by - In California, there are 48% more public and shared charging stations than oil pumps.
- A significant majority of them are level 2 charging stations, but the state has 16,971 fast chargers.
- The state invests significant funds to support electric vehicles, and approximately 25% of new purchases involve zero emissions.
California is one of the largest markets for electric vehicles, which means there is a great demand for charging infrastructure. However, they have managed this task as the California Energy Commission recently announced that 178,549 public and shared private charging stations have been installed across the state.
This is an impressive figure, especially considering there are roughly 120,000 oil pumps in the state. This means the number of electric vehicle charging stations is 48% higher than the number of oil dispensers.
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However, things are not that simple because the vast majority of charging stations (162,178) have level 2 installations, which can take hours to charge. This makes them ideal for home use, and the California Energy Commission estimates that more than 700,000 level 2 charging stations are installed in private homes.
The remaining 16,971 or 9.5% are fast chargers. Although their speed may vary, some fast chargers can provide over 100 miles (161 km) of range in 15 minutes or even less.
California attributes its impressive charging infrastructure to “allocating billions to support clean transportation goals,” including approving a $1.4 billion investment plan to create the most extensive charging and hydrogen network in the country. There are also other projects, such as a $55 million project to install fast charging stations in businesses and other publicly accessible places across the state.
California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild stated: “The experience of electric vehicle drivers in California is getting better every day. The state will continue to invest significantly in electric vehicle infrastructure, with a particular focus on hard-to-reach areas, making these vehicles an easy choice for new car buyers.”
This is good news for residents of the Golden State, where approximately 25% of new car purchases are zero-emission vehicles. Of course, any changes in federal incentives could impact sales.
