Best EVs for apartment living
How to pick an EV when you can't rely on home charging every night.
Direct answer
If you live in an apartment, the "best" EV is usually the one that minimizes charging friction: strong efficiency, reliable fast-charging behavior, and a charging network that matches your routes. If public charging is scarce or unreliable in your area, a hybrid is often the least-regret choice.
See example apartment/city charging photos: EV in the city · Public charging
The apartment EV constraint
Without home charging, you're trading the "plug in at night" convenience for a weekly routine of public chargers. That can be fine in some cities and a pain in others.
What to prioritize (in order)
- Access: chargers near home/work/grocery routes.
- Efficiency: less energy per mile means fewer charging stops.
- Fast-charging behavior: how quickly the car adds useful range.
- Cold-weather planning if relevant.
Infrastructure trend (global)
Public charging stock has grown rapidly, with fast chargers growing especially quickly in 2023 according to the IEA—but distribution and interoperability are still uneven.
Verdict
- Good EV fit if your local charging is dense and reliable.
- Hybrid fit if charging feels like weekly logistics.