More charging stations than gas pumps in California

The biggest obstacle to the electric transition in France is the lack of charging infrastructure. Let’s take inspiration from the Californian model!

An inadequate network of charging stations not only complicates vehicle charging but also increases its cost. With each recharge, you obviously buy electricity, but you also finance the amortization and development of infrastructure. And more charging stations mean more operators, hence more competition, which automatically lowers prices. This situation limits the democratization potential of electric vehicles and hinders progress toward more sustainable mobility.

To successfully complete this transition, France must draw inspiration from models that have proven their effectiveness, like California. In the United States, this state now leads with a charging network that exceeds the number of traditional gas stations. According to data provided by the highly publicized governor Gavin Newsom, California currently has 178,000 public and private shared charging stations, compared to 120,000 gas pumps.

However, most of California’s charging stations are Level 2 chargers, which are slower than DC fast chargers (about 10% of the network). Despite that, the growth is significant since in 2024, the number of charging points nearly doubled. This expansion accompanies a rising adoption of electric vehicles, which accounted for about 25% of new car sales last year in California.

France should therefore invest heavily to develop a network of charging stations as dense as the network of gas stations. California plans a $1.4 billion investment to improve reliability and accelerate the installation of charging stations. Such an effort is essential to meet climate goals and democratize electric mobility.

As fossil fuels become increasingly expensive, a high-performance charging network is a sine qua non condition to make electric vehicles attractive and accessible. France must act now to catch up and prevent hindering the momentum toward sustainable mobility.

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