Note: Data last updated in February 2025. Data Source: California Energy Commission Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Statistics. Analysis by CEC Economics
Highlights
  • California’s EV charging network expanded rapidly in 2024, with almost 180,000 chargers by February 2025. This represents a growth of 70% compared to December 2023, when the state had 106,000 chargers installed statewide. Slightly over half (53%) of these are private shared chargers. However, the state has added 41,000 more public chargers during the same period compared to 33,000 more private shared chargers. In September 2025, the California Energy Commission announced that California had surpassed 200,000 publicly available and shared EV chargepoints, which exceeds the number of gas pumps by 68%.51
  • The vast majority (90%) of the chargers are level 2 chargers and the rest are DC Fast chargers and a smattering amount (>1%) being level 1 chargers, a distribution that has been fairly constant throughout time. Slightly over half (52%) of all chargers are private shared level 2 chargers found in single- and multi-family residences or other private properties. Meanwhile, most DC fast chargers are public.

51 “California sets EV sales record in Q3 2025 ahead of tax credit expiry.” EV Infrastructure News. October 15, 2025. Available at: https://www.evinfrastructurenews.com/ev-networks/california-sets-ev-sales-record-in-q3-2025-ahead-of-tax-credit-expiry

Challenge
  • The federal budget bill H.R. 1 eliminated a tax credit intended to boost EV charger installations on private property in rural or underserved communities.52 The Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit, which provides a 30% credit (capped at $1,000) for home EV chargers, expires beginning on July 1, 2026. The credit also covers the installation costs, electrical panel upgrades, and wiring necessary to support home charging. The typical Level 2 charger installation costs between $2,000 and $3,000 so the credit makes it significantly more affordable for homeowners.53

52 “EV and Charging Tax Credits After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Electrification Coalition. July 17, 2025. Available at: https://electrificationcoalition.org/resource/ev-and-charging-tax-credits-after-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act/

53 “The clean energy clock is ticking: What we’ll lose when key tax credits expire this year.” Energy Sage. July 17, 2025. Available at: https://www.energysage.com/news/hr1-ending-clean-energy-tax-credits/