Largest 102 U.S. cities to contribute for majority of plug-in electric vehicles sales

Greentech Lead America:The sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in the largest 102 cities in the United States will total slightly more than 1.8 million from 2012 through 2020, says a new research from Pike Research.There is a growing interest for electric vehicles especially in metropolitan areas though their sales have fallen short of projections to date, the research said.

“More than a quarter of all annual U.S. PEV sales will be in the top five metropolitan areas for PEV sales – New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland,” said  senior research analyst Dave Hurst.

Cities like New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle combine large population areas with early rollout schedules from vehicle manufacturers, and positive attitudes toward PEVs among residents, making them fertile ground for PEV manufacturers in the coming years.

“But thanks to a combination of positive attitudes towards green driving, high fuel prices, and state government support, California metropolitan statistical areas will account for more than one in five PEVs sold,” Hurst added.

PEV acceptance is strongly linked to not only the availability of PEV models, but also the accessibility of charging infrastructure. Texas, for example, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of EV charging stations available in 2012. Pike Research’s index of positive opinions toward PEVs moved the state’s ranking from 42nd in 2010 to fourth in 2012, the largest change of any state in the index.

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