Charging stations

The roll-out of charging infrastructure needs to speed up in the coming decade to enable drivers to seamlessly charge the growing number of electric cars on the road.

Latest publications

Up to 2020, there will be enough EV chargers for the expected number of plug-in cars on EU roads according to the reports from member states. But the roll-out needs to speed up in the coming decade to enable drivers to seamlessly charge the growing number of electric cars on the road. 

Availability today

By the end of 2020, there were 225,000 public charging points across the EU. More than 60,000 new charging points were installed in 2020, expanding the network by 37%. This is in line with the Commission guidelines of having one charger per 10 vehicles.  In reality only 5% of recharging happens at public sites so the current volumes are sufficient to kickstart the market. Fast charging accounts for a growing share of the public charging (now 11% of the public chargers) and around 1,000 ultra-fast (150-350 kW) charging sites have been planned for 2020 – or one site every 34 km on average on the strategic EU road network. Such network will allow drivers to charge up the equivalent of  400 km driving in just 15 minutes.

Smart charging

It is crucial to roll-out strategically located, smart and interoperable infrastructure. Smart charging at home and workplace is a priority as most charging will happen there. Rolling-out fast charging hubs across all EU roads and outside cities to allow charging for top-ups and shared fleets is also important. Commercial property, fuel stations, park & ride schemes, shops, hotels, for example, should all provide charging solutions. It should be as easy for a driver to charge their EV as it is to fill up their tank today, with transparent pricing and seamless payment solutions. 

 

Relevant publications

Read the publications about charging stations