- California charges ahead with 100,000+ public EV chargers, alongside 500,000 at-home stations.
- Approved funding boosts California’s charging network, with over 50% directed to communities impacted by pollution.
- 25% of new car sales in California are zero-emission vehicles, exceeding targets and paving the way for a sustainable future.
California’s electrifying momentum: Surpassing 100,000 public chargers and driving towards a sustainable future
Just last week, Governor Gavin Newsom revealed California’s milestone: over 100,000 public and shared private EV chargers now dot the state. This achievement comes hot on the heels of groundbreaking funding approval for a more robust network, cementing California’s status as the nation’s leader in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
Beyond that, Californians have installed over 500,000 personal at-home chargers, as zero-emission vehicle sales have experienced a surge of over 1,000% in the past decade.
Last year, one in every four new cars sold in California was a zero-emission vehicle. The state also exceeded its targets by selling over 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles and installing 10,000 fast chargers for electric vehicles, all ahead of schedule.
Governor Gavin Newsom said;
“No other state in the nation is doing as much as California to make our tailpipe-free future a reality. With more zero-emission vehicles sold last year than ever before and more than 100,000 public chargers installed, California dominates in this space.”
California’s strides in electric vehicle infrastructure are propelled by a $1.9 billion investment plan, accelerating progress toward charging and hydrogen refuelling goals. At least 50% of this funding is allocated to benefit communities disproportionately affected by pollution, aiming to deploy 250,000 public chargers in the coming years.
Last week, Caltrans initiated a $450,000 Clean California transit project in Blythe, repurposing a littered public space into a transportation hub featuring a solar-powered EV charging station. California also celebrated the inauguration of a truck charging depot and 50 battery electric trucks, backed by $27 million in state funding.
These initiatives are part of the $48 billion California Climate Commitment, with over $10 billion allocated for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure, further bolstered by federal funding from the Biden-Harris Administration.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s bill, signed last year, ensures dedicated funding for ZEV infrastructure through 2035.
To enhance the EV charging experience, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is pioneering state regulations for charger reliability and reporting. New publicly funded infrastructure will adhere to stringent performance standards, with chargers mandated to disclose operational data, empowering drivers to make informed choices.
Looking ahead, California’s EV landscape continues to evolve rapidly since the Governor’s executive order in 2020, aiming for all new car sales to be zero-emission by 2035. With ZEV sales soaring, representing 25% of all new cars sold in California last year and totalling 1,846,874 sales to date, the state remains a frontrunner in the EV market. In fact, if California were a country, it would rank 4th in EV sales behind China, the U.S. and Germany. As the state continues to lead the charge towards a zero-emission future, the prospects for widespread adoption of EVs remain bright, promising a cleaner, greener tomorrow for all Californians.
