According to the IEA, the number of public EV chargers globally doubled since 2022, reaching over 5 million in 2024.
Despite home charging being the preferred method, expanding public charging infrastructure is crucial for mass EV adoption, especially for those without home chargers.
In 2024, over 1.3 million public chargers were added, a 30 percent increase from the previous year, and roughly equal to the total number of chargers available in 2020. China led this growth, accounting for two-thirds of the new installations and now holding 65 percent of the global charging infrastructure and 60 percent of electric light-duty vehicles.
Europe
In 2024, the number of public EV charging points in Europe increased by over 35 percent, surpassing 1 million chargers, with notable differences across countries based on EV adoption and infrastructure development. The Netherlands led with over 180,000 public chargers, followed by Germany (160,000) and France (155,000). Austria added 8,000 chargers, driven by a subsidy program that ended in early 2025.
The European Union’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) is expected to further accelerate charger installation, mandating fast-charging stations every 60 km along core road networks by 2025, with minimum power output requirements rising from 400 kW to 600 kW by 2027. Additionally, the EU’s revised Energy Performance in Buildings Directive aims to facilitate private charger installation through pre-cabling requirements.
United States
In 2024, the United States increased its public charging infrastructure by 20 percent to nearly 200,000 chargers, supported by the National EV Infrastructure Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, only $30 million of the allocated $5 billion had been spent by the end of 2024, and in January 2025, Executive Order 14154 paused further disbursements for a policy review, creating uncertainty about future funding.
India
In India, around 40,000 new public chargers were added in 2024, backed by a $240 million allocation under the PM EDRIVE scheme targeting urban and high-traffic areas. However, a new EV policy limiting tariff relief for charging infrastructure investments may affect automakers’ charging network expansion plans.
Brazil
Brazil’s public EV charging infrastructure grew rapidly, reaching over 12,000 chargers by December 2024. Colombia and Mexico also saw significant expansions, with charger stocks rising by 60 percent and 20 percent respectively since 2022.
Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam collectively installed over 24,000 chargers, a ninefold increase since 2022.
China and the EU maintained steady charger deployment relative to EV numbers, with China having 1 charger per 10 EVs and the EU averaging 1 per 13 EVs. In China, dense urban areas rely heavily on public charging, with the top 15 cities holding over 50 percent of the nation’s chargers, compared to 25 percent in Europe.
GreentechLead.com News Desk