Global EV charging infrastructure investment is accelerating in 2026, with major projects targeting ultra-fast charging, electric trucks, retail destinations, urban hubs and battery-swapping networks across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Indonesia.
The latest projects show a shift from simply increasing charger numbers toward higher charging speeds and infrastructure designed around specific locations and vehicle categories. Charging capacities now extend to 120 kW, 240 kW and 400 kW, while government funding is helping accelerate large-scale deployment.
India Approves 6,562 EV Chargers with INR 689 Crore Outlay
India is emerging as a major market for publicly supported EV charging infrastructure.
The India Ministry of Heavy Industries has approved ₹689 crore for 6,562 EV chargers across nine states and three oil marketing companies as of June 30, 2026. It also confirms ₹2,000 crore is allocated for public fast-charging infrastructure under PM E-DRIVE.
As per information available in May 2026, the Ministry of Heavy Industries approved projects covering 4,874 EV chargers with a financial outlay of INR 503.86 crore.
The projects cover Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, along with public-sector companies including HPCL, IOCL and BPCL. The charging infrastructure will support electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars, buses and trucks.
Karnataka alone received approval for 1,243 EV chargers, backed by INR 123.26 crore under the PM E-DRIVE scheme. The statewide rollout is expected to strengthen charging availability in one of India’s largest technology and automotive markets.
Kerala Plans 315 High-Capacity EV Chargers
Kerala State Electricity Board submitted a Phase II PM E-DRIVE proposal covering 315 high-capacity EV chargers across 277 locations, seeking INR 60 crore in subsidy support.
The proposed network includes 245 chargers rated at 120 kW, 43 chargers at 240 kW and 27 chargers at 60 kW. The project remained at the proposal stage when announced in July 2026, with private charge-point operators and landowners expected to participate in implementation.
Bihar is also expanding its EV infrastructure ambitions, beginning site surveys for 129 proposed charging stations across 23 districts in 2026. The project remained at the feasibility and site-identification stage.
IONITY Opens 400 kW Urban Charging Hub in London
IONITY opened its first urban EV charging hub in London in August 2026 at Greenwich Shopping Park. The facility provides 12 ultra-rapid charging bays capable of delivering up to 400 kW.
The operational project extends IONITY’s high-power charging strategy beyond motorway locations into metropolitan retail destinations, targeting both private motorists and commercial drivers.
Another major UK development comes from RAW Charging and Landsec, which announced a £24.5 million partnership to install 1,000 charging bays across 28 retail and leisure sites.
The network will include 554 AC chargers and 446 DC rapid chargers, combining destination charging with faster DC charging infrastructure.
Ohio Mobilises More Than US$77 Million for EV Charging
Ohio announced US$51 million in funding for 64 new EV charging locations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program. The projects are also backed by more than US$26 million in private-sector investment, taking combined disclosed public and private funding above US$77 million.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2027, with many stations targeted to become operational during 2027.
Walmart, meanwhile, plans to expand high-power EV fast charging across six California locations — Antelope, Brea, Fresno, Stockton, Suisun City and Vallejo. The chargers are expected to support CCS and NACS charging standards.
Australia Invests A$61.82 Million in Electric Truck Charging
Australia’s NewVolt is developing an A$61.82 million Electrified Freight Network, supported by A$25.3 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
The project will comprise three charging hubs designed for electric freight trucks. The first hub will feature 12 high-power charging bays and is targeted for completion in late 2026, while the remaining hubs are expected to follow during 2027.
The network is designed to support approximately 50-100 electric trucks, extending EV charging investment beyond passenger vehicles into heavy-duty road freight.
Indonesia Combines 36 EV Chargers with 20 Battery-Swapping Stations
V-Green and PT HK Realtindo are developing a large-scale EV charging hub in Jakarta, with operations targeted for October 2026.
The facility will feature 36 EV charging points and 20 battery-swapping stations, allowing simultaneous service for up to 56 electric cars and 220 electric motorcycles. Rooftop solar will also be incorporated into the development, although its capacity has not been disclosed.
The project highlights Indonesia’s focus on combining passenger-car charging with battery swapping for the country’s large electric two-wheeler market.
High-Power Charging Drives the Next EV Infrastructure Phase
The 2026 project pipeline shows EV charging infrastructure moving toward higher-power and more commercially targeted deployments. Networks are increasingly being integrated with retail destinations, urban hubs, freight operations, renewable energy and battery-swapping services.
Government programs including India’s PM E-DRIVE, the US NEVI program and Australia’s ARENA funding are lowering infrastructure investment barriers, while private companies are expanding commercially focused charging networks.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency confirms three heavy-vehicle charging hubs in Melbourne. The first Laverton North facility will have 12 high-power charging bays, with two additional hubs planned for Melbourne’s northern and south-eastern freight precincts.
ARENA also confirms up to A$25.3 million in ARENA funding, three open-access fast-charging hubs and support for 50–100 electric trucks. The first site is targeted for late 2026, followed by the remaining hubs during 2027.
The next stage of EV charging growth will increasingly depend on grid availability, charging utilization, power capacity, electricity costs, renewable-energy integration, fleet demand and site economics. Several of the announced projects remain at proposal, approval or site-survey stages, making actual deployment an important measure of EV charging market growth in 2026 and beyond.
SHAFANA FAZAL