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Boston Is One Of The Top Cities For EV Vehicles

Author Jeff Gorra

You may be noticing more and more EV-branded vehicle spaces around the great metro area. That is because Boston EV vehicles are quite popular, and the city ranks as a region with the most of them. A recent study, detailed the top 15 cities in the entire country that have the most EV vehicles and Boston is right there behind Chicago.

Over the past five years, the percentage of these electric or hybrid vehicles has only increased. The report states 8% of the cars in Boston in 2023 are EV’s. For context, in 2019, the percentage was 1.6%. Furthermore, the biggest jump came between 2022 and 2023.

2022 saw 5.4% of vehicles in this fuel-efficient category. “The number of electric vehicles in Greater Boston has more than quadrupled since 2019, according to data from the automotive market research firm S&P Global Mobility,” they say.

Boston EV Vehicles Vs. The Rest Of The Country

Boston still has some work to do compared to the rest of the country. The six top cities with the most EV vehicles are all on the West Coast. San Francisco leads the charge, with an astounding 34.5% of the vehicles being electric or hybrid. San Diego is next at 23%. Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Seattle then round out the top five.

On the East Coast, Washington DC and New York just edge out Boston with their number of fuel efficient cars.

I’ve Had A Hybrid For 3 Months Now, Here’s How It Has Gone

In late January, I swapped out my gas-heavy Gladiator pickup truck for a hybrid Jeep Wrangler. As an avid Jeep customer, they had been suggesting this move to me for well over 18 months. As 2024 started, there was a new fleet in stock, and the few remaining 2023 models had such great deals tied to them. It was finally time for me to make the move.

Here are some of the main takeaways from my first three months of having an EV in Boston. The curiosity of course, first goes to change in filling up with gas. To be clear, my EV allows for a full tank of gas and electric mode. It’s up to the driver which you use.

I use hybrid or electric-only when driving around town locally. “E-Save” or gas mode is for longer drives and highways. In three months, I have filled up a full tank of gas about once every four weeks.

As for charging, I plug in and get the Wrangler to 100% battery life once per week. My biggest surprise in driving an EV is that the charged battery really doesn’t last very long. In total, it’s about 30 miles worth of driving per charge. In the very cold temperatures of winter, the battery drains very quickly.

The pros to the hybrid is of course the money saved on gas. My town has certain rebates to leverage as well. I did find over the first two months that the increase in money utility bill did essentially make the gas saving cost a wash. However, the city of Boston and my town (15 miles outside the city) have done a great job implementing charging stations in popular areas.

What I love about charging stations like Flo is that the app is so simple to use. In addition, the vehicle charges so much quicker than a standard outlet home charge. This is all at a cost of about $2-$3.

So, while Boston is still in the process of making strides to further promote the benefits of EV driving, it is apparent they keep gaining people to buy-in, one- by-one. It took some time to get used to, but I am certainly on board.

4 Great Places To Find Sicilian Pizza In Massachusetts

I’m a guy who moved from New Jersey to Boston; growing up, Sicilian pizza was pretty easily available. I incorrectly assumed that all Americans enjoyed this kind of pizza selection. However, when I moved to Boston, I realized that it’s much harder to find that delicacy here. But there are also a few unique places that are cooking up Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts.

As an expert on Sicilian, I will tell you that it has to be prepared properly in order for it to be worth the calories. Here, I will detail three establishments where you can find great Sicilian pizza in Massachusetts. Sure, you may have to travel a bit, but these places are worth your time.

What Is Sicilian Pizza?

Before we cut into this delicious style of pie, let’s define our terms. Traditional Sicilian pizza is cut into square or rectangular-shaped slices. The crust is thicker and crunchy. Though this pizza is obviously heavier, it still can be topped with your favorite pizza add-ons. A sprinkle of oregano is a subtle but often important finishing.

Though strip pizza in Rhode Island is similar, one significant difference with Sicilian is that it is not baked on a focaccia style dough. In fact, Palermo Pizza NJ defines what distinguishes Sicilian Pizza and what makes it different from regular pizza. “The dough rises differently with this kind of crust because more oil is used in the recipe as opposed to a regular pizza crust recipe,” they said, when describing how this is made in a rectangular pan.

In Massachusetts, the three locations that are serving up great Sicilian Pizza are quite different from each other, but have this menu item in common. One of them happens to be a favorite of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

  • Pinocchio's Pizza - Cambridge

    Tucked into a quaint New England, Harvard Square street, Pinocchio’s is where you need to go if you want Sicilian pizza of all varieties. It’s also where you will see Mark Zuckerberg’s photo all over the wall. This was the go-to spot for Zuck while he was attending Harvard. In fact, it’s a place he still makes sure to stop into when in town. As for the pizza, there are 20 different toppings you can find atop the hot Sicilian pies. These pies come in a 9-slice or 15-slice size option. The 15-slice pie comes in two boxes and can feed up to nine people. During the school months, Pinocchio’s stays open until 2 am on weekends.

  • Galleria Umberto - Boston

    At 289 Hanover Street in the North End of Boston, Umberto’s can be easy to miss. However, once you recognize their old-school sign, you know you are in for a treat. They are old-school: it is a cash-only establishment where the large trays of piping hot Sicilian pies are continuously served. Typically, it’s cheese only, but you will not be disappointed as no other flavor is needed. The single line usually reaches the door, but it moves quickly. It also gives you time to decide which arancini (their famous rice ball) you’d like to add to your order.

     

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  • Leone's - Somerville

    Leone’s Pizza and Sub has been family-owned and operated since 1954. They are located right on Broadway and open seven days per week, from 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Their Sicilian pizza is the standard menu option here. It is available by the slice, in a half tray or full tray. The whole tray also comes in two boxes (16 slice) and costs $40. Their Sicilian pies also come in a tomato basil option and a spinach and garlic. Leone’s sub menu contains over 30 options. This includes a fried meatball sub.

    Authentic New York style Sicilian pizza in pan

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

  • Pino's Pizza - Brighton

    Right in the heart of Cleveland Circle, Pino’s is a fan-favorite of Boston College students. Though the crust is a perfect combination of pillow and crunch, the secret here is actually in the sauce. Pino’s describes it as “delicious, garlicky tomato sauce with in-house seasoning, cooked on a pan.” $20 gets you nine Sicilian slices at Pino’s. If you want to add variety to your order, they also have alfredo pies, white pies, and buffalo chicken. Like Pinocchio’s, Pino’s stays open until the early morning hours on the weekend to help accommodate the college crowd.

    A square Sicilian slice of pizza with basil on top. White background.

    Stock Photo/Getty Images

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
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