The state of EVs isn’t the best
It’s clear that EV sales growth has slowed, and many manufacturers have modified their electrification strategies accordingly. While there are many hurdles to EV adoption, one of the most significant is the charging infrastructure in the United States. The latest news isn’t promising, either. On February 6th, the Federal Highway Administration put the brakes on new funding for state programs to install EV charging stations, saying that state plans would be reviewed and the process would need to start over. There’s no update, so it seems buildouts are paused for the foreseeable future.
As of August 2024, the Department of Transportation reports that the U.S. has approximately 192,000 publicly available charging ports, with approximately 1,000 new chargers added every week. With the halt by the Trump Administration in early February, the original plan added about 23,000 new charging stations to put the total at around 215,000, give or take. Under the Biden Administration, the plan was to deploy 500,000 new chargers by the year 2026. We assume there has been no new marked growth in the nation’s EV charging infrastructure.
So, what is the current state of our nation’s EV infrastructure, and how should it play a factor in whether or not you decide to buy an electric vehicle for your next car? While there’s not a simple answer to the question, we take a look at which states are the best and worst for publicly available EV charging stations.
The important factors
Nissan
There are more factors than the sheer number of charging stations. Consider that they’re not evenly distributed across all states, nor are all charging stations located conveniently for all EV owners. According to EC&M, an EV Index compiled by a firm called BriteSwitch looks at four criteria as part of their metrics. The index provides a score for each state based on average charger power, charging points per mile of roadway, the number of EVs compared to gas cars, and the likelihood of an EV owner finding an available charging station. The score is based on a maximum total of 25 points. What’s not factored in, of course, are the number of operational EV chargers, which would be nearly impossible to track and report as that figure is constantly in a state of flux,
According to the index, 80% of the best states for EV charging were in the Northeastern U.S., with two of the top 10 states being on the West coast. Even though there has been negligible growth this quarter, the total number of public charge points in the US increased by a whopping 32% since 2023. That said, there’s still a tremendous need for expansion.
The 10 best states for EV charging infrastructure
BriteSwitch
Some of the states that scored the highest in the study, like California and Vermont, shouldn’t come as a surprise given their robust EV adoption rates. Then there are others. Delaware surged, jumping more than 23 points thanks to an increase in higher level charging stations and solid increases in EV sales. Washington, DC ranked second, thanks to proactive policies, financial incentives, and strategic investments in expanding charging access—especially in underserved communities. These efforts support the city’s push toward electrification and its broader climate goals.
The 10 worst states for charging infrastructure
Volvo
The bottom ten staes might not be all that surprising. According to Fast Company, the Midwest overall does not do well when it comes to EV sales, with inclement weather as a predominant factor. Mississippi has a very low EV adoption rate, so its score seems about right. Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and West Virginia also rank low in terms of EV adoption, but those states did not make the bottom ten. Alaska’s extreme remoteness might have quite a bit to do with its worst charging station ranking, especially as its ambitious plan to bump up its EV charging infrastructure by as much as 60 percent annually also hit the skids with the stop of federal funding.
Ongoing concerns
One key issue is the accessibility and reliability of charging stations, especially in light of available rebates and incentives meant to encourage their installation. Charging station rebates, offered by federal, state, and local governments, as well as utility companies, are designed to lower the cost of installing Level 2 or DC fast charging stations, the latter of which can juice up an EV significantly in a matter of minutes, versus hours. These rebates can cover a significant portion of hardware and installation costs, often ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. While this has helped increase the number of public and private charging points, it hasn’t fully addressed the broader infrastructure challenges.
Another primary concern is the uneven distribution of charging stations. Urban areas and affluent communities tend to see higher levels of investment due to higher EV ownership and better infrastructure. In contrast, rural and underserved communities often lag far behind, lacking the charging infrastructure needed to support even modest EV adoption. Rebates alone don’t solve this disparity, especially when smaller municipalities lack the resources or knowledge to apply for and manage such programs effectively.
Hyundai
Additionally, the permitting and installation process can be complex and time-consuming, which diminishes the benefits of rebates. Property owners, businesses, and local governments often face delays due to zoning laws, utility upgrades, and contractor shortages. It’s not as simple as picking a location, getting power to it, and firing it up. Even with generous financial incentives, the red tape associated with installation deters many potential participants.
Another challenge is reliability. Many existing public charging stations suffer from poor maintenance, outdated technology, or compatibility issues. Users frequently report broken chargers, long wait times, or app-based access barriers. For obvious reasons, filling up at a gas station proves to be far easier and quicker. Rebates typically focus on installation versus upkeep, leaving many stations in disrepair without a quick solution.
Final thoughts
It’s hard to say when the federal government will remove the roadblocks to funding expansion of the nation’s EV charging infrastructure. Once this happens, growth will still depend on sustained investments and the expansion of rebate programs. There’s a long way to go to achieve the goal of 500,000 chargers anytime soon since that goal post has moved.
There’s no question that the need for more chargers will continue to exist because EV growth is still a reality. Manufacturers are still building them and introducing new models with great frequency. That may further slow given the recent changes by the federal government, so it’s anyone’s guess what will actually happen.
