California’s EV Chargers Doubled Since 2022, Surpassing 178,000

The California Energy Commission on March 20 announced that the number of electric vehicle chargers in the state has increased to 178,549, compared to only 120,000 gas nozzles, showing the commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector. Out of the total number of chargers, 16,971 are fast chargers with the remaining 162,178 being Level 2 chargers.

As the number of EVs in California grows rapidly, the state has had to develop EV charging infrastructure quickly and also address the increased energy demand on the power grid. The number of EV chargers in California more than doubled between 2022 and 2024, increasing from about 87,700 to over 178,000, reflecting the substantial investments in charging infrastructure.

In recent years, California made unparalleled investments in EV and charging infrastructure, including a $1.4 billion investment to develop the largest charging network in the U.S. This investment was used to finance the Fast Charge California Project, a part of the largest EV charging initiative in the country called the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project. The funding is also a part of the $48 billion California Climate Commitment, which allocates over $10 billion for zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure.

Sales trends from last year show that EVs are on a steady increase in California, with a record 102,507 purchases in the first quarter of 2024. The commission also announced in 2024 that the state has achieved its targets for both zero-emission trucks and vehicles two years ahead of schedule.