A comprehensive analysis of federal charging infrastructure data reveals significant disparities in electric vehicle (EV) readiness across the United States. According to an iSeeCars study, the most favorable states for EV owners in 2026 range from Vermont, which reports 450 residents per public charger, to Louisiana, which registers 4,717 residents per charger. This substantial difference means that a resident of Louisiana shares each public charging port with over ten times more people than a resident of Vermont.
The study, which analyzed Level 2 and DC fast-charging ports listed in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, calculates an access ratio by dividing a state’s population by its total charger count. A lower ratio indicates less competition for available charging ports. While national access is improving, the pace of buildout is decelerating. iSeeCars forecasts that the country will conclude 2026 with 299,798 public chargers, an increase from 259,555 in 2025. This represents an overall improvement of 1,143 residents per charger, marking a 13.2% improvement over the previous year.
Top 10 Most EV-Friendly States
The state rankings highlight uneven infrastructure expansion, with the top performers concentrated in New England and along the West Coast, alongside Colorado, New York, and Maryland. Conversely, the bottom tier tends to feature states in the South, the Midwest, the Great Plains, and Alaska. Experts suggest that factors like long distances, cold weather, and lower EV ownership rates complicate the deployment and justification of public charging infrastructure in these regions.
Vermont: The Most Accessible State
Vermont secures the top ranking for 2026, reporting a ratio of only 450 residents per public charger. This density-driven lead surpasses the national average of 1,143. Vermont possesses 1,432 Level 2 and DC fast-charging ports. Its low population (fewer than 700,000 residents) allows a modest network to serve its residents efficiently.
Despite having neither a massive population nor a major urban center, Vermont’s top ranking is attributed to its limited size. The state has also implemented various policies, including incentive programs, to promote the purchase of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Reliable public charging is critical, especially given the long and cold Vermont winters, which reduce lithium-ion battery range.
California: Largest Network, Second in Density
California ranks second among the most EV-friendly states, with a ratio of 480 residents per charger. The state is projected to finish 2026 with 81,932 charging ports, accounting for over a quarter of all anticipated U.S. chargers. While the state has the highest overall charger count, it faces the challenge of serving diverse geographies, including dense urban cores, sprawling suburbs, and remote mountain and desert highways.
The metro areas within the state dominate the highest density rankings. Los Angeles leads with 36,318 chargers, while the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area achieved the best metro density at 334 residents per charger. According to Karl Brauer, an executive analyst at iSeeCars, California’s mild climate and concentration of tech-oriented communities have fueled both EV demand and aggressive infrastructure buildout. Beyond market demand, state policy, such as the California Air Resources Board setting strict emissions rules, has driven the transition.
Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Maryland
Massachusetts is third in the rankings with 539 residents per charger. It is also showing rapid improvement, decreasing its ratio by 16.7% from 647 in 2025. The Boston-Manchester metro area leads the state, showing the fifth most EV-friendly metro status with 571 residents per charger.
Colorado ranks fourth, with 651 residents per charger. The state has seen strong growth, reducing its ratio by 17.5% from 789 in 2025. The Denver metro area is a major contributor to this strength, reporting 569 residents per charger.
Connecticut holds the fifth spot with 677 residents per charger. Its prime location between New York and Boston and the high traffic volume along major corridors like Interstate 95 support the infrastructure. The Hartford and New Haven metro area has 611 residents per charger, making it the sixth most EV-friendly metro area.
Washington is sixth, with 763 residents per charger, and posted the second-largest improvement among states, dropping its ratio by 22.1% from 979 in 2025. The Seattle-Tacoma metro area’s economy, fueled by major technology corporations, contributes to its strong charging infrastructure.
Maine is seventh, with 793 residents per charger. Its high ranking is notable given its large, rural landscape and long, cold winters. The state has leveraged tourism and state programs, like Efficiency Maine, to promote electrification.
New York is eighth, reporting 816 residents per charger. With 24,519 chargers, it holds the second-largest network in the U.S. Despite having a large population, the state’s commitment to EV infrastructure is evident, particularly along major travel corridors like the New York State Thruway.
Oregon ranks ninth, with 894 residents per charger, and 4,781 charging ports. The Willamette Valley, which includes Portland, is the primary concentration of chargers, supporting the state’s ranking. The state also benefited from its early role in building the West Coast Electric Highway.
Maryland completes the top 10 at 981 residents per charger. While its improvement rate was modest, the state benefits from heavy commuter traffic along major corridors like Interstate 95, particularly those connecting the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas.
Bottom 10 Least EV-Friendly States
The bottom rankings are defined by large populations sharing small networks, or by vast rural areas with limited development. The national average ratio of 1,143 serves as a benchmark, which most states in the bottom tier significantly exceed.
Louisiana: The Least EV-Friendly State
Louisiana is ranked last with 4,717 residents per public charger. The state has 979 charging ports, which is fewer than Vermont’s 1,432, even though Louisiana has roughly seven times the population. The infrastructure gap is attributed to the state’s deep reliance on fossil fuels and the concentration of residents in small, rural parishes, making public charging a challenge.
Mississippi: Second-Worst Access
Mississippi ranks second among the least EV-friendly states, with a ratio of 3,541 residents per charger, based on only 834 chargers. The state’s slow improvement rate (6.7% decline from 2025) suggests a lack of rapid development. The combination of a low median household income and a highly rural population contributes to low EV demand and limited public charging needs.
Kentucky: Third Least Accessible
Kentucky is positioned third with 3,270 residents per charger. While the state is a major auto manufacturing hub, the public charging network struggles to keep pace. The rural geography and long distances, particularly in Eastern Kentucky, make building a dense public network difficult. The Louisville metro area, in particular, is noted for having one of the fewest chargers among large U.S. metros.
Alaska, West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Arkansas, and Nebraska
Alaska holds the fourth-worst ranking with 3,254 residents per charger, possessing only 227 ports. Its vast size and extensive road distances, coupled with challenging cold weather, present major hurdles. Only about two in five Alaskans reside in Anchorage, where most charging facilities are located.
West Virginia is fifth among the least accessible, with 2,942 residents per charger. The state’s Appalachian terrain and its identity as a major coal producer contrast with the needs of EV infrastructure, making the development of a dense network costly and complex.
North Dakota is the sixth least EV-friendly state, with 2,776 residents per charger. Notably, it was the only state that registered zero improvement in its charger ratio between 2025 and 2026. Its economy remains heavily reliant on oil and agriculture, and its cold climate is a significant limiting factor.
South Dakota ranks seventh, with 2,710 residents per charger, and has 345 charging ports. The state’s population is spread across open prairie and ranch land, meaning that long distances between towns make charging support difficult for operators.
Indiana is eighth, with 2,623 residents per charger. Despite having more chargers than several top-10 states, its large population of approximately seven million dilutes the accessibility ratio. The Indianapolis metro area contributes significantly to this metric, reporting 2,758 residents per charger.
Arkansas is ninth, at 2,572 residents per charger. The state’s blend of rural farmland and mountain ranges, coupled with the lack of dense infrastructure development outside major highways, makes building a comprehensive public network challenging.
Nebraska ranks tenth among the least EV-friendly states, with 2,398 residents per charger. Although it showed one of the fastest growth rates, the state remains far from the national average. The state’s vast open plains and reliance on cross-country freight traffic underscore the need for continued expansion.
