While the electric vehicle (EV) market experiences shifts, progress in charging infrastructure has been a notable positive. Reliability and accessibility have improved, contributing to increased driver confidence. However, new data indicates that the expansion of charging infrastructure is not keeping up with the rapidly growing number of EVs on the road.
Infrastructure Lagging Behind EV Growth
ChargePoint, a major player in EV charging, reported that its charging services demand grew by 34% in 2025. This surge in usage outpaced the growth in the number of EVs, indicating a strain on existing infrastructure. The company’s analysis, which compared its charging data with global EV sales figures, revealed that global EV sales increased by 20% and European sales by 33% in the same year. Even the U.S., despite a challenging EV market, saw its second-best year for EV sales.
ChargePoint’s Expansion Efforts
Despite adding a significant 190,000 new charging points—encompassing both Level 2 AC and DC fast charging—in 2025, ChargePoint observed that EV charging utilization grew by 20% more than the expansion of its network. The number of charging sessions on ChargePoint’s network increased by 34%, a figure considerably higher than the rise in the number of EVs. The company anticipates this mismatch to worsen in 2026 unless the pace of charger installation accelerates.
Key Data Insights from ChargePoint
ChargePoint’s data also highlighted interesting trends in EV charging behavior. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for approximately 16% of all Level 2 AC charging events on its network. Furthermore, the rapid adoption of EVs in recent years means that nearly 60% of the total driving miles facilitated by ChargePoint’s chargers have occurred within the last two years of its 18-year operational history.
Anecdotal Evidence and Potential Solutions
The data aligns with anecdotal observations of increased congestion at public EV charging stations. While the growing number of EV drivers is a positive sign for the transition away from fossil fuels, it presents challenges for those who rely on public charging. This includes longer wait times and potential disruptions to charging routines, especially for individuals without home charging solutions.
One potential positive outcome of a predicted slowdown in EV sales in certain markets, such as the U.S., could be a temporary reprieve for charging infrastructure providers like ChargePoint. This breathing room might allow them to expand their networks more effectively and better meet the escalating demand.