Report Shows California Needs 1.2 Million Electric Vehicle Chargers by 2030

New data from the California Energy Commission (CEC) reveals that nearly 1.2 million public and shared chargers will be needed by 2030 to meet the fueling demands of the estimated 7.5 million passenger plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) expected on California roads.

The first Assembly Bill (AB) 2127 Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Assessment reviews the charging infrastructure required to support Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which mandates that all new passenger vehicles sold in California be zero-emission by 2035. This includes both battery electric and fuel-cell technologies. The initial report focuses on charging requirements for 2030, with future assessments set to evaluate the needs for 2035.

Beyond the 1.2 million chargers needed for passenger vehicles, the CEC estimates that 157,000 additional chargers will be required by 2030 to support 180,000 medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks and buses expected on the roads.

“We need to bridge the gap in electric vehicle charging or we won’t meet our goals for zeroing out harmful pollution from transportation. Building over a million chargers by 2030 is ambitious, but it’s also an opportunity to create good jobs and showcase California’s can-do spirit,” said CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan. “California isn’t backing down from this challenge because the health of our communities and planet is at stake. I’m proud that Governor Newsom is prioritizing zero-emission transportation through his proposed budget investments so we can do more now to meet consumer and market needs through strategic public investments that leverage private dollars.”

So far, more than 73,000 public and shared chargers have been installed, with another 123,000 planned by 2025. However, this still leaves the state 54,000 chargers short of its 250,000-charger goal. To address this gap, the Governor’s proposed 2021–22 budget allocates $500 million to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is ready as more Californians transition to electric vehicles.

“To make the evolution to zero-emission vehicles successful, California must have a robust charging infrastructure. The assessment shows we must now scale up our installation efforts, building out our charging network in order for electric vehicle adoption to be as seamless as possible. With our mission set, I’m committed to keep our state marching toward a greener future,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee and author of AB 2127.

The report highlights that the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), the state’s incentive program for EV chargers, is oversubscribed by hundreds of millions of dollars. This demonstrates strong market and consumer demand for public funding. In fact, incentives for fast chargers are often claimed within minutes of applications opening.

The assessment also projected that by 2030, electricity consumption from passenger EV charging could peak at around 5,500 megawatts (MW) at midnight and 4,600 MW at 10 a.m. on a typical weekday, increasing electricity demand by 20–25% during those times.

To manage this increased load and take advantage of EVs as an energy resource, the CEC stressed the need for advancing vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technology. VGI allows drivers to program their charging schedules to align with periods when renewable energy production is high, grid demand is low, and electricity rates are more affordable.

Other key recommendations from the report include:

• Ensuring chargers are deployed equitably across the state through targeted public investments.
• Supporting local initiatives to prepare for transportation electrification, including community outreach, land use planning, and permitting.
• Prioritizing the development of common standards for hardware and software to ensure connector and communication compatibility.
• Encouraging innovative charging solutions and financing models to stimulate market growth.