California has surpassed 200,000 publicly available electric vehicle (EV) chargers, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC). These chargers are found at locations such as grocery stores, park and ride lots, and gas stations. Shared chargers are also present at apartment complexes, workplaces, doctors’ offices, sports facilities, and other parking areas with some restricted access. In addition to these public and shared options, there are an estimated 800,000 EV chargers installed in single-family homes across the state.
“With this expanding public network, EV chargers are becoming ubiquitous in California,” said CEC Commissioner Nancy Skinner. “Our goal is to make driving an EV a no-brainer choice for Californians. They are fun to drive, never need an oil change, don’t cause smog, and it’s getting easier to charge your vehicle with public EV infrastructure.”
Currently, 94% of Californians live within a ten-minute drive of an EV charger. Federal incentives up to $7,500 for new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) remain available through September 30. There are also federal incentives up to $4,000 for eligible used ZEVs and up to $1,000 for at-home charging equipment.
Most of California’s public chargers are Level 2 units that provide between 25-35 miles of range per hour of charging. The number of direct current fast chargers (DCFC), which can nearly fully charge a vehicle in 15 to 45 minutes, is increasing as well. Since the last count by the CEC, DCFC ports have grown by 14% while Level 2 ports have increased by 25%.
State agencies continue efforts to expand the charging network and prepare for higher electricity demand due to more EVs on the road. These efforts include providing grants for charger installations in public spaces and multi-family complexes; prioritizing shovel-ready DCFC projects through CEC grant programs; developing the ZEV Infrastructure Plan; and establishing reliability standards for EV chargers.
A recent report from state agencies was published in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order reaffirming support for ZEV adoption. According to the release: “While the federal government is running away from ZEVs, California is charging ahead in the fight for clean air for all.”
The state is also working on reducing barriers to ZEV adoption by offering financial assistance and support aimed at speeding up charger deployment in low-income and rural communities.
The CEC announced that there are now over 20,000 charging and hydrogen fueling points statewide serving medium- and heavy-duty (MDHD) ZEVs—an increase of nearly a quarter since February 2025. Trucks make up only six percent of vehicles on California roads but account for more than a third of transportation emissions and one quarter of on-road greenhouse gases in the state. Expanding MDHD ZEV infrastructure aims to improve air quality along major transport corridors.
The California Energy Commission serves as the primary energy policy agency for the state with responsibilities including advancing energy policy goals, encouraging efficiency measures, certifying power plants, investing in innovation projects related to renewable energy development and transportation transformation.
