Wired.com report a stat that should surprise absolutely no one. More than half of all electric vehicles in the U.S. are silently running around five major cities.
According to the auto industry wonks at R.L. Polk, 52 percent of EVs in the country are based in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.
The breakdown is just as predictable, with San Francisco accounting for 19.5 percent of EV sales or leases, followed by LA with 15.4 percent, Seattle at eight percent, NY at 4.6 percent, and Atlanta bringing up the rear at 4.4 percent.
The reasons for the EV domination in big cities are obvious. Aside from a more robust charging infrastructure, in California there are numerous tax cuts — both at the state and local level — for EV drivers, and combined with HOV lane access, the incentive to go electric is strong. Access to carpool lanes is also available in Georgia (one reason Atlanta makes the list) and New York, where EV drivers can get a sticker to access the 40-mile stretch of the Long Island Expressway that leads into NYC.
Then of course, there’s the range issue. With the exception of the Tesla Model S, all EVs on sale today can barely break the 100-mile mark on a single charge, making them more suited to urban environments, running around cities, and commuting. A more progressive mindset doesn’t hurt, but it’s obvious that incentives are a major driver of EV adoption. And more states need to realize that.
