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European Alternative Fuels Observatory
News article10 May 2024

EAFO Analysis: Trends in EV Charging Infrastructure Across Europe

EV infra assessment 2024

The European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) has conducted an analysis of EV recharging infrastructure across Europe for Q1 2024. The data reveals distinct trends and patterns in the distribution and power of EV charging points, highlighting areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement.

Assessment of EV Recharging Power Distribution Among European Countries

Key Trends and Patterns:

  1. High Recharging Power Clusters:
    • Eastern Europe Leading in Power per Point: Countries like Bulgaria, Estonia, and Latvia exhibit high recharging power per point, indicating robust infrastructure in relation to the number of charging stations. This trend suggests an efficient allocation of resources where fewer but more powerful charging points are prevalent.
    • Central and Eastern Europe: Nations such as Slovakia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic also show significant recharging power per point, forming a cluster of countries investing in high-capacity charging infrastructure.
  2. Balanced Infrastructure in Western Europe:
    • Widespread Network but Moderate Power: Western European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, and France, show a balanced approach with a widespread network of charging points. Although their recharging power per point is moderate, their extensive network supports a large EV fleet, ensuring accessibility and convenience for users.
    • Investment in Fast Chargers: These countries also exhibit a notable investment in fast chargers, aiming to enhance the efficiency and reduce the charging time for EV users.
  3. Emerging Clusters with Growing Infrastructure:
    • Southern Europe: Countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece are showing emerging trends in EV infrastructure development. While their recharging power per point is lower compared to Eastern Europe, there is a consistent growth in the number of charging points, indicating ongoing investment and expansion.
    • Nordic Region: Norway and Finland, known for high EV adoption rates, are steadily expanding their infrastructure. Although their recharging power per vehicle is lower, the overall growth in charging points signifies efforts to meet increasing demand.
  4. Need for Accelerated Development:
    • Underdeveloped Countries: Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus represent countries with significant potential but currently underdeveloped infrastructure. These regions exhibit low recharging power per vehicle, indicating a pressing need for accelerated investment and development to support future EV adoption.

 

Data used for the calculations as per 2024 Q1. Recharging power represents Total Power Output. Fleet refers to combined BEV + PHEV powertrains of M1 (passenger cars) + N1 (vans) vehicle categories. Heavy duty vehicles are not considered in this analysis.
Country Recharging Power / Recharging Point Recharging Power / Total Light Duty PEV fleet Total Recharging Power Output (kW) Recharging Points Light Duty PEV Fleet
Austria 30,74 2,93 680332 22133 232140
Belgium 27,51 3,07 1442176 52429 470303
Bulgaria 50,44 13,17 111870 2218 8495
Croatia 42,57 6,44 58655 1378 9114
Cyprus 20,03 2,51 7450 372 2969
Czech Republic 39,30 5,16 192270 4892 37297
Denmark 34,60 3,05 891885 25779 292196
Estonia 51,81 4,64 29014 560 6248
Finland 42,18 2,68 539419 12789 201018
France 30,39 2,27 3875424 127530 1708826
Germany 40,68 2,05 5321694 130828 2592722
Greece 26,45 2,99 112899 4268 37760
Hungary 34,13 1,67 121711 3566 72965
Iceland 39,90 2,26 66945 1678 29651
Ireland 36,23 0,99 108410 2992 109037
Italy 33,63 2,79 1493972 44429 534981
Latvia 42,58 4,67 29718 698 6361
Lichtenstein 36,42 5,09 3861 106 759
Lithuania 28,41 4,33 86567 3047 19993
Luxembourg 36,33 1,61 77494 2133 48056
Malta 11,44 0,14 1155 101 8107
Netherlands 18,73 3,74 2888803 154219 773155
Norway 59,15 1,63 1520741 25710 932105
Poland 38,99 2,29 259216 6649 113221
Portugal 33,97 1,43 308178 9071 215133
Romania 44,28 2,51 134199 3031 53420
Slovakia 38,64 6,11 101824 2635 16661
Slovenia 37,79 4,16 64540 1708 15500
Spain 33,98 2,38 973631 28655 409677
Sweden 30,92 2,18 1339396 43313 615201
Switzerland 33,03 1,72 484023 14656 281264
Turkey 43,59 4,45 443413 10172 99542
United Kingdom 27,86 1,25 2091799 75074 1667110

Strategic Insights:

  • High-Power Charging Focus: Eastern European countries demonstrate the effectiveness of focusing on high-power charging points. This strategy can be beneficial for regions with lower overall EV adoption but needing efficient and quick charging solutions.
  • Widespread Network Necessity: Western European countries showcase the importance of a widespread charging network to support a larger EV fleet. This approach ensures accessibility and convenience, crucial for encouraging EV adoption.
  • Emerging Countries: Southern Europe and the Nordic regions need to continue their investments to catch up with leading countries. The consistent addition of charging points and increasing power capacities will be essential to support the growing EVs on the roads.
  • Targeted Investments: Underdeveloped countries like Ireland and Malta require targeted investments to rapidly scale their infrastructure, ensuring they can meet the anticipated growth in EV adoption.

Conclusions

The EAFO’s analysis underscores the varying approaches and stages of development in EV charging infrastructure across Europe. To achieve the EU’s ambitious climate goals, a tailored strategy that considers regional strengths and needs is essential. High-power charging points, widespread networks, and targeted investments will collectively drive the continent towards a sustainable transport future.

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