Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: 66% Increase in Stations in One Year!

According to the Avere-France barometer, in partnership with the Ministry of Ecological Transition, 95,755 public electric charging stations are available across the country.

Through the expertise of the e-mobility specialist Gireve, Avere-France and the Ministry of Ecological Transition analyzed the electric charging infrastructure available on French territory.

Only public and operational electric charging stations were counted by Gireve. As of March 31, 2023, there are 95,755 stations throughout France, including mainland France and the four French overseas territories (Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana). This represents an increase of over 66% compared to last year.

However, the government’s goal of 100,000 stations by 2021 has not yet been reached. With the ban on the sale of thermal vehicles finalized in Europe by 2035, it becomes essential to develop a territorial network of charging stations for electric cars.

What to remember

From this barometer, we note the remarkable increase in the number of electric stations. They went from 57,732 in March 2022 to 95,755 at the end of March 2023. This is a necessary progress if the country aims to develop the transition to electric vehicles for everyone. It is also part of the measures taken by the government to reduce air pollution.

It is also noteworthy that the distribution of charging stations by region is fairly uniform.

First, it is worth noting that Île-de-France, with over 12 million inhabitants, has the highest number of stations per inhabitant in the country (3.73). However, only 4,692 stations and 17,451 charging points operate in the region, which is surprising given the population density.

Secondly, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region holds the record for the number of electric vehicle charging stations. 11,491 stations are available across the region’s roads. Perfect for safely reaching hiking spots this summer!

Finally, French Guiana, one of the four overseas territories studied in this barometer, has the lowest rate of charging stations per inhabitant: 1.56. Conversely, excluding Île-de-France, Guadeloupe has the highest rate of charging stations. In this Caribbean territory made up of seven islands, you can charge an electric vehicle without worries for your daily travel!

Distribution of charging stations across French territory

Public electric charging stations are mainly found in businesses (39%) and parking lots (34%). To a lesser extent, they are also located on roadsides (22%). This indicates a certain cost at purchase and a lack of public investment on this topic, favoring private companies such as Carrefour or Indigo, for example.

The Avere-France barometer has highlighted the specificities of territorial network distribution by region:

• Distribution of points by location
• Total installed capacity
• Number of stations and charging points
• Distribution of installed power types
• Evolution of the number of charging points per year and over the last two years
• Number of charging sessions per month per station

Additionally, most charging stations are AC monophasic or triphasic, with power between 7.4 kW and 22 kW. They are mainly installed in home stations of the “WallBox” type, allowing vehicle recharging in complete peace of mind during off-peak hours.

An European directive mandates charging stations along “main” highways by 2025. Currently, “ultra-fast” chargers (> 150 kW) account for about 6% of the total operational market. Therefore, accelerating the development of the ultra-fast network will be necessary to enable more drivers to travel with a lower carbon footprint!

Also read: Electric car, how much does charging cost?