Oregon ranks 22nd for EV charging access
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Oregonians are increasingly embracing electric vehicles, but the state's public charging network is still catching up.
The big picture: 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.
By the numbers: Oregon ranks No. 22 nationally for EV charging access, with 55 public chargers for every 1,000 miles of road.
- Meanwhile, more than 137,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in Oregon as of February, including more than 36,500 in Multnomah County, according to state figures.
- HERE and SBD rank each state based on the number of registered EVs, public chargers and the chargers' availability and average power.
State of play: Oregon's charging network is growing. The state has just over 4,250 charging ports as of June, per ODOT, with another 1,300 in the works.
- The state also expects to build or upgrade about 50 fast-charging stations along major highways thanks to $52 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
- Twenty-four of those — totaling 126 charging ports along I-84 and highways 20, 26, 97 and 101 — are expected to start coming online next year.
Yes, but: ODOT estimates the state will need more than 17,000 public charging ports by 2030 to keep up with rapid adoption and demand.
- For example, Oregon's popular EV rebate program — where qualifying buyers can get up to $7,500 for a new electric vehicle — has repeatedly burned through its available funding.
- Officials expect this year's incentives to last only a little more than two months.
Go deeper: 2026 Here-SBD EV index