Electric vehicle (EV) charging is evolving rapidly, with a significant difference in the availability of private versus public chargers. Currently, there are almost ten times as many private chargers as public ones, and most EV owners charge their vehicles at home. Home charging is convenient and cost-effective, as it often utilizes lower electricity prices during off-peak hours. However, the availability of home charging varies significantly between regions, depending on urban density, suburban spread, and income levels. In densely populated cities, where multi-unit dwellings are common, access to home charging is limited, leading to a higher reliance on public charging infrastructure.
In countries like Korea, which has a high population density, there is a notable ratio of public charging capacity to EVs. Conversely, Norway, with over 90% of new car sales being EVs, has a high share of home chargers, as do countries like the United Kingdom and Canada. In India, the access rate to home charging is 55%, but changes to building regulations could improve this over time, especially for renters. In regions with higher voltage power grids (220V or above), EV owners can charge from regular domestic sockets overnight. However, in areas with lower voltage grids (100-120V), such as the United States and Canada, dedicated chargers are necessary for faster and safer charging.
Beyond home charging, private charging includes non-publicly accessible chargers, such as those for employees, fleets, or customers of certain businesses. The United States has over 15,900 private non-home chargers, and the European Union has more than 250,000 chargers with restricted access. For electric two-wheelers (2Ws), battery-swapping technologies are gaining momentum, especially in India and parts of Africa. Companies like Gogoro and Ampersand are making significant investments in battery-swapping infrastructure, which is also seeing increased attention in Africa.
Governments worldwide are bolstering support for public charging infrastructure to ensure more widespread and equitable access to EVs. Public charging stock grew by over 40% in 2023, with fast chargers outpacing slow chargers. China leads in electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) deployment, with a significant portion of both fast and slow chargers. The European Union’s new regulation requires public fast chargers every 60 km along main transport corridors, while other countries like New Zealand and the United States have set ambitious targets for expanding their public charging networks.
Interoperability of charging infrastructure is crucial for enhancing the EV user experience. In the United States, the North American Charging Standard (NACS) aims to provide more reliable and convenient charging options. Meanwhile, the European Union’s AFIR regulation seeks to ensure common standards and protocols for EV charging across the continent.
For electric heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs), dedicated charging facilities are in the early stages of development. Progress is being made globally to establish standards for megawatt-scale chargers, which will be essential for large-scale deployment. Battery swapping and electric road systems (ERS) are innovative solutions being explored to reduce the system-level costs associated with high-powered charging. China leads in battery-swapping technology, while countries like Sweden and France are making strides in ERS.
Overall, the EV charging landscape is rapidly evolving, with significant investments and regulatory support driving the expansion of both private and public charging infrastructure. As EV adoption grows, ensuring adequate and efficient charging options will be key to supporting this transition and meeting future demand.
