In the popular imagination, New Jersey has quite the car culture: moms at the wheel of an SUV driving the kids to band practice or tai chi. Dads parking the family’s dinged and dented station car before hopping on an NJ Transit train to work. College students driving to the library for a late-night cram session on STEM.

The only problem with this vision is that it isn’t true. In fact, only 88.7% of New Jersey households own at least one car. That puts it in 48th place out of all states and Washington, D.C. when it comes to car ownership. Only Massachusetts (87.9%), New York State (71%) the District of Columbia (64.3%) turn in more doleful numbers.

It’s not clear how the 11% of New Jerseyans who don’t own a car get around. Uber? Bicycle? Shoe leather? There’s a chance they don’t go out at all but have all their earthly desires met by Amazon and take-out.

If you want to see a state where cars are truly appreciated, turn your eyes to the West: Idaho (96.2%) and Wyoming (96.2%) are tied for the top spot. Utah is just one-tenth of a percent behind them (96.1%).

There’s no reason to let New Jersey languish so near the bottom next time this survey is conducted. Buying an electric vehicle is almost a patriotic duty. That will both help the state’s standing and  move us all a bit closer to the clean-and-green tomorrow we’re always writing about.