- California Sees Record Expansion of Public Charging Stations in 2024
- State Boasts Double the Number of Public Chargers Compared to 2022
- Almost 30% of U.S. EV Sales Go to California
Electric vehicle drivers in California are now more likely to come across a charging connector than a traditional gas pump.
In a recent press release, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced that California reached a milestone of 178,549 public chargers in 2024, surpassing the number of gas pumps in the state by 48%, which stands at approximately 120,000 according to the California Energy Commission (CEC).
The installation of new chargers has surged in recent years, with California now having twice the number of publicly accessible chargers as in 2022, adding a total of 26,193 chargers since the last official count in August.
Electric vehicle chargers in California in 2024
While the state continues to invest in expanding charging infrastructure, a portion of the increased total for 2024 is attributed to better tracking of existing chargers. Out of the 73,537 chargers added to the data set in 2024, 35,554 were already in place but were newly identified through additional data sources by the CEC.
Public chargers in California predominantly consist of over 162,000 Level 2 AC chargers, with nearly 17,000 DC fast-chargers, as estimated by the CEC. Additionally, more than 700,000 Level 2 chargers are installed at single-family homes in the state for private use.
With the highest number of EVs in any U.S. state, California plays a significant role in driving the adoption of electric vehicles. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports that close to 30% of zero-emission vehicle sales in the U.S. occur in the state.
Marengo Charging Plaza, Pasadena, California
In response to potential changes in federal EV incentives, California is considering reinstating its own EV tax credit program, excluding Tesla. Despite uncertainties at the federal level, California remains committed to expanding its charging infrastructure, with recent initiatives such as a $55 million project to install DC fast-charging stations at retail locations across the state.
“We’re embracing our clean car future and providing consumers more choices—no matter what ‘big government’ mandates come out of Washington,” Newsom stated.