Arkansas lags in EV readiness
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Arkansas is near the bottom of the pack for EV charging and readiness, even as public charging expands nationwide.
Why it matters: While U.S. public charging options grew 13% since last year, that growth hasn't been evenly distributed, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive's annual ranking.
Zoom in: Arkansas ranks No. 48 in number of public EV chargers vs. miles of roads — 11 chargers per 1,000 miles — and No. 49 in terms of EV readiness, which is based on number of registered EVs, public chargers, the chargers' availability and average power.
Zoom out: Alaska vaulted from the bottom of 2025's HERE-SBD rankings to 25th this year by adding 60% more chargers and, in turn, raising the average power.
- New Jersey has the most chargers (626) per 1,000 miles of road.
- North Dakota has the fewest, at three per 1,000 miles.
The fine print: HERE and SBD rank each state based on the number of registered EVs, public chargers and the chargers' availability and average power.
High gas prices rev up EV interest
Nationally, 56% of drivers say gas prices have raised their interest in EVs, according to HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive's annual survey.
- As gas prices remain high, drivers increasingly see EVs as a way to save money.
Charging availability is becoming less of a deterrent, too.
- 47% of drivers — up from 28% in 2025 — say there's a good number of public chargers; 85% of EV owners agree.
Yes, but: Higher purchase prices are holding back two of every five EV buyers, according to the survey. Kelley Blue Book says Americans paid $56,126 for a new EVs in July — $6,200 more than the average car.
Once drivers go electric, most don't want to go back.
- According to the survey, 77% of EV owners say they'd likely replace their EV with another.
Zoom in: The number of EVs registered in Arkansas was up 42% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recently reported from Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration data.
- The rate was 35.5% from 2024 to 2025.
The bottom line: Of the 2.89 million vehicles registered in Arkansas, 13,272 are EVs, with Benton County leading with 3,675, then Pulaski County (2,493) and Washington County (1,699).
Go deeper: 2026 Here-SBD EV index