California just hit a milestone that’s turning heads across the nation: the state now boasts 48% more electric vehicle (EV) chargers than gasoline nozzles. This isn’t just a quirky stat—it’s a sign of a seismic shift in how Californians (and soon, the rest of the country) will fuel up for the road ahead.
The Numbers Behind the Surge
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that as of late 2024, California has installed
178,549 public and shared private EV chargers statewide. For context, there are about 120,000 gas nozzles in the state. That means drivers now have nearly
50% more places to plug in than to fill up with gasoline.
Of these chargers:
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Over 162,000 are Level 2 chargers (the kind you’ll find at most public parking lots and workplaces)
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Nearly 17,000 are fast chargers (which can top up most EVs in under an hour)
- Plus, more than
700,000 Level 2 chargers are installed in single-family homes, making at-home charging the norm for many Californians.
Why This Matters for Drivers
This explosion in charging infrastructure is making EV ownership more practical than ever. As CEC Chair David Hochschild put it,
“The California EV driver experience is getting better by the day.” The state is investing heavily in expanding the network, especially in hard-to-reach areas, so that range anxiety becomes a thing of the past.
Here’s what’s changing for drivers:
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More charging options: With chargers outnumbering gas pumps, finding a place to plug in is easier than ever.
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Faster charging: The growth in fast chargers means less waiting around.
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Home charging is mainstream: Most EV owners can charge overnight, skipping the gas station entirely.
The Bigger Picture: California’s Clean Transportation Push
This milestone is part of California’s broader push toward a
clean transportation future. The state isn’t just adding chargers—it’s also:
- Streamlining permitting to speed up charger installation
- Setting reliability standards for public chargers
- Collaborating with private companies for even faster expansion
- Prioritizing clean fuel production and public transit improvements
And it’s working:
1 in 4 new cars sold in California is now a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV), and the state accounts for
30% of all new ZEVs sold in the U.S.
What About the Rest of the World?
California’s not alone in this race. Globally, the number of public charging points is rising fast, though prices for charging are also increasing in some markets. Each country is working out its own mix of home, workplace, and public chargers to meet growing demand.
Battery technology is also evolving, with manufacturers ramping up production and driving down costs. This is making EVs more affordable and accessible, further fueling the transition away from gasoline.
The Road Ahead
California’s charger boom is a glimpse into the future of transportation—not just for the Golden State, but for the entire country. As more states and countries follow suit, expect to see:
- Even more rapid charger deployment
- Smarter, more reliable charging networks
- Continued growth in EV adoption
For drivers, the message is clear: the days of worrying about where to charge your EV are quickly fading. The real question now is, when will the rest of the country catch up?
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