Phoenix ranks No. 11 among best cities for electric cars

By: AZ Big Media 

The electric car movement has taken off in the past few years, but in 2022 it grew by leaps and bounds. Electric car sales of 800,000 were recorded in 2022, 65% more than in 2021. Add to the mix lower prices, a continuously improving infrastructure and you have the perfect recipe for electric cars slowly entering mainstream adoption. So, what are the best cities for electric cars?

In the context of electric cars becoming more commonplace, some metro areas seem better equipped than others to embrace the EV movement. To find out which places are the most EV-friendly, StorageCafe put together a report ranking the largest metropolitan areas in this respect. They took into account the number of registered EVs, EV-chargers (public and in rental buildings), highway friendliness, public transportation using clean fuel, condition of roads, renewable energy, insurance and eGallon (equivalent of gas gallon) costs, local incentives and vehicle storage options. Based on the report’s findings, the best cities for electric cars are located in the West with Miami, FL, the only outsider in the top 10.

Phoenix enters the electric race in the 11^th spot

In the heated EV race, the Phoenix metro area is just one position shy of the top 10 best cities for electric cars thanks to an overall environment that helps the EV movement to grow. Over 38K EVs are registered in the metro area, which translates to 2 electric cars per 100 households. The local infrastructure is also growing, in an effort to accommodate the local charging needs. When you account for population, Phoenix has about 0.4 public charging stations per 1,000 households. Moreover, charging options extend to almost 6% of the apartment complexes in the metro area, an impressive 27% more than in 2020. That means over 497K apartments have access to this amenity currently. Cost-wise, an eGallon goes for $1.1 in Phoenix and insuring your EV here costs $182/month. Also, if you ever need to put your vehicle in storage when you’re not using it, a Phoenix storage unitrents for $171/month.

Phoenix seems to not only have a considerate number of EVs but also the right conditions for them to get out on the roads. Out of the 2,200+ lane miles of highway, about 390 of them are dedicated to HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes which also allow EV drivers to use them. Overall, HOV lanes make up 17.5% of the metro area’s lane mileage, the highest share in the country. Besides privately-owned vehicles, the electric movement extends to public transportation, with 63% of the network running on clean fuel. The natural environment also seems to be supportive of EVs, with temperatures dipping below 50 degrees during about 2.2% of the year. To contextualize, car batteries are more likely to function at full capacity in a warmer climate.

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