Charging Demand Is Rising Faster Than the Networks That Serve It
But here’s the core issue you’re likely missing: even as interest in electric vehicles grows, the charging backbone isn’t expanding quickly enough to keep pace. ChargePoint recently reported a 34% jump in charging activity in 2025, underscoring a widening gap between EV adoption and the availability of charging infrastructure.
What ChargePoint found
- Global EV sales climbed 20% in 2025, with Europe up 33% and the United States enjoying its second-best year on record for EV sales.
- Despite installing a substantial 190,000 new charging points in 2025 (encompassing both Level 2 AC and DC fast charging), charging utilization grew about 20% faster than the expansion of charging points.
- The company also noted a 34% increase in charging sessions on its network in 2025, outpacing the growth in the number of EVs on the road.
An important side note: plug-in hybrids contribute to the load. About 16% of all Level 2 AC charging events on ChargePoint’s network are driven by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
Why this matters
The apparent supply-demand mismatch suggests the charging grid may struggle to keep up as more drivers switch to EVs. If the charger rollout doesn’t accelerate, waits and crowded stations could become a recurring headache for new and returning EV users alike.
A personal perspective on the trend
From a user’s viewpoint, the rising crowd around chargers can be frustrating. It’s encouraging to see more people embracing electric mobility, but waiting for a free charger or finding one in use can disrupt plans for opportunistic charging while running errands, working nearby, or grabbing a coffee. For households without home charging, these bottlenecks can turn a minor inconvenience into a real obstacle.
A potential silver lining
If the broader EV market cools somewhat in 2026, it could buy charging networks some much-needed breathing room. A slower pace of EV sales might allow ChargePoint and other providers to accelerate charger installations and better align capacity with demand.
If you’d like to learn more or share your experience with EV charging in your area, you can reach the author at kevin.williams@insideevs.com.
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