California to expand EV charging with US$1.4 billion in funding

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved a US$1.4 billion investment to install almost 17,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

The funds will be distributed to projects over the next four years through competitive grants, and will add to the 152,000 public chargers currently in operation across the state.

Approval of the investment plan “reaffirms California’s commitment to funding zero-emission refuelling infrastructure,” said Patty Monahan, the CEC’s lead commissioner for transportation.

“The plan prioritises clean air benefits in low-income and disadvantaged communities that need it the most,” she said.

Demand and supply

The number of EVs on US roads far exceeds the number of chargers available, with new car registrations surging over the past decade.

In 2016, there were seven EVs for each public charging point – today there are more than 20 EVs per charger.

California’s plan builds on previous state spending on public charging, as well as a number of rules to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

State officials have said they expect to reach 250,000 charge points in the next few years, but today the majority of EV chargers in the state are installed in private homes.

EV friendly cities

While EV adoption has increased across the US, there are stark regional differences in uptake.

Multiple studies have found West Coast cities to be the most advanced in terms of EV infrastructure and charging.

A 2023 survey by StorageCafe ranked each US metro area by concentration of residential and public chargers as well as the number of EVs on the road, the cost of electricity and local incentives.

The report found Seattle to be the top metro for electric vehicle friendliness overall, with over 47,000 EVs on its roads, 0.6 public charging stations per 1,000 households and charging stations available at 7.3 percent of its rental properties.

San Francisco came in second with over 105,000 registered EVs – approximately five percent of the national total – 1.4 charging stations per 1,000 households and stations available at 6 percent of rental properties.

San Jose ranked third with 44,000 EVs registered locally, 2.2 charging stations per 1,000 households and stations available at 10 percent of rental properties.

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