Best Electric Car Friendly States Explored | Your Guide [2024]

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Want to venture into the unknown by investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle? Grab your green tea and let’s discuss the best EV friendly states in the US.

EVs currently only make up 1% of passenger vehicles in the US. Knowing where the most electric car friendly states are continues to grow in importance.

We all know that EVs are better for our planet. Diesel or petrol engines pump more greenhouse gasses into the air. Getting to know the states with electric car incentives—and what they offer potential EV owners—will help you decide if buying one in your state is right for you, or not.

Electric vehicles were set to take over from fossil fuel cars. That has been the prediction ever since William Morrison built the first electric car in the United States in 1890. These days, they are fast becoming a common sight on our roads… So does this mean you should get one?

We have compiled an article that features some of the best and worst states to own an electric car. We also offer loads of other interesting facts about the future of EVs in the USA!

Electric Car Friendly States | Which Ones are the Best?

When you compare a map of electric car charging stations in the United States from 10 years ago to the national vehicle charging network of today, it is evident that there has been an uptrend. Research also shows that states that offer electric car incentives have more chargers and a better network compared to those that don’t. A case in point is California. The state practically has the same amount of charging points as in the 38 states with the least stations, combined.

When you want to ship your EV to or from any of the electric car tax credit states, Nationwide Auto Transportation can offer you a Free Quote for California car shipping. You can choose between enclosed or open shipping for your car, boat, motorbike and even your RV.

Nationwide Auto Transportation have routes that cover practically the entire country, including:

• St Louis MO to Los Angeles
• St Louis MO to Washington DC
• Kansas City MO to San Francisco CA

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How Many EV Charging Stations in the US?

As of 2024, the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States has seen significant growth and development. Here are the key updates and facts:

Charging Station Numbers

The U.S. currently has a rapidly expanding network of EV charging stations. As of the end of 2023, there were over 56,000 charging stations with approximately 148,000 charging ports across the country​​. The growth rate of EV stations and ports has been notable, especially between 2020 and 2021, where the number of stations grew by more than 55%​​.

Types of Chargers: The majority of these charging ports are Level 2 chargers. There are also a significant number of Direct Current (DC) fast charging ports, which are the fastest growing type of port. These fast chargers can add 100 to 200 miles of range per 30 minutes of charging​​.

Expansion Plans:

Under President Biden’s administration, a substantial investment is being made to expand the EV charging network. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $7.5 billion towards building a national network of EV chargers. The goal is to establish at least 500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030​​​​.

State-by-State Variation: There’s a significant variation in EV charging infrastructure among states. For example, California leads the nation with the largest number of EV charging stations, whereas states like North Dakota and Wyoming have a higher ratio of charging ports per 100 registered EVs due to fewer EVs being registered there​​​​.

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Challenges and Future Goals:

Despite the growth, there are challenges in keeping up with the rapidly growing demand for EVs, especially in terms of charging infrastructure. To support the anticipated number of EVs by 2030, the U.S. will require a substantial increase in the number of charging ports. According to estimates, the U.S. would need 27,500 DC fast and 601,000 Level 2 public and workplace charging ports to support 15 million EVs by 2030​​.

EV Adoption and Incentives: The U.S. EV market is growing, with EV and hybrid sales making up 18% of U.S. light-duty vehicle sales as of the third quarter of 2023. The Inflation Reduction Act and other government policies have been incentivizing EV purchases and manufacturing, contributing to this growth​​.

Leading States in EV Adoption: States like Oregon, New Jersey, and Arizona are making significant strides in expanding their charging infrastructure. Oregon, for instance, has 2,472 charging ports for its 62,532 registered EVs​​.

Private Sector Involvement: The market for EV charging stations is controlled by about 30 private companies, with the largest networks being operated by companies like ChargePoint, Tesla, and SemaConnect Network​​.

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Electric Vehicles | The Benefits and Considerations

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that EVs lowers fuel costs, reduces emissions and improves fuel economy. Because of 0% tailpipe emissions, EVs not only lowers air pollution locally. Additionally, it reduces damaging pollutants, hydrocarbons, ozone, lead, carbon monoxide and a host of other volatile organic mixtures.

Nationwide Auto Transportation Fact: Taking into account electricity production for charging, EVs still have a smaller carbon footprint than fossil-fuel engines.

Countries all over the globe are tackling climate change and global warming, which increases political tension and conflict. I can already hear you say, “How does this affect me?” To put it simply, with each conventional car that gets replaced by an electric vehicle, the Earth breathes a bit easier, and tension gets slightly relieved.

To ensure that the generations to come have air to breathe, and a planet to live on, certain governments are putting tax rebates and incentives in place. These rebates encourage car users to consider buying an electric type vehicle instead of a gas or diesel powered vehicle.

As more states join the federal government’s support towards EV use, they continue to implement incentives and rebates that are aimed at dramatically increasing the adoption rates in the United States for electric vehicles. But what will happen when they are successful? Is our country ready for a mass increase in electric vehicles? 

In the next section I unravel a little regarding the laws and plans for sustainable EV car friendly cities. However, it helps to put you in the picture when you have a better idea of where our electricity comes from.

How is Electricity Produced in the United States?

In 2021, more than 60% of America’s electricity was generated using fossil fuels like petroleum. But how else do we build up energy reserves, and what other processes are there?

• Natural gas
• Coal
• Nuclear energy
• Wind energy
• Hydropower
• Solar energy

The move from fossil-fuel to EVs has been on the cards for a while now, and with lower production costs, improved technology, and the overall buy-in from all the major stakeholders, the momentum towards zero emissions is building fast. But are U.S. cities ready for electric vehicles en-masse?

EV Friendly States and Cities of the Future

Electric vehicles are a way cities and states can manage greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution produced by cars and the transport industry. To become one of the top EV friendly cities, the metro infrastructure needs to be adapted and reconstructed so that cities can replace all remaining fossil fuel vehicles. This should include private as well as municipal, state, and federal, with electric vehicles.

In 2012 the introductory EV City Casebook, that explores electric vehicle charging infrastructure guidelines for cities, was released. Since then the world has seen a significant change towards more EV friendly cities and how they should be built. As costs decrease, and technological advancements in EV and EV charging equipment increases, the transition to autonomous electric vehicle cities are becoming increasingly feasible.

Besides Norway—which is miles ahead of any other country in EV infrastructure and transitioning—international EV friendly cities like Amsterdam and Shenzhen, are setting the standards to follow.

Even though EVs do not produce any tailpipe emissions, big data analytics for electric vehicle integration in green smart cities show that they still contribute in smaller amounts. This is contradicted when they are not powered by a renewable energy source. Looking forward this means that city planners should look at exactly where they want to place EVs within the larger city transportation network. 

Nationwide Auto Transportation Fact: Oslo has instituted clean construction projects since 2019 with zero-emission construction sites, all with the necessary charging infrastructure.

What States Have an Electric Car Tax Incentive?

How many states offer tax incentives for purchasing an EV? Besides Guam, and four other territories, the District of Columbia and 45 other states all offer some kind of incentive to purchase approved PHEVs and electric vehicles. These vary from fleet acquisition goals, emission testing exemptions, and utility rate reductions, to rebates and tax credits.

See a complete list of all states with electric car tax credits and then get ready to see the states with the best electric car tax credits.

Having said that, there are states that may give you big money for buying an electric car. California is leading the U.S. states for private and public electric vehicle charging stations and charging outlets and their availability, while Maryland leads the states with the best financial incentives for buying an EV.

EXPERT TIP: You also want to consider whether you can tow using an EV, if that’s something you need to do.

8 EV Friendly States

The EV revolution is in full swing, and most of the states have joined in the federal government’s enthusiasm to make the U.S.A. and all the states, fully electric vehicle friendly. So how do you rate a city’s EV friendliness? 

When we set the criteria to score the best and worst states to own an electric car we took into account the following factors and figures:

With this in mind, we have compiled a list of electric friendly car states, and as a group we identify where the states with electric car incentives are situated on the country’s map.

The Best Electric Car Friendly States for Special Incentives

We have already informed you of the federal tax credit that can be claimed on certain EVs up to $7,500. Here are the EV friendly states that offer you even more.

1. Colorado: Purchase tax credit of $5,000 and $2,500 for lease
2. California: Income dependent $2,500 to $4,500 rebate
3. Connecticut: Rebate of $3,000
4. Maryland: Excise tax credit of $3,000
5. Massachusetts: Max $2,500 rebate
6. Delaware: Max $2,200 rebate
7. New York: Max $2,000 rebate
8. Louisiana: Max $1,500 income tax credit

Best States in Which to Own an Electric Car

When you look at a map of electric car charging stations in the United States, you may not agree that Oklahoma should be on top of the best electric car friendly states. That is until you look at all the criteria that was mentioned earlier on and learn that the cost of electricity in the state is amongst the lowest countrywide… and that there are more charging stations per person than many other states.

1. Oklahoma
2. California
3. Washington
4. South Dakota
5. Colorado
6. Oregon
7. Vermont
8. Maryland

What Are the Worst States in Which to Own an EV?

When you measure all the different factors that make a electric car friendly state, there are a few that fall short:

1. Alaska
2. Alabama
3. Louisiana
4. New Jersey
5. Wisconsin

Auto Shipping to Electric Car Friendly States

What do you do when you need to ship your electric car to any of the most EV friendly states? With more than 16 years of car shipping experience, Nationwide Auto Transportation will safely and securely deliver your EV to your doorstep.

Call Nationwide today to learn more about how to ship your car to the best and worst states to own an electric car. They are all charged up and ready to assist.

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