The Here-SBD EV Index 2026 finds 53% of US drivers more willing to consider an electric vehicle (EV) than they were twelve months ago. That sits against a falling market: US EV share is 5.37% year-to-date, down nearly 3% on 2025.

Respondents rating public charging availability positively rose from 28% to 47%, and 60% were confident the country can build what adoption requires. The US gained 31,600 public charge points, while total charge power went from 14.1 GW to 20.7 GW, a rise of 47%.

Value for money led reasons for going electric at 31%, with performance and lower running costs on 29% each. Among existing owners, 85% call public charging coverage good or better and 77% would buy another EV.

Delaware, Washington DC, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut top the state rankings, an East Coast lead the report ties to infrastructure, adoption and policy. More than a third of drivers would consider a Chinese EV, though 76% would consider a US automaker.

Robert Fisher, Senior Consulting Manager at SBD Automotive, said: “This year’s EV index shows Americans are becoming more open to the idea of driving an EV and more confident in the infrastructure needed to support them. While EV uptake may be slowing, the findings suggest continued investment in charging infrastructure is starting to translate into greater consumer confidence. Consumer sentiment often leads purchasing behavior, making confidence an important indicator to watch as the market continues to evolve.”

Source: Here