US states with best EV infrastructure revealed

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular, more and more charging stations are popping up across the US.

However, the development of EV infrastructure is far from even across all states.

While some states are racing ahead with robust charging networks, others are dragging their feet, leaving EV drivers with few options.

Which brings us to the matter at hand: which US states have the best (and worst) EV infrastructure?

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The US currently has more than 192,000 public charging ports, with around 1,000 added every week, according to the Department of transportation.

While that might sound impressive, it falls short of national goals.

The White House previously announced a target of 500,000 chargers by 2026, which is out of reach at this point.

Looking forward, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects the need for more than two million chargers by 2030, which may seem like a huge number.

However, given how companies like BYD are developing EVs so affordable, it’s clear the demand is there.

So how do we measure which states are ahead of the game, and which are falling behind?

Enter the HERE-SBD EV Index, a metric developed by mapping company HERE and automotive research firm SBD Automotive.

It scores states on four key areas:

• Charger power – Faster chargers are better. The higher the wattage, the quicker the charge.
• Charging points per mile of road – It’s not only about how many chargers a state has, but how well they’re spread out.
• EV market share – A higher share of EVs show stronger adoption.
• EVs per charger – Fewer EVs per charger means it’s easier to find an available spot.

So what are the top 10 states for EV infrastructure?

• 1) Delaware – 79.4
• 2) Washington, DC – 72.5
• 3) Massachusetts – 64.2
• 4) Nevada – 64.2
• 5) Connecticut – 63.7
• 6) New York – 62.3
• 7) California – 61.8
• 8) Vermont – 60.8
• 9) New Jersey – 60.3
• 10) Rhode Island -60.3

These are the states leading the charge (literally), with most of the top performers in the northeast, and a few out west.

And what about the bottom 10?

• 51) Alaska- 19.6
• 50) Arkansas – 33.3
• 49) Idaho – 35.3
• 48) Nebraska – 37.3
• 47) Minnesota – 40.7
• 46) Mississippi – 40.7
• 45) Kentucky – 42.1
• 44) Michigan – 42.1
• 43) Kansas – 42.2
• 42) Illinois – 42.2

These states lag in both availability and power. Alaska, for example, has almost no utility rebates or incentives for EV charging.

On the other hand, Arkansas has better coverage, but the incentives for a Level 2 charger is only $500, compared to the national average of $3,488.

While rebates aren’t part of the EV index score, there’s a clear connection. States with generous incentives often score higher.

For example, Washington, DC offers a 50 percent tax credit up to $10,000 for Level 2 chargers, plus utility programs that cover installation costs.

New York offers over 19 different rebate programs, some targeted at specific communities or building types.

Even at-home charging can help ease the strain on public infrastructure, as 56 per cent of the US offers residential rebates, averaging $534.

Perhaps EV owners should use this hack to charge their cars from ‘literally’ anywhere, while the infrastructure develops.

While the US still has a long journey to reach 500,000 public chargers by 2026, progress is being made.

The study indicates that expanding incentive programs and investing in more chargers will be key to keeping up with rising demands.

After all, most American auto executives seem to think that cheap Chinese EVs entering the US market is only a matter of when, not if.

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