third of all U.S. plug-in vehicle sales by the end of Q2 2023.

Charged Up

  • Irvine, California (No. 3 overall), boasts the most EV charging stations per 100,000 residents, 212. That’s 61 more than 2nd-placer, Bellevue, Washington (No. 45), and nearly 2X as many as in Atlanta (No. 112), which finished 3rd in this metric.

Safety First

  • Fort Collins, Colorado (No. 7 overall), is the only top-10-ranking city that earned a top-10 Safety score. The city boasts the 7th-lowest accident likelihood (compared with the national average) and fewer motor vehicle thefts (per 10,000 residents) than in 167 cities.

Savings Potential

  • Glendale, California (No. 122 overall), Worcester, Massachusetts (No. 118), and Providence, Rhode Island (No. 169), drivers stand to save the most money by switching to EVs. Each ranked among the 10 cities that spend the most on both gasoline and maintenance and repairs.

Solar Leaders

  • 15 cities offer at least 1 local incentive to install solar panels7 offer 2. (These do not include state and federal solar incentives.) The 15 cities represent every region of the U.S., from Honolulu to Denver to New York.

Max Power

  • The entire Texas Triangle ranked among the top 15 cities in solar energy potential. Houston (No. 2 overall) leads all 200 cities. Austin (No. 11) finished last in this region at No. 15. Why? The Lone Star State offers the most solar incentives.

Rare Repairs

  • Of the 10 cities with the most electric and hybrid car repair shops, 6 are in California, including 5 Los Angeles suburbs. Pasadena (No. 44 overall) has the most, nearly 1.5 per 100,000 residents, and is 1 of only 3 cities — all in the Golden State — with at least 1 such shop when adjusted for population size.

Limited Range

  • With the 10th-longest average commute time and the 11th-fewest EV charging stations, EV drivers in Port St. Lucie, Florida (No. 99 overall), will need to charge up more frequently.

Low Energy

  • Of the 25 Texas cities we ranked, only 3 Austin (No. 11 overall), Plano (No. 13), and Frisco (No. 30) — placed among the top 100 cities in EV charging station access. Moreover, half of the 20 cities with the fewest overall are in the Lone Star State.

Gasket Case

  • Paterson, New Jersey (No. 197 overall), came in last in EV charging station access, lacking any chargepoints, according to Department of Energy data. That’s a baffling outcome, considering the many EV laws and incentives available in New Jersey. It also finished 3rd-to-last in solar energy potential — again, despite a number of state solar panel offers.

Ask The Experts

EVs have come a long way since the plug-in hybrid Toyota Prius was first introduced in 1997. (EVs actually date back way further but didn’t have the mass appeal they do today.) 

Today, nearly every big car maker offers an electric model, but what’s in store for the future? Our panel of EV experts share their thoughts below.

  1. One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?
  2. For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?
  3. Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?
  4. How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?
Don MacKenzie
Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Henry Liu, Ph.D.
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Michigan Traffic Lab
Ralph Hall
Associate Director, SPIA, Director, SPIA Undergraduate Programs
Andrew Yates
Professor
Dr. Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury
Eugene Douglas Mays Professor of Transportation
Mark Hankins
Coordinator/Instructor
Reggie Bennett
Instructor
Richard D. Stewart, Ph.D., CTL
Professor Transportation and Logistics, School of Business and Economics, Director Transportation and Logistics Research Center, Co-Director Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute
Don MacKenzie
Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Washington

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

Cross-country travel is already possible. Models like the Tesla Model 3 (350 miles) and Porsche Taycan (290 miles) offer ranges comparable to many gasoline cars.

About four years ago I asked students in my class to work out the minimum time needed for an electric Cannonball Run — an unsanctioned race from New York to LA. Even then, they worked out that it only takes about 45 hours. 

What’s cool to see is that this theoretical “minimum” time has now been beaten in an actual run in a Taycan — likely made possible by the Taycan’s astounding 270 kW maximum charging rate.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has a searchable database of incentives and laws related to all sorts of alternative fuels and vehicles, including EVs. You can enter a state, the technology you’re interested in, and the type of policy, and search. Many incentives are likely to go away in the future, but it is hard to say exactly when.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

A research article we published a few years ago (see the graphics) shows that when people consider an EV, but ultimately choose another vehicle, their reasons are basically the same as when people consider-then-reject a gasoline vehicle: price, value, dealer attitude, styling, and “other.”

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

Notwithstanding the reckless disregard for public safety (evidenced by Cannonball Runs), there is probably not much effect.

One concern used to be that EVs are very quiet, and visually impaired pedestrians would be unable to hear them. EVs in the U.S. are now required to emit warning sounds at low speeds, to mitigate this risk.

As the EV market grows, it is increasingly important for first responders, especially firefighters, to be trained in how to safely disconnect vehicles’ high-voltage electrical systems and deal with electric fires involving damaged batteries — which are different than fires involving gasoline.

Henry Liu, Ph.D.
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Michigan Traffic Lab
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

It is certainly possible. It’s all about charging stations or battery use models, so it will require significant investment in infrastructure. It looks like the Biden administration is inclined to invest in this.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

At the moment, cost comparison between gas-powered vs. electric cars over the life of the car is very complicated, but I think the price for electric cars will continue to decrease as the volume of production increases.

Federal or state incentives on tax will be there for some models, but with price decrease, such incentives will disappear too.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

Environmental concerns. Probably more fashionable.

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

Not much. These cars are still human-driven vehicles, so the limitations with human drivers will be similar.

Ralph Hall
Associate Director, SPIA, Director, SPIA Undergraduate Programs
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

Buyers need to look beyond the initial sticker price and make their purchasing decision based on the lifecycle costs of an electric vehicle (which are much lower than internal combustion engine engines) and the available charging network in their area.

There’s also the question of what the vehicle will be used for. With around three-quarters of all urban trips being less than 10 miles, electric vehicles (EVs) present an attractive way to travel around town. Cross-country trips are possible, but they will take some careful planning.

Over the next 5-10 years, I expect the charging networks managed by Tesla, Electrify America, ChargePoint, etc., to continue to expand, reducing the anxiety and challenges facing long-distance EV travelers.

During this same time frame, we will see the full range of EVs enter the market from both new entrants (e.g., Eli, Lucid Motors, Fisker, Rivan, Bollinger, Lordstown,  etc.) and the more established automakers such as GM, Ford, and VW.

Tesla will continue to dominate the EV market, but its market share will certainly decline as competition increases from basically all auto manufacturers who are playing catch-up.

With the new Biden administration, I would expect significant investments will be made in expanding the U.S. EV charging infrastructure. We may also see the 200,000 EV cap on the $7,500 tax credit being relaxed to something like 600,000, which would make Tesla and GM vehicles more cost-competitive.

If these public investments happen, the future for EVs looks very promising.

As more people purchase an electric vehicle and share their experiences with friends and family, we may experience a tipping point within the next decade, when purchasing an EV becomes as common as purchasing a smartphone.

What I’m most interested in seeing though are new EV-based mobility services, in which I no longer need to buy a vehicle, but can hire or lease an EV when needed. I would also like to see battery recycling systems established for all EVs.

I expect the manufacturers building environmentally sustainable EV platforms are likely to gain significant market share as consumers continue to demand products that minimize their impacts on the environment.

Andrew Yates
Professor
Department of Economics at UNC Chapel Hill

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

It’s possible now if you own a Tesla. Tesla invested early in a network of charging stations. Other brands are a bit behind, but are making efforts to catch up.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

Incentives vary quite a bit by state and over time. The Alternative Fuels Data Center database is the go-to source for up-to-date info. I looked at these incentives in detail about five years ago and there were some interesting ones in various places, such as car pool passes, parking benefits, and slightly discounted electricity.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

Do they have a place to plug in the car? This would be a concern for apartment dwellers. Also, electric cars are fun to drive. They get 100 percent torque at 0 RPM.  And most have blistering acceleration.

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

Not much, but it will be interesting to see if the blistering acceleration leads to more accidents.

Dr. Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury
Eugene Douglas Mays Professor of Transportation
Clemson University

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not? 

Electric vehicles (EVs) in the current market have varying driving ranges. It can be as low as 120 miles or as high as 350 miles, and anything in between. So, long-distance EV driving is still dependent on the availability of widespread charging infrastructure across the U.S. 

According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, (AFDC), the infrastructure for charging EVs has increased and it now has a better spread across the U.S. in different states. However, there are still some places where charging infrastructure is scarce. 

For example, parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming still has large gaps between consecutive charging stations. 

However, based on the growth of EV charging infrastructure in recent years, these gaps should be overcome soon, and EVs will become a feasible mode of travel across the country, especially with the high driving range EVs such as the Tesla Models. 

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate? 

There are currently many incentives on offer for EV users. 

At first, EVs save on fuel cost. On average, the fuel cost of EVs in the U.S. is around $485 per year, compared to $1,117 per year for gasoline vehicles. 

Moreover, many incentives are offered by the government to EV users. Federal income tax credits are available to anyone who purchases an EV. 

Moreover, there are many EV incentives at state level, including rebate programs, grants, vouchers, etc. California alone is currently offering 150 different incentives to the EV users. 

As the prices of EVs are still significantly higher than gasoline-powered vehicles, I feel that these incentives will not go away anytime soon. EVs still constitute only a small market share of the vehicles, and these incentives are necessary to attract more users. 

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle? 

Besides the above mentioned factors such as range and cost, the following three factors should be considered for anyone thinking of buying an EV. 

  1. Location and usage: The most important consideration for anyone thinking of buying an EV is the location and usage. The availability of charging stations is dependent on the location.Moreover, the location determines the types of incentives that the user can access. For example, California is typically a very favorable location for EVs due to the high number of incentives and mass availability of charging stations.
  2. Fuel economy: Not all EVs have the same fuel economy, so it is another important factor. The units used to measure fuel economy of EVs are miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) or kilowatt-hour per 100 miles (KWh/100mile). The Alternative Fuels Data Center website regularly posts and updates the MPGe and KWh/100 mile values of different EV models. 
  3. Battery life: The battery is one of the most important aspects of the EV. The battery will need to be changed sometime during the lifespan of an EV, so a person should do some research about the batteries and how to increase battery life through proper usage and maintenance. 

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all? 

In terms of traffic operations, EVs are treated in the same way as a gasoline-powered vehicle. 

In terms of safety, EVs go through the same safety checks as conventional vehicles, such as federal motor vehicle safety standards and Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards. 

Some additional vehicle safety measures have been identified related to EVs. 

Mark Hankins
Coordinator/Instructor
General Service Technician Program (GST), Shoreline Community College

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

Battery technology is improving at a very rapid pace. It is common now for electric car range to span at least 250 to 300 miles or more. I anticipate that this range will continue to improve and that charging times will continue to shorten.

When purchasing an electric vehicle, the consumer should assess how they plan to use it. If one makes a long, cross-country trip only once or twice a year, then they might consider renting an internal combustion vehicle for those rare trips. Battery range on today’s electric cars is more than enough for the majority of daily trips.

Cross-country electric vehicle travel has been possible for many years if one owns a Tesla. It is also possible with other makes of vehicles as the “Electrify America” charging infrastructure continues to add new charging stations. 

Many states and municipalities have also installed charging stations. Navigation systems can calculate range and location of charging facilities to ease a driver’s range anxiety.

I anticipate electric vehicles growing in popularity at an increasing rate, so the pace of charging station growth must increase. This will no doubt face some challenges if governments and other entities don’t get moving to help finance the growth of charging stations.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

I can’t speak factually about just what incentives currently exist around the country or how long they will last. I know there are federal tax incentives, and I hope the current administration will continue or increase these incentives. There are also sales tax or licensing and registration cost breaks in certain states. Consumers will need to check into these locally.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

Consider the lower overall cost of owning an electric vehicle. The up-front purchase costs are more (for now) but the lower cost of fuel (electricity) and lower maintenance costs should help even out or perhaps be lower than the cost of owning an internal combustion engine vehicle.

Also, consider the fact that owning and driving an electric car will lower your overall carbon footprint over time — even if the electrical generation in your community is powered by coal or other fossil fuels. 

The grid is getting cleaner all the time and will continue to do so. It’s a lot easier to control emissions from hundreds of electrical power plants than it is from millions of internal combustion engine vehicles.

If you live in a house, you may have costs associated with installing a charging station. Electric cars will charge on standard home electrical voltages but it will take longer. Many folks install chargers that can shorten charging time. 

If you live in an apartment, electric cars may not be for you until the overall charging infrastructure improves. Consider a hybrid, or plug-in hybrid if you can run an extension cord.

Think about how you use your car on a day-to-day basis. If electric car range meets or exceeds your mileage requirements most of the time (and I bet it will), you could become a very happy electric car owner.

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

Electric cars are safe. Yes, we do hear of the occasional electrical fire, but frankly, we have a much more dangerous fire potential in a car powered by gasoline than we do with an electric car. 

I can’t think of any reason electric cars would affect traffic and safety laws any differently than internal combustion engine vehicles. Perhaps we will all breathe cleaner air as more electric cars hit the road.

Reggie Bennett
Instructor
Automotive Technologies, MSTB Division, NOVA/Alexandria Campus, Northern Virginia Community College

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

Driving range and “range anxiety” are significant issues with EVs and the perception of EV operation. I would refer you to a recent YouTube Engineering Explained video addressing a roughly 1900-mile road trip in a Tesla Model 3. It’s quite an eye-opener with regard to the frequency and time involved in the recharging process. 

In my opinion, EVs are much better suited for local commuting as opposed to long-distance trips.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

EV tax incentives have been fading for the last few years, and I think they should. Even the least expensive EVs are still too pricey for most of us and all of us wind up paying for these incentives in the form of higher taxes. 

Also, the least expensive EVs typically also have the least range, which limits vehicle use to principally a commuter vehicle that does not have a lot of cargo space.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

I would say the three biggest factors besides initial cost and range issues would be cost of ownership, cargo/passenger space, and HVAC system effectiveness. 

Location has a lot to do with the cost of electricity and reduced range when battery energy must be used to heat or cool the vehicle cabin.

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

I don’t foresee major impacts on traffic or vehicle safety laws. However, EVs are notoriously quiet in operation, which could present some risk to pedestrians. There are some sound generation technologies that can address this, especially when the vehicle is in reverse.

Richard D. Stewart, Ph.D., CTL
Professor Transportation and Logistics, School of Business and Economics, Director Transportation and Logistics Research Center, Co-Director Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute
University of Wisconsin-Superior

One of the biggest concerns with electric cars today is their limited driving range. Will cross-country driving in an electric vehicle be possible in the near future? Why or why not?

Cross Country Driving in the U.S. is much different than in other countries where a journey of 300 kilometers is a significant undertaking. 

China is another large geographic country that may provide some insights into possible options for long-distance driving.  One company there changes out the car batteries so the car owner does not have to wait while the car battery is charged.  Total time at the station is about the same as filling up with gasoline. Hybrids provide an option for long-distance driving.

For many consumers, price is a major hurdle. What lesser-known incentives, if any, are available to consumers to help offset costs? How much longer will those perks be around as electric cars proliferate?

The federal tax rebates, and if applicable state rebates, are helpful in offsetting the higher cost.  All-electric vehicles will require less engine maintenance.  If an owner has access to off-peak electrical service, the cost of fuel will be less over the life of the vehicle.  If driving locally, you won’t have to waste time filling up with gas, if you can charge at home.

Besides the above factors, what are the three biggest considerations for anyone considering buying an electric vehicle?

  • You are benefiting the environment by reducing air and water pollutants.   The planet benefits from reduced or zero air emissions and no engine oil going into the water from cars leaking in parking lots and streets.
  • Driver benefit from a willingness to adapt to and use technology
  • Realize that understanding that self-maintenance on the vehicle will be difficult if not impossible for the average citizen

How will electric cars affect traffic and safety laws, if at all?

As an owner of a PHEV, I follow the same traffic and safety laws as any other car owner.  I do not foresee any changes in laws as EV and PHEV s meet all safety standards.

Under the Hood: Methodology

First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best Cities for Electric Car Value. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into four categories: Infrastructure, Costs, Incentives, and Safety. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table. 

Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each city to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A city’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 200). Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties.

Sources: Allstate, CarInsurance.com, DSIRE, Electricity Local, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Google, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Energy, Unbound Solar, and Yelp

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Richie Bernardo

Richie Bernardo is a managing editor who previously wrote about personal finance and immigration. Philippine-born, Kansas City-bred, and barbecue-fed, Richie enjoys baking, deal hunting, and binging “Ancient Aliens.”