Global electric vehicle charging infrastructure expansion

China has solidified its position as the global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, according to a recent report by The ICCT (International Council on Clean Transportation). By the end of 2022, China boasted an impressive 1 million public chargers, marking a substantial 25% increase from the previous year. This milestone accounted for a staggering 51% of the worldwide total, nearly double Europe's public charger stock and eight times that of the United States.

Published

February 2024

Industry

EV Charging

Bar graphs comparing public charger stock and the share of AC and DC public chargers in the top 10 cities across China, Europe, and the United States in 2022. The market shows China's industry leading with higher overall charger stocks, while European cities have a balanced AC/DC share, and the US has a mix.

Source: Charging up China’s transition to Electric Vehicles | The ICCT

Public chargers are categorised as alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC), with DC chargers offering higher power outputs, enabling faster EV recharging. Notably, 47% of China’s public chargers were DC, a significantly larger share compared to Europe (13%) and the United States (21%). The dominance of China in this sector was further highlighted by the fact that 76% of all global public DC chargers installed by the end of 2022 were located in China.

Examining the top 10 cities in terms of public charger stock globally, all five leading cities were located in China, with Shenzhen taking the top spot at 146,000 public chargers. Other notable Chinese cities included Shanghai (73,000), Guangzhou (57,000), Wuhan (41,000), and Beijing (35,000). In Europe, Amsterdam secured the leading position with 29,000 public chargers, while in the United States, Los Angeles led with 12,000 chargers.

The report also highlighted the geographic distribution of public charger stock, revealing a concentration in eastern and southern China, mirroring the regional uptake of EV’s in the country. Similar patterns were observed in Europe and the United States, reinforcing the idea that EV adoption and charging infrastructure tend to be concentrated in specific geographic regions.

China’s remarkable strides in developing a vast and efficient charging infrastructure underscore its commitment to promoting sustainable transportation and accelerating the global shift toward electric mobility. As EV adoption continues to rise globally, these developments in charging infrastructure position China at the forefront of the electric transportation revolution.

Source: Charging up China’s transition to Electric Vehicles | The ICCT