The U.S. electric vehicle market is entering the early stages of widespread adoption, but significant gaps in charging infrastructure and strong consumer resistance are slowing momentum, according to a new report released by HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive. The third annual HERE-SBD EV Index reveals that while the nation’s charging network is growing, its development is uneven and far behind expectations.
The comprehensive report ranks all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., on EV infrastructure maturity. The analysis, which uses proprietary data from HERE and other industry sources, found that the U.S. added 37,000 charging points between June 2024 and June 2025. That’s a 19 percent increase from last year. However, this growth has slowed compared to the previous year, when the country saw a 32 percent increase in charge points.
A new consumer survey included in this year’s report highlights a major hurdle for the U.S. market: driver sentiment. Among the countries surveyed, which included the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, U.S. drivers showed the most resistance to adoption. A striking 57 percent of U.S. respondents said they are likely to purchase a gasoline-powered car for their next vehicle, compared to just 25 percent in Europe.
East Coast Dominates EV Rankings
The 2025 index shows an exceptionally strong concentration of EV infrastructure along the East Coast. Delaware and Washington, D.C., retained their top two spots from last year, while New Jersey and New York entered the top five, displacing Nevada and Connecticut.
The East Coast’s prominence can be partly attributed to the region’s dense populations, established transportation corridors, and more aggressive state-level policy support for electrification. Proximity to key urban centers and interstate highways has facilitated both consumer adoption and infrastructure investment. States like New Jersey and New York leveraged these advantages fueled by a surge in charger installation and an increasingly interconnected regional charging network.
However, even top-ranked states face challenges. Washington, D.C., which excels in charger density with nearly one public charger per mile, ranks last in average charger power at just 21 kW. That’s a third of the national average. This highlights a growing focus on not just the number of chargers, but their speed and efficiency. Many regions also struggle to provide consistent infrastructure in more rural or suburban areas, further underscoring geographic disparities.
Several states made notable progress, including Kentucky, which went from 45th to 28th place after a major increase in average charging power. New Mexico improved 19 spots to 15th after adding 300 new charge points. It wasn’t all good news, though. West Virginia saw a steep drop in rank, and Delaware, while holding onto the top spot, suffered declines in average charge power and charger ratio.
Infrastructure Growth vs. Consumer Perception
The report underscores a critical disconnect between infrastructure deployment and consumer perception. More than half (53%) of U.S. drivers cited the perceived lack of access to charging as the top barrier to EV adoption. This sentiment persists despite the addition of thousands of new chargers every year.
Recent findings emphasize that real and perceived infrastructure gaps can stall even the most ambitious deployment programs. For example, the roll-out of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program—a federal initiative aimed at accelerating the buildout of fast-charging networks—suffered a six-month freeze and uneven implementation across states. These interruptions contributed to fragmented growth, leaving some areas with impressive infrastructure gains and others struggling to make progress. The report notes that federal and state coordination, as well as partnership with private sector stakeholders, will be crucial in aligning charging availability with actual consumer needs.
Further complicating the issue is a lack of consumer education. A staggering 75 percent of U.S. survey respondents reported receiving no information about EVs from their car dealer. This gap in awareness is further amplified in states with less developed infrastructure, hindering potential buyers who may already be wary due to concerns over charging access or range anxiety.
“The third edition of the EV Index shows how consumer views and policy decisions continue to shape the global EV and infrastructure landscape,” said Robert Fisher, Electrification and Sustainability Principal at SBD Automotive. “The findings also make clear that current efforts are not sufficient to meet most regional electrification ambitions, underscoring the need for stronger policies and more proactive product strategies.”
A Call for Balanced Growth
This year’s index introduced a “balance score” to measure consistency across four key metrics: charger density, charger power, EV fleet share, and the ratio of chargers to EVs. States with high balance scores, like Alaska, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, are positioned for more sustainable, long-term growth, even if they are not highly ranked today.
The balance score highlights that excelling in just one metric, such as charger volume, is not enough to build a mature and reliable EV ecosystem. For true scalability and a robust charging network, consistent performance across all metrics is essential. The report notes that more balanced states may become future leaders as the market continues to mature, with their solid foundation supporting growing EV adoption and adapting more easily to shifts in technology or policy requirements.
The analysis also reveals that most of the country is failing to meet its optimal charger-to-EV ratio. For a market like the U.S., an ideal ratio is 9-10 EVs per public charger. However, only Washington, D.C., Vermont, and Wyoming currently meet their state-specific targets. This unevenness points to a fragmented market where infrastructure is not always aligned with demand, particularly in rapidly growing or underserved markets.
“This year’s EV Index highlights where infrastructure is falling short of consumer expectations and where coordinated action is most needed,” said Chris Handley, Vice President of Product Management at HERE Technologies. “We look forward to working with our partners across the automotive industry, charge point operators and technology providers to deliver the data and location intelligence needed to ensure EV drivers can accurately find public charging stations, understand optimal times to charge, and overcome the access barriers identified in our survey.”
Related Stories: