Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has significantly more electric vehicle (EV) chargers than gasoline nozzles, marking a major milestone in the state’s transition to clean transportation. According to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, there are approximately 178,000 public and shared private EV chargers across California, compared to an estimated 120,000 gas nozzles—representing a 48% difference. As reported by Patrick George, most of these chargers—about 162,000—are Level 2, which are slower but adequate for daily use, while only 17,000 are DC fast chargers, which offer quicker charging similar to traditional refueling.

The surge in charger availability reflects California’s continued leadership in electric vehicle adoption. In 2024 alone, the number of charging ports nearly doubled, a response to increasing demand as roughly 25% of new car sales in the state last year were electric vehicles. To further support this growth, California is investing $1.4 billion into expanding charging and hydrogen fuel infrastructure, improving charger reliability, and accelerating permitting processes—part of a broader effort to meet its climate and clean energy targets.

These developments come amid policy tensions at the national level. Governor Newsom criticized efforts by the Trump administration to reverse federal support for EV infrastructure and tax credits, stating that California is doing the opposite by strengthening its zero-emission goals. Under current state law, 68% of all new vehicles sold must be zero-emission by 2030, with a complete ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035. While legal and legislative challenges may follow, California continues to push forward in building a transportation system centered on electric mobility.