In Europe, drivers of electric vehicles can have access to nearly half a million charging stations. Among the countries with the most charging stations are the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, etc. These countries continue to compete to dethrone the European leader. Zoom on this double-edged competition, deliberately pushed by the European Union…
A challenger in pole position
By the end of 2022, some 450,478 charging points had been deployed in Europe, with more than 60% concentrated in the top three. The Netherlands has 111,821 public charging points compared to 83,317 for France, which is still in the fight with Germany’s 82,609 installations. In fourth place, Italy comes out on top with 30,787 charging points, compared with 29,539 for Spain, which is logically in fifth place, but enough to prevent Sweden from being represented in this European top five.
Charging stations in France
France intends to continue defending its second place, as the French Electricity Union points out. In order to stand out from the crowd and overtake Germany, France has set itself the goal of reaching 100,000 charging stations by the end of the month. According to Power2Drive Europe, France is the second most equipped country in Europe in terms of charging infrastructure. France currently has 95,755 charging points throughout the country.
The progression
Today, in France, we have no less than 142 charging stations on average per 100,000 inhabitants. These charging stations are scattered all over the place, but shops are the most common with no less than 37,640 charging stations (about 39%), while businesses account for only 5% with 4,585 stations. On-street charging stations and parking lots have 20,593 and 32,530 charging stations respectively.
Of course, the charging stations are quite diversified, but one could also ask which region is the most served? Unsurprisingly, it’s the Île-de-France region that stands out with almost 17,500 charging points.
Moreover, did you know that 53% of public charging sessions have a power between 7.4 kW and 22 kW and 33% are done at less than 7.4 kW. In other words, fast charging is not yet sufficiently developed on charging stations. This is a problem when you consider that the number of electric vehicles will continue to grow.
Quick loads
Unfortunately, fast charging remains a weak point in France with only 8,220 fast charging points. France is overtaken by Germany, which is in first place with 12,833 fast chargers. To complete the ranking, Spain is in third place with 5,013 charging points, just ahead of Italy, which is in fourth place with 3,295, and finally the Netherlands, with 2,754 fast charging points.
This is a good development, but it does not take into account the European Union’s regulations, which call for a fast charge every 60 kilometers on the main European roads (TEN-T) by 2026. With a distance for trucks and buses that should be a maximum of 120 km, by 2028. This will include the mandatory presence of at least two truck charging stations in parking areas. Provisional agreements concluded with the European Council, but which will certainly be subject to derogations, “granted to the outermost regions, islands and roads with very low traffic” …
