- The states with the most electric vehicle incentives are primarily on the west coast
- The states with the most electric vehicle incentives also have high EV adoption
- Some of the worst places to drive an EV are in the south
Widespread electric vehicle adoption is still a few years out, but some states have more to offer than others. The states with the most electric vehicle incentives also have plenty of EV chargers to keep drivers moving. Between 2014 and 2019, electric car sales increased by 174.8%, and many drivers cited fuel costs as a significant reason for the switch.
The states with the most electric vehicle incentives are primarily on the west coast
An electric vehicle charges at a mall parking lot in Corte Madera, California | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
According to a recent study by SmartAsset, the county’s west coast has the best states with the most electric vehicle incentives. The top five states include California, Washington, D.C., Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. California is the best state and has the most EV registrations (3.05%).
One of the primary reasons for this include incentives to own an electric vehicle and the fact that there are 35 charging stations for every 1,000 miles of road. Plus, owners can save around $2,200 on fuel costs annually compared to an electric car.
The next best place is Washington, D.C., thanks to the area’s high concentration of electric vehicle charging stations. D.C. has 73 charging stations for every 1,000 miles of road. Plus, the area doesn’t charge owners for having an electric car, which offers savings over other regions. Drivers save around $2,100 annually over paying for gasoline.
The states with the most electric vehicle incentives also have high EV adoption
There are six western states in the top 10, thanks to various savings and incentives. These six options have an annual savings of $2,100 over gasoline, which doesn’t consider the recent gas price spike. These other states include Arizona, Maryland, Utah, New Jersey, and Delaware.
In these top 10 states with the most electric vehicle incentives, EVs are three times more prevalent over the bottom 10 states. There is also an average of 17 electric vehicle charging stations per 1,000 miles of road. In the bottom 19, that figure is only five chargers per every 1,000 miles. For those who opt for an EV, the average fuel cost savings are $1,850 across all 50 states.
Some states support the idea of electric cars and therefore have higher EV adoption. The following states are the worst areas to own an electric vehicle, thanks to a lack of incentives and chargers to support ownership.
Some of the worst places to drive an EV are in the south
The worst states in America to own an EV are Kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas, and Alabama. These states have low EV adoption rates (under 0.68%) and have under six charging stations per 1,000 miles of road. Georgia offers four electric car incentives, the most out of the bottom five. Arkansas and Kansas only offer one incentive for buyers.
SmartAsset used a variety of sources to rank these states. The Federal Highway Administration and Department of Energy provided the percentage of EV owners. The Department of Energy had the stats for EV charging stations per 1,000 miles, plus the number of charging points and incentives. For the annual state fees, the National Conference of State Legislatures gathered this data.
In conclusion, the west coast has the states with the most electric vehicle incentives. The south is slow to get behind the movement, but that will probably continue to shift in the next two to three years.
Keyword: U.S. States With The Most Electric Vehicle Incentives And Savings