These 10 states have the most EVs in 2026. Is Yours Among Them?
As consumers grapple with rising gas prices and the loss of the $7,500 US tax credit for hybrid and hybrid models, 31 states and Washington, DC saw a drop in the number of electric vehicle registrations. But 10 states still have EV registration rates above 10 percent, according to new data released by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
The Alliance, which lobbies in Washington for nearly every major automaker including General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen, in its Get Connected quarterly report said EVs will represent 9.6% of US vehicle sales by 2025, down 0.6% from 2024 levels. Three months after the federal tax credit ended, EV sales represented just 6.5% of US auto sales, which was up from 10% from the same period in 2024, when drivers could still access the $7,500 credit.
“As the industry evolves into this new phase, the year 2026 will be a period of restructuring,” the group said in a recent report. “Demand patterns are normalizing, manufacturers are adjusting production strategies and prices, and the market is responding to changing policy and economic conditions.”
The finding came as the average price of gas reached $3.99 on March 30, according to the AAA Auto Club. That’s up from a national gas price of $2.98 on February 28. It also comes as data from Carmax shows that searches for electric vehicles and hybrids on its platforms rose 12.8 percent between March 2 and March 22 compared to February 1 to March 1.
The USA TODAY Cars team looked at the regions with the highest EV adoption rates through 2026.
1. California
2025 EV Percentage: 23.9%
Change in 2024: -2.29%
What they’re saying: The California Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “as California’s state highway system manager, Caltrans plays a critical and unique role in the state’s efforts to increase zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on California roads.
2. Colorado
2025 EV Percentage: 19.9%
Change in 2024: -2.74%
What they’re saying: The Colorado Department of Transportation says on its website that it expects to receive $57 million from the federal government to build an EV charging network across the state.
3. Washington, DC
2025 EV Percentage: 19%
Change in 2024: -0.92%
What they said: The Washington, DC Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “sustainability is a priority for the District, and the transition to electric vehicles is consistent with many of the District’s existing sustainability goals and plans toward electrification to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the District as the city seeks to be neutral and climate resilient by 2050.”
4. Washington
2025 EV Percentage: 19%
Change in 2024: -2.02%
What they said: The Washington Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “rapid adoption of electric vehicles is critical to reducing transportation emissions and advancing the state’s emissions reduction goals.”
5. Nevada
2025 EV Percentage: 16.2%
Change from 2024: 1.18%
What they’re saying: The Nevada Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that it plans to spend $38 million in state money on EV chargers.
6. Oregon
2025 EV Percentage: 15.5%
Change in 2024: -0.54%
What they said: The Oregon Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “electrifying our transportation system is an important strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving Oregon toward a cleaner future.”
7. New Jersey
2025 EV Percentage: 12.2%
Change in 2024: -1.82%
What they said: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says on its website that “in New Jersey, transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas pollution.” The 2023 ozone inventory shows that cars and trucks account for about 21% of the human-made VOC and nitrogen oxides in the air that contribute to ozone formation during the summer months. electricity improves New Jersey’s air quality and helps slow climate change.”
8. In Hawaii
2025 EV Percentage: 10.8%
Change in 2024: -2.86%
What they’re saying: Hawaii says this in a post on its website after implementing a road use charge that covers gas and electric motorists “as more drivers in Hawaiʻi choose fuel-efficient, hybrid, or all-electric vehicles, revenues from motor vehicle fuel taxes and other vehicle registration fees have decreased, resulting in less funding to maintain Hawaii’s infrastructure of bridges, bridges and roads.”
9. Massachusetts
2025 EV Percentage: 10.6%
Change in 2024: -1.73%
What they said: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “de-energizing the transportation sector through electrification of vehicles is critical to mitigating the worst impacts of climate change while building a clean, affordable and sustainable transportation future in Massachusetts.”
10. Connecticut
2025 EV Percentage: 10.4%
Change in 2024: -1.06%
What they’re saying: The Connecticut Department of Transportation says in a post on its website that “widespread EV deployment is among the key solutions to achieving the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals of 45 percent and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2030 and 2050, respectively.”
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: These 10 states have the most EVs in 2026. Is yours among them?
Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
