- Europe reached one million EV charge points in February 2024, but installations remain uneven across the continent.
- The rollout has been slow, with only 150,000 new stations added in 2023 and uneven distribution.
- A faster expansion is urgently needed, as the demand for EVs rises and more charging points are required.
Europe hits one million EV charge points, but are we moving fast enough?
In February 2024, Europe achieved a significant milestone: one million EV charge points across the continent. This is a major achievement in the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure rollout. However, the question remains: Is this enough to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles and help Europe meet its ambitious climate goals?
Where are the charging points?
The distribution of electric vehicle charging stations has been uneven across Europe. As of 2024, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy have the highest number of EV charging points, with the Netherlands leading the way with over 144,000 stations.
However, charging points in Europe are not equally distributed. Smaller countries like Malta, Cyprus, and Latvia have far fewer stations, making it difficult for EV owners in these regions to find charging locations. For example, Latvia, with around 1,045 charging stations, has just over 6,800 EVs.
Nearly 61% of all EV charge points in Europe are concentrated in just three countries. This shows that EV infrastructure is still lacking in many parts of Europe, particularly in rural areas and smaller nations.
The speed of the EV charging rollout
Despite the milestone of one million charge points, the pace of installation has been slower than expected. In 2023, only 150,000 new charging points were installed across the EU – a rate of less than 3,000 per week. To meet future targets, EV infrastructure needs to grow much faster. In fact, the European Commission has set a goal of installing 3.5 million charging points by 2030.
To make EVs a truly viable option for the masses, Europe needs far more charging infrastructure – and it needs it faster. As the adoption of electric vehicles increases – the EU forecasts that BEVs will account for 30% of the market by the end of 2025 and 70% by 2030 – the demand for charging stations will rise rapidly. If the pace of charging point installation doesn’t accelerate significantly, the existing infrastructure will quickly become inadequate.
What needs to happen next?
To ensure that Europe’s electric vehicle transition is successful, there is an urgent need for faster investment in charging networks. A key focus should be expanding coverage to areas that currently lack sufficient infrastructure, such as smaller countries, rural locations, and along motorways where long-distance travel is a concern for EV drivers.
Fast-charging stations, particularly along highways, are vital for reducing range anxiety and enabling longer journeys. Additionally, ensuring interoperability between different charging networks is essential to allow drivers to access multiple charging stations seamlessly.
Max Reznichenko, Partner for Emobility Practice at Codibly, posited:
“The future of eMobility depends on the synergy between hardware and software – only by connecting infrastructure, platforms, and user-friendly applications can we create a truly accessible and scalable charging ecosystem.”
Finally, Europe needs a coordinated push to increase the installation rate of charging points, with a focus on reaching 2030’s target. This will require investment from both public and private sectors, along with policy support from governments to drive the rollout of infrastructure at an accelerated pace.
To achieve mass-market EV adoption and meet climate targets, the pace of charging point installation must increase substantially. With the right investment, planning, and coordination, Europe can build the infrastructure needed for a successful EV transition. As always, the time for action is now.
