France Leads Europe's EV Charging Station Expansion, UK Slows Down

In the first nine months of this year, France added more public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) than any other European country.

Currently, France has nearly 137,000 charging stations available for EV drivers, with over one-fifth deployed in 2024. This momentum has been driven by the expansion of major networks, including nearly doubling the footprint of EDF (Électricité de France), intensified competition fueled by over 50 new entrants, and low electricity prices.

The Advenir program, a €320 million ($338 million) government initiative aimed at subsidizing the construction of charging stations, is set to conclude next year and may have also stimulated the growth of charging infrastructure.

As the third-largest EV market in Europe, France is not the only country experiencing robust development. Both Belgium and the Netherlands added over 20,000 new charging stations this year. However, growth has slowed in Germany and the UK.

In the first three quarters of 2024, the UK added just 8,000 charging stations, less than half the number added during the same period last year. While EV sales in the UK continue to grow, high electricity costs and grid connection expenses for operators are putting economic pressure on the viability of charging site operations.

According to BloombergNEF analysis, the UK is Europe’s most expensive market for EV charging, with an average fast-charging cost of $0.97/kWh. France has the lowest cost at $0.54/kWh, and it is one of the few countries where fast-charging costs are lower than gasoline prices.

Charging operators are weighing the motivation to expand their networks against the costs involved. While the correlation between the number of charging stations, pricing, and NEV sales does not hold in all markets, the construction of a large number of charging stations and lower charging prices can only benefit EV owners.