the states with the best EV infrastructure

Widespread adoption of electric vehicles, or EVs, is a critical step in reducing carbon emissions in the United States. Transportation is America’s heaviest polluting sector, and according to the Energy Information Administration, a single gasoline powered vehicle creates nearly 12,600 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year – while an EV generates less than 2,800 pounds.

After three years of steady growth, EV sales slowed in the first quarter of 2024, and over the course of the year, several major EV manufacturers – including Tesla – reported lower overall sales volume than they did in 2023. Survey data also suggests that widespread adoption may remain a long way off. A study from the Pew Research Center found that 57% of adults in the U.S. said their next vehicle would not likely be an EV.

Explanations for waning public interest in EVs are varied, but one of the most commonly cited factors is a perceived lack of necessary charging infrastructure. The same Pew study found that over half all Americans are not confident that the country will build enough charging stations to support a large number of EVs. Still, while nowhere near as common as gas stations, EV charging stations are going up at a rapid rate. Government data shows that the number of EV stations has more than doubled since 2020, and that an estimated 60% of Americans now live within 2 miles of a public charger.

The rollout of EV infrastructure has not been even across the country, however, and some states are far better equipped to accommodate EV owners than others.

Using data from the EIA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states with the best EV infrastructure. We ranked all 50 states on an equally weighted index of three measures: the population adjusted number of EV charging stations with public use charging ports, the population adjusted number EV charging ports, and the average number of fast-charging ports per charging location. Population estimates used in these calculations are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey. Only the 25 highest ranking states, as determined by these metrics, appear on this list.

While having a place to recharge is critical for EV owners, exactly what type of chargers are available is also important. DC fast chargers, for example, are capable of charging 80% of an EV’s battery in under 20 minutes – while slower, Level 1 and Level 2 chargers can take hours, if not days to power an EV battery to a similar level. As a result, states with more DC fast-charge ports per charging location tend to rank higher on this list.

10. New York

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 21.1 per 100,000 people – 13th most of 50 states (4,127 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 74.6 per 100,000 people – 11th most of 50 states (14,605 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 4.1 – 17th most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 1,484 (10.2% of all charging ports)

9. Maryland

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 27.8 per 100,000 people – 8th most of 50 states (1,719 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 90.4 per 100,000 people – 6th most of 50 states (5,589 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 3.2 – 17th fewest of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 990 (17.7% of all charging ports)

8. Washington

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 27.7 per 100,000 people – 9th most of 50 states (2,161 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 81.6 per 100,000 people – 9th most of 50 states (6,372 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 3.6 – 24th fewest of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 1,173 (18.4% of all charging ports)

7. Colorado

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 36.5 per 100,000 people – 4th most of 50 states (2,148 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 100.4 per 100,000 people – 4th most of 50 states (5,899 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 2.7 – 8th fewest of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 1,018 (17.3% of all charging ports)

6. Arizona

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 16.1 per 100,000 people – 21st most of 50 states (1,197 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 52.2 per 100,000 people – 17th most of 50 states (3,882 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 6.2 – 2nd most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 1,033 (26.6% of all charging ports)

5. Connecticut

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 26.1 per 100,000 people – 10th most of 50 states (943 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 96.2 per 100,000 people – 5th most of 50 states (3,481 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 4.1 – 14th most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 464 (13.3% of all charging ports)

4. Nevada

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 18.3 per 100,000 people – 15th most of 50 states (585 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 71.7 per 100,000 people – 12th most of 50 states (2,291 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 6.3 – the most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 641 (28.0% of all charging ports)

3. Massachusetts

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 42.9 per 100,000 people – 2nd most of 50 states (3,002 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 114.1 per 100,000 people – 3rd most of 50 states (7,989 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 3.8 – 24th most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 718 (9.0% of all charging ports)

2. Vermont

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 59.0 per 100,000 people – the most of 50 states (382 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 165.9 per 100,000 people – the most of 50 states (1,074 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 2.2 – 3rd fewest of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 129 (12.0% of all charging ports)

1. California

• EV charging locations with public-use ports: 41.6 per 100,000 people – 3rd most of 50 states (16,197 total)
• EV charging ports in state: 142.0 per 100,000 people – 2nd most of 50 states (55,330 total)
• Avg. number of DC fast-charge ports per charging location: 5.1 – 4th most of 50 states
• Total fast-charging ports in state: 11,278 (20.4% of all charging ports)