These states are the best for EV buyers and drivers

With federal tax credits for electric vehicles gone and charger buildout moving slowly, states are increasingly setting their own course on EVs. A new analysis from the Brookings Institution scores states on how ready they are for electric vehicles, looking at things like purchase incentives, charging networks, and registration fees. California and Massachusetts tied for the top spot, each earning 11 out of 13 possible points.

Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut stand out for offering three big perks to EV buyers: purchase rebates or tax credits, extras like toll credits or parking benefits, and no annual EV registration fee. Massachusetts and New York also lead on charging, with strong public charging networks, rebates for installing home chargers, and special utility rates for EV charging. No state is perfect, though. Massachusetts doesn't allow EV manufacturers to service vehicles there and has no real plan for expanding charging infrastructure, while California's annual EV registration fee and lack of special charging utility rates count against it.

At the other end, six states — Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Ohio, Nebraska, and South Dakota — have no EV-friendly policies at all, according to Brookings, and 19 more have only a handful. If you're weighing an EV purchase or a home charger, it's worth checking what your own state offers, since incentives, rebates, and charging perks vary widely depending on where you live.