Electric vehicle charging growth in the US

The American electric vehicle charging network is growing, but it still has fewer charging stations per vehicle than China or the European Union.

Differences in coverage and performance

For drivers, the difference between regions is not just the number of stations but also the coverage of the area, the power available, and the reliability of the equipment.

China's rapid expansion

China is making significant progress in its electric vehicle goals. With competitively priced cars, it has deployed charging stations at a scale unmatched by its competitors. In 2024, it installed 400,000 fast and ultra-fast charging points, far more than the European Union and the United States.

China's current charging infrastructure

By the end of 2025, China had over 2.2 million public fast and ultra-fast charging points, with a total public network exceeding 4.7 million points of all powers combined, according to the International Energy Agency.

Comparing charging points to vehicles

When comparing the number of public charging points to the number of electric vehicles, China has about one point for every ten vehicles, while the European Union has one for every eleven and the United States has one for every thirty-three.

Power capacity per vehicle

The power available per vehicle shows China's advantage. The IEA estimates that the public capacity available per vehicle is nearly 6 kW in China, about 3 kW in the EU, and a little more than 1.5 kW in the United States.

Home charging in the US

American drivers often have more access to home charging, which affects their reliance on public stations. This is different from drivers in apartments without charging outlets in their parking lots.

China's future charging goals

Chinese authorities plan to have more than 100,000 high-power charging stations by the end of 2027, each capable of delivering at least 250 kW. The plan includes high availability and public oversight of the installations.

European charging regulations

In the European Union, the AFIR regulation requires charging stations every 60 kilometers on the central trans-European road network. These stations must have a combined power of at least 400 kW and a 150 kW point by the end of 2025.

Challenges with station availability

Even with many stations installed, availability can be an issue. An equipment may appear online but still have payment problems preventing a charging session from starting.

Need for better performance metrics

To evaluate a charging network effectively, it's necessary to consider not just the number of stations but also the success of charging sessions, the actual power delivered, and the speed of repairs. Drivers need a free, compatible station that can accept their payment.