Charging infrastructure has far outpaced EV sales in all but one EU country – analysis
Only Malta falls short on the EU’s fleet-based target for public charging.
All but one EU country are meeting the bloc’s targets for EV charging infrastructure to keep pace with the number of EVs on the road, new research shows. The analysis by T&E also finds that most of the EU meets its goals for fast chargers to be located every 60 km along main roads. T&E said the network expanded in advance of strong electric car sales growth in 2025 and 2026, showing the charging targets are enabling the EV transition as intended.
Fleet-based targets
There were 1.1 million public chargers in the EU by the end of last year, five times more than in 2020. The bloc’s charging infrastructure law, AFIR, requires member states to have at least 1.3 kW of public charging capacity for every battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the national fleet. By the end of March 2026, all countries except Malta had enough public charging capacity for the number of BEVs on the road. When all national targets are aggregated, the EU as a whole would exceed the fleet-based target by 180%.
Distance-based targets
The AFIR law also requires DC fast chargers (150 kW or more) to be installed every 60 km along the EU’s main roads, known as the TEN-T Core and Comprehensive networks, by 2025. In June 2026, 79% of the Core network – mainly consisting of national motorways – had met the bloc’s 2025 target for ultra-fast chargers, the analysis finds. Most remaining gaps in coverage are in Eastern EU countries and Spain, but the report finds that these also have the fastest growing networks of ultra fast chargers. For the Comprehensive network – regional motorways and primary roads – 20 out of 27 EU countries have already achieved their 2027 target 18 months ahead of the deadline.
T&E said that upgrading or installing just 70 charging stations in strategic places could quickly bring the EU’s compliance with the distance-based target to 90%: 22 in Spain, 11 in Poland, and 7 in Romania.
Lucien Mathieu, Cars Director at T&E, said: “Today EV drivers do not have far to go for a public charger. The charging targets are working as intended and have enabled huge growth in the EV market. However, there are still challenges to be overcome in charging’s ease of use, and a lack of price transparency. These will be crucial to make EVs more attractive for all drivers, especially those who live in apartment buildings and rely on public chargers."
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