The number of public charging stations worldwide is rapidly increasing.

By the end of 2022, there were a total of 2.7 million public charging stations globally, with over 900,000 installations in 2022 alone. This represents a 55% increase compared to 2021 and is comparable to the pre-pandemic growth rate of 50% between 2015 and 2019.

China, being the largest market for electric vehicles (EVs) and having a dense population, actively develops charging infrastructure with the support of policies. As a result, the majority of global charging stations are located in China, and over 40% of them are fast-charging stations, which is significantly higher than other regions.

In terms of charging infrastructure development, Europe ranks second after China, with a significant disparity between Eastern and Western Europe. South Korea has experienced rapid growth in the number of EV charging stations, ranking third globally. The United States has fewer charging stations compared to Europe and South Korea, but their distribution is not uniform. Nearly one-third of the public charging infrastructure in the country is located in California.

Typically, we use the standards proposed by the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive (AFID) to assess a country's level of charging infrastructure. AFID recommends a target of 10 electric vehicles per public charging station, resulting in a ratio of 10:1, and each pure electric vehicle should be equipped with a 1 kW charging power.

As of 2022, the global average is 10 electric vehicles per charging station, with each electric vehicle having 2.4 kW charging power, meeting the recommended standards by AFID.

It is widely understood that the ratio of vehicles to charging stations indicates the number of stations available per vehicle. A lower ratio means a higher number of stations per vehicle, making charging more convenient for users. Countries such as China, South Korea, and the Netherlands have maintained a level below 10 vehicles per charging station in recent years. In countries heavily reliant on public charging, the growth rate of public charging stations aligns closely with the deployment rate of electric vehicles.

However, in markets characterized by widespread home charging (due to a higher proportion of single-family residences with the opportunity to install charging stations), many countries have not reached the recommended standards by AFID, and the number of electric vehicles per public charging station may be higher. For example, in the United States, there are 24 electric vehicles per charging station, while in Norway, it exceeds 30.

China's charging infrastructure level has surpassed the global average, with a ratio of 8 vehicles per charging station and an average charging power of 3.46 kW per vehicle.

In terms of charging power per electric vehicle, the European Union has a lower ratio, with an average of 1.18 kW per vehicle. South Korea has the highest ratio, with each electric vehicle having 6.95 kW charging power, even though the majority of public charging stations (90%) are slow-charging stations.