The number of EVs on the road is growing. Recent figures show the EV market share closing in on ten percent nationally. EV infrastructure — with the help of substantial government investment — is improving to meet the demand. The number of EV charging points in America increased by 29 percent nationwide in 2023. But is that increase happening quickly enough?
The picture becomes a bit murkier, looking at individual states. Different states have different needs for EV charging. An interesting metric for how successful states have been at providing EV infrastructure is to look at their EVs per charging point ratio. The more registered EVs a state has, the more public charging points it needs. And many states — even avowedly EV-friendly ones — may be far from where they need to be with EV charging infrastructure.
The HERE-SBD EV Index for 2024 scores states out of 25 for their EVs per charging point ratio. And it tells a slightly different story than the raw numbers. California, for instance, has by far the most EV charging points of any state. However, California also has the second-worst EVs to charging point score of any state, suggesting far more needs to be done.
It’s important to view the EVs to charging point ratio with context. HERE-SBD also includes factors like EV market share, charging points per road length and the average speed of chargers for a more holistic grade. South Dakota, for example, scores a near-perfect 24/25 on EVs per charger. But much of that has to do with South Dakota having the second-worst score, 1/25, for EV market share. South Dakota scores well because they have few EVs and few chargers, not because Sioux Falls is an EV paradise.
With that context in mind, here are the states that are struggling to build enough public charging points to keep up with the number of registered EVs.
- EVs per Charging Point: 0.5/25
- EV Market Share: 24.5/25
- Average Charger Power: 14.2/25
- Charging Point per Road Length: 21.1/25
- Total EV Index: 60.3/100 (9th)
EVs are incredibly popular in New Jersey. It has the nation’s second-highest EV market share score, behind California. However, the state needs more public charging points. According to a different data set, New Jersey ranks 6th in the number of EVs but only 20th in the nation in charging ports, for a ratio of more than 40 EVs per charging point. No other state has more than 30 per charging point.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 1/25
- EV Market Share: 23.5/25
- Average Charger Power: 0.5/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 23.5/25
- Total EV Index: 48.5/100 (31st – tied)
Hawaii has the fourth-highest EV market share score nationally, 23.5/25. But the infrastructure appears to have some catching up to you. Hawaii ranks second to last in EVs per charging point and dead last in average charger power.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 1.5/25
- EV Market Share: 15.2/25
- Average Charger Power: 13.7/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 11.8/25
- Total EV Index: 42.2/100 (41st)
Illinois ranks in the top half of states for EV market share. However, ranking third from the bottom in EVs per charging point drops the state to 41st in the total EV index rankings.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 2/25
- EV Market Share: 25/25
- Average Charger Power: 10.3/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 24.5
- Total EV Index: 61.8/100 (7th)
California has been at the forefront of the EV movement. The state earns the highest 25/25 rating for EV market share. It has the second-highest score, 24.5/25, for charging points per road length. It has multiple times the public charging points of the next biggest state. But a score of just 2/25 on EVs per charging point suggests there’s still ample work to be done.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 2.5/25
- EV Market Share: 23/25
- Average Charger Power: 7.8/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 19.6/25
- Total EV Index: 52.9/100 (21st)
Washington is in a similar position to California. It has one of the highest EV market share scores in the nation, 23/25. But disappointing scores for EVs per charging point (2.5/25) and average charger power (7.8/25) drop Washington outside the Top 20 on HERE-SBD’s total index.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 2.9/25
- EV Market Share: 20.6/25
- Average Charger Power: 17.2/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 17.6/25
- Total EV Index: 58.3/100 (12th)
Arizona ranks in the Top 10 nationally for EV market share. But the 2.9/25 score for EVs to chargers suggests an increase in charging points is needed for the growing segment.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 3.4/25
- EV Market Share: 6.9/25
- Average Charger Power: 6.9/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 2.5/25
- Total EV Index: 19.6/100 (51st)
Alaska scored the worst of any state on the EV index — not too surprisingly, with cold weather and vast distances. And even with a relatively small EV market share score (6.9/25), the state has struggled to provide enough chargers, a wide enough distribution of chargers or fast chargers.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 3.9/25
- EV Market Share: 18.1/25
- Average Charger Power: 10.8/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 20.1/25
- Total EV Index: 52.9/100 (20th)
Warm-weather Florida is a Top 15 state for EV market share — with a massive car market. But it’s still well short on the number of public charging points required to meet that demand.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 4.4/25
- EV Market Share: 13.7/25
- Average Charger Power: 20.1/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 5.9/25
- Total EV Index: 44.1/100 (39th)
Oklahoma, somewhat unexpectedly, ranks in the top half of states for EV market share. And it’s just outside the Top 10 for fastest average chargers. However, the state is still short on charging points with just a 4.4/25 score.
- EVs Per Charging Point: 4.9/25
- EV Market Share: 15.7/25
- Average Charger Power: 14.7/25
- Charging Point Per Road Length: 13.2/25
- Total EV Index: 48.6/100 (31st – tied)
Texas, the spiritual home of the combustion pickup truck, hardly seems like an optimal environment for EVs. However, the Lone Star state ranks in the top 20 states for EV market share, with a 4.9/25. That knocked Texas outside of the Top 30 on the total EV index.