The public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in the European Union is developing faster than the growth in the number of EVs. Twenty-six of the 27 EU Member States now meet the European targets for public charging capacity relative to the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the road. Only Malta is lagging behind.
This is according to an analysis by Transport & Environment (T&E), a European advocacy organisation focused on making the transport sector more sustainable, on the progress of European charging infrastructure. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) sets out the minimum requirements for the roll-out of charging infrastructure in the EU. The regulation is intended to ensure that the availability of charging points keeps pace with the growth in the number of EVs on European roads, and that sufficient charging facilities are available for electric vehicle drivers.
Strong growth in the number of charging points
The analysis shows that by the end of 2025, there were approximately 1.1 million public charging points available within the European Union. This means the network has increased fivefold since 2020. According to T&E, this growth took place ahead of the sharp rise in electric car sales in 2025 and 2026.
AFIR stipulates that Member States must have at least 1.3 kilowatts of public charging capacity available for every BEV in the national vehicle fleet. With the exception of Malta, all EU Member States met this standard by the end of March 2026.
If the national figures are combined, the total public charging capacity across the EU as a whole is approximately 180 per cent above the minimum level required by AFIR.
Progress is also being made along main roads
In addition to the ratio between charging capacity and the number of vehicles, AFIR also includes other targets, including geographical ones. For example, along the so-called Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) core network – which largely consists of national motorways – charging points with a capacity of at least 150 kW must be available every 60 kilometres.
Around 79 per cent of the TEN-T core network met this requirement in June 2026. There are still gaps in coverage, particularly in some Eastern European Member States and Spain. The analysis also shows that it is precisely in these areas that the network of fast chargers is currently growing the fastest.
Targets have also been set in AFIR for the wider TEN-T Comprehensive network, which consists of regional motorways and major trunk roads. For example, by 31 December 2027, half of this network must have at least one fast charger with a minimum capacity of 150 kW at every charging station. Twenty of the 27 EU Member States already meet this requirement.
Only minor adjustments required
T&E estimates that installing or expanding around 70 charging stations at strategic locations would be sufficient to bring approximately 90 per cent of the TEN-T core network into line with AFIR. This involves 22 additional charging points in Spain, 11 in Poland and 7 in Romania. According to the analysis, this is sufficient to close the main gaps in coverage along Europe’s major roads.
Infrastructure is outpacing the market
Based on its analysis, T&E concludes that the roll-out of public charging infrastructure is currently outpacing the growth in the number of battery-electric vehicles. According to the advocacy group, this shows that European regulations on charging infrastructure are working as intended.
Lucien Mathieu, Director of Cars at T&E: “These days, electric car drivers don’t have to drive far to find a public charging point. The targets for charging infrastructure are working as intended and have enabled strong growth in the electric vehicle market. At the same time, there are still challenges regarding ease of use and price transparency when charging. It is precisely these aspects that are crucial to making electric cars more attractive to all motorists, and in particular to people who live in blocks of flats and rely on public charging points.”
