California's electric vehicle (EV) charging network has reached a new milestone with Governor Gavin Newsom announcing the installation of 178,549 public and shared private EV chargers statewide, as reported by the Governor's Office. This achievement eclipses the number of gas nozzles in the state, which stands approximately at 120,000, spotlighting the state's push toward clean transportation.
In his statement, Newsom contrasted state efforts with federal policies, saying, "As the federal government works to make it harder for you to charge your electric car, California is doing the opposite." He emphasized the availability of nearly 50% more chargers than gas nozzles, indicating an array of options for EV owners. The California Energy Commission (CEC) indicates a significant portion of these chargers, over 162,000, are Level 2 chargers, with nearly 17,000 fast chargers completing the network.
The CEC Chair David Hochschild highlighted the enhancement of the EV driver experience in the state, as California continues to invest in infrastructure, particularly targeting areas that are harder to reach. This development makes EVs an increasingly practical option for consumers, a message echoed by the more than 700,000 Level 2 chargers installed in single-family homes across California, outside the public network.
Further amplifying the state's commitment, California has sanctioned a $1.4 billion plan that includes projects like the Fast Charge California Project to bolster the country's most extensive charging and hydrogen network. According to the Governor's Office, these projects are instrumental in cementing the state's leadership in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, supported by incentives such as grants and rebates for Californians, particularly those in lower-income brackets.
California's push for a clean transportation ecosystem also targets improved data collection for strategic charger placement and tracking EV charger goals. The latest charger counts, reflecting the addition of nearly 73,537 chargers in 2024, are a result of these improved data collection efforts. CEC's strategy includes increasing grid demand anticipation, establishing reliability standards for chargers, and expediting deployment through streamlined state and local government processes.
Underscoring this strategy, California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently issued a legal alert to local governments for faster and simpler permitting of EV chargers, as installing new EV charging infrastructure becomes a regular undertaking by the private sector as well. California's direction is clear with evermore Californians opting for zero-emission vehicles, as evidenced by data from the California Air Resources Board that 30 percent of new ZEVs sold in the U.S. are sold in California.
