Trust · Methodology
How we rank EVs. No black box.
Every number behind the US EV Rankings and the best-EV decision pages: the weights, the sources, the guardrails and how often it refreshes.
By EVHQ (Dan) · Last updated · 92 EVs ranked1. The scoring weights
Each car gets six sub-scores from 0–100, normalized within the ranked list (so a score is relative to the other EVs you can actually buy). The overall score is the weighted sum.
Range
20%EPA combined range for the listed trim (best-case wheel option), scaled between the shortest and longest EV on the list.
Efficiency
15%EPA kWh per 100 miles — lower is better. It sets your charging bill and real-world range.
Value
20%Miles of EPA range per $1,000 of MSRP, blended with a price-band bonus for genuinely affordable cars.
Charging
15%Peak DC fast-charge kW, plus credit for a native NACS port and Tesla Supercharger access.
Practicality
15%Max cargo space, seat count and body utility (trucks, vans and SUVs score higher than coupes).
Market proof
15%2026 YTD (through Q3) US sales, log-scaled. Models Cox doesn't break out get a neutral 25 — we never estimate.
2. The data pipeline: EPA + KBB/Cox
Specs from the EPA. Range, efficiency (kWh/100 mi) and MPGe are pulled automatically from the FuelEconomy.gov web service. We match the closest trim and use the best-case wheel option; a match that differs more than 30% from the manufacturer figure is rejected and fixed by hand. Each car links the exact EPA vehicle it used and is marked “EPA ✓”. Trims EPA hasn't listed yet use manufacturer figures, marked “mfr/est.”
Sales from Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive. US sales are model-level estimates from the quarterly KBB/Cox Q3 2026 EV Sales Report (estimates as of 10/13/26) (2026 YTD (through Q3)), compared with the same period a year earlier (Jan–Sep 2025). Trims of one model share one number. Models Cox lumps into “additional EV models” show as not reported — we never guess.
Hand-entered from manufacturers. MSRP, peak DC fast-charge kW, charge port, 0–60, seats, cargo and our verdicts. There's no reliable public API for these, so we verify them against brand sites.
Refresh. A refresh script re-pulls EPA data, auto-discovers the next Cox quarterly report, re-scores and re-ranks every car and regenerates the “why it's ranked here” text. If a source is down, the previous data is kept rather than publishing a gap.
3. The sales floor
After the weighted score is computed, any model with fewer than 2,000 US units in the current Cox year-to-date period — or not reported at all — loses 5 overall points. It stops a brand-new or tiny-volume car from leapfrogging proven, high-volume EVs to #1 on spec sheet alone. Right now it applies to 40 of 92 ranked EVs, and each affected car says so in its explanation. The penalty lifts automatically once the model clears 2,000 units.
4. Ground rules
- Battery-electric only — no plug-in hybrids.
- Trims are split out only when they behave like different cars (e.g. Model 3 RWD vs Performance). No padding with near-identical trims.
- Commercial vans and models without public specs and sales are left out until they have both.
- No paid placement, and no ads on the rankings, decision pages or tools.
- Rankings are a starting point. Your commute, home charging and climate matter more — use EV Match and the EV vs gas cost calculator.
Spotted an error? See our editorial standards & corrections policy or contact the editor.
Where the method is used
FAQ
How does EVHQ score electric cars?
Six 0–100 sub-scores, each normalized within the ranked list: range 20%, efficiency 15%, value 20%, charging 15%, practicality 15% and market proof from US sales 15%. The overall score is the weighted sum, minus the sales-floor penalty where it applies.
Where does the data come from?
Range, kWh/100 mi and MPGe come from the EPA FuelEconomy.gov web service. US sales are model-level estimates from the Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive quarterly EV Sales Report. MSRP, DC fast-charge kW, charge port, 0–60, seats and cargo are entered by hand from manufacturer pages.
What is the sales floor?
Any model under 2,000 US units in the current Cox year-to-date period — or not reported at all — loses 5 overall points, so a brand-new or tiny-volume car can't top the table on spec sheet alone. It lifts automatically on the next refresh once the model clears 2,000.
How often are rankings updated?
The pipeline re-pulls EPA specs and checks for a new Cox sales report, then re-scores and re-ranks every car. Each source fails soft: if one is unavailable, the previous data is kept. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Does anyone pay for placement?
No. Rankings and decision pages carry no ads and no paid placement. Scores come only from the formula on this page.