California’s electric vehicle charging network has reached a historic milestone. The state now has 178,549 public and shared private EV chargers, which is 48% more than the approximately 120,000 gas pump nozzles across California. Governor Gavin Newsom announced this achievement in March 2025.
The growth has been remarkable. Nearly 38,000 new chargers were installed in 2024 alone. The California Energy Commission also discovered 35,554 chargers that were already operating but hadn’t been counted before. This brings the total to more than double what existed in 2022.
Most of these chargers are Level 2 units, which make up over 162,000 of the total. These chargers work well for longer parking sessions at work or shopping centers. Nearly 17,000 are fast chargers that can power up vehicles much quicker. Additionally, homeowners have installed more than 700,000 Level 2 chargers in single-family houses across the state.
This expansion supports California’s growing electric vehicle fleet. The state surpassed 2.2 million cumulative EV sales by the end of 2024, up from about 1.77 million in 2023. California continues to lead the nation in EV adoption, accounting for 30.3% of national EV sales.
The rapid growth mirrors global trends. Worldwide, more than 1.3 million public charging points were added in 2024, representing a 30% increase. California’s charging network remains the largest in the United States, and its growth rate exceeds national averages.
California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild emphasized the state’s commitment to investing in EV infrastructure. The commission has improved its data tracking methods to provide clearer information about operational chargers statewide. These improvements helped identify thousands of previously uncounted charging stations. In December, California approved a $1.4 billion investment plan for zero-emission transportation infrastructure.
The charging network now spans both urban and rural areas throughout California. The state continues to focus on bringing chargers to hard-to-reach areas. Both public and shared private chargers work together to create a thorough charging ecosystem.
Since August 2024 alone, California added 26,193 chargers to its network. In just the first half of 2024, approximately 24,000 new chargers were installed. This consistent growth shows California’s dedication to supporting clean transportation options for its residents.
References
- https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/03/20/california-now-has-48-more-ev-chargers-than-gasoline-nozzles-in-the-state/
- https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/zero-emission-vehicle-and-infrastructure-statistics-collection/electric
- https://electrek.co/2025/03/21/california-50-percent-more-ev-chargers-than-gas-nozzles/
- https://www.veloz.org/ev-market-report/
- https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025/electric-vehicle-charging
