The energy sector research company says the achievement comes seven years after the 100,000 charge point threshold was reached in 2018. LCP Delta expects the infrastructure rollout to accelerate, reaching 2 million charge points by 2029 and 3 million by 2032. The growth will be driven by government policies, rising EV adoption, and increased investment from charge point operators (CPOs) and private infrastructure funds.
“Reaching 1 million public charge points is a defining moment for the EV charging industry and highlights Europe’s leadership in the shift to electric mobility”, said John Murray, head of EVs at LCP Delta.
“A reliable, widespread public charging network is essential to support EV adoption, particularly for drivers who do not have the option of charging at home.”
The Netherlands has the highest number of public charge points at over 175,000, driven by government funding targeting the rollout of high numbers of slower chargers, primarily in on-street locations.
France is ranked second with 165,000 charge points, the majority of which are installed in the country’s more densely populated areas.
Despite having the most fully electric vehicles on the road in Europe, Germany ranks third with 140,000 charge points. However, Germany has a higher proportion of high-power chargers that allow shorter charging sessions.
The UK sold the most fully electric cars of all European countries last year but is only fourth in the ranking list with around 95,000 public charge points. The UK has some of the highest levels of off-street parking in Europe, and most existing EV drivers are choosing to charge at home for reasons of price and convenience.
Despite the progress made so far, LCP Delta warns of key challenges ahead. Public charging utilisation rates remained flat in 2024 across most markets, frustrating many CPOs and highlighting the issue that the 1 million charge points installed so far are not being used effectively. One major issue is the stark price gap between home and public charging tariffs. In the UK, off-peak home electricity costs range from 7-10p per kilowatt-hour, while public charging can exceed 70p per kilowatt-hour, making EV adoption less attractive for drivers without home charging access.
Murray commented: "Reaching 1 million charge points is likely to herald a new era in the public charging industry, characterised by faster charging speeds, greater reliability and higher utilisation rates, However, we also anticipate a period of market consolidation with some CPOs likely to exit the market due to increasing competition. The next five years could define the winners for the decades to come."
