California Surpasses Gas Pumps with More EV Charging Stations

Key Takeaways

1. California has over 178,000 EV charging stations, surpassing the 120,000 gas pumps available.
2. The growth of charging stations is driven by business owners seeking to attract customers and increase sales.
3. California leads the US in EV adoption with 3026 electric vehicles per 100,000 residents.
4. Approximately 25% of new vehicles sold in California are electric.
5. The state plans to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035 and has invested over $1 billion in expanding EV infrastructure.

California is once again showing why it is leading the way in the electric vehicle (EV) movement across the US. The state’s charging network has expanded significantly and now competes with traditional gas station refueling options, as the number of EV chargers has surpassed that of gas pumps.

Expanding Access for EV Owners

State energy figures reveal that EV drivers in California can find over 178,000 charging stations, while there are approximately 120,000 gas pump nozzles for those who prefer internal combustion engines (ICE). This number doesn’t even include home charging setups, which are thought to total around one million.

Business Incentives Drive Growth

Professor Gil Tal from the UC Davis Research Center notes that the surge in charging stations is mainly due to business owners installing them to draw in customers and increase sales. He stated, “We see commercial retail places that know that if you stop to charge by their place, you are most likely to spend a little bit more money while waiting for your car to charge.”

California’s Dominance in EV Adoption

California stands out in the US for its EV adoption rates, boasting 3026 electric vehicles for every 100,000 residents, based on 2024 statistics from Visual Capitalist. Washington follows in second place with 1805 EVs per 100,000 people.

Roughly a quarter of the new vehicles sold in California are electric, but even more charging stations are anticipated to shift the way people view EV ownership. The state plans to prohibit the sales of all new fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035 and has allocated over $1 billion to expand its EV charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

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