California has surpassed 200,000 publicly available electric vehicle (EV) chargers, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC). These chargers are located in places such as grocery stores, park and ride lots, and gas stations. Shared chargers can also be found at apartment complexes, workplaces, doctors’ offices, sports facilities, and other parking areas with some level of restricted access. In addition to these public and shared chargers, an estimated 800,000 EV chargers have been installed in single-family homes across the state.
“With this expanding public network, EV chargers are becoming ubiquitous in California,” said CEC Commissioner Nancy Skinner. “Our goal is to make driving an EV a no-brainer choice for Californians. They are fun to drive, never need an oil change, don’t cause smog, and it’s getting easier to charge your vehicle with public EV infrastructure.”
Currently, 94% of Californians live within a ten-minute drive of an EV charger. Federal incentives up to $7,500 for purchasing or leasing new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), including both electric and hydrogen-fueled vehicles, remain available through the end of September 2025. There are also federal incentives for at-home charging equipment and associated battery storage up to $1,000.
Most public chargers in California are Level 2 devices that provide between 25-35 miles of range per hour of charging. The number of direct current fast chargers (DCFC), which can nearly fully charge a vehicle in 15 to 45 minutes, is increasing as well. Since the last CEC count earlier this year, DCFC public and shared charging ports have increased by 14%, while Level 2 charging ports have grown by 25%.
The CEC is working with other state agencies to accelerate installation of EV charging infrastructure and prepare for increased electricity demand on the grid. Efforts include providing grant funding for publicly accessible charging locations as well as those at workplaces and homes—especially multi-family complexes—prioritizing shovel-ready DCFC projects through grant programs managed by the CEC; developing the ZEV Infrastructure Plan; and establishing reliability standards for EV chargers.
A recent report published by state agencies responded to Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order reaffirming California’s commitment to adopting zero-emission vehicles despite changes in federal policy direction.
The CEC also announced there are now more than 20,000 charging and hydrogen fueling points for medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs statewide—a growth of over 23% since February 2025. Trucks represent just six percent of vehicles on California roads but account for more than a third of transportation emissions and a quarter of on-road greenhouse gases. State officials say investments in infrastructure supporting medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs will help reduce air pollution near major transport corridors.
According to the CEC’s mandate as California’s primary energy policy agency, its responsibilities include advancing state energy policy goals such as transforming transportation systems toward cleaner alternatives.
