EV

Charging stations in California now outnumber gas pumps in the state

  • California has more EV charging stations than gas pumps
  • This is because of the increasing number of EVs on the road
  • The state has ambitious plans to move towards zero-emission cars

Published on Mar 24, 2025 at 12:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe

Last updated on Mar 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

Charging stations now officially outnumber gas pumps in California.

EVs have been on the rise for the past few years and it’s clear to see why – from the greener qualities to their ever-improving range.

They’re here to stay too – with new batteries, motors, and chassis being developed and improved daily.

But why do charging stations outnumber gas stations in California?

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Electric vehicles are more popular than ever in the US

Now, when it comes to the EV space, the giant to beat is, of course, Tesla.

With its fleet of powerful EVs, the Cybertruck and even a space-traveling Roadster, Tesla certainly dominates the industry.

But other carmakers are putting serious work in to catch up, including BMW, which just confirmed a new EV model.

BMW has confirmed that the first of its Neue Klasse EVs will be the new iX3 and it’s set to have a seriously impressive range.

BMW confirmed that the first of its Neue Klasse EVs will be the new iX3 and it’s set to have a seriously impressive range offering up to 900km (560 miles).

Thanks to the popularity of EVs, it’s no surprise that charging stations are everywhere

California's EV charging stations now outnumber gas pumps for the first time
Photo by Magda Ehlers:

California has an estimated 120,000 gas faucets, which seems like a crazy amount when you think about it.

And now due to the growing popularity of electric cars, the number of EV chargers in California has surpassed that number.

There are now 178,000 EV chargers in California alone.

That amounts to 48% more chargers than gasoline nozzles.

California's EV charging stations now outnumber gas pumps for the first time
Photo by Kindel Media

The state is thinking ahead

A published report has shed light on California’s need for electric speed.

It projected that by 2035, the state will need 1.01 million public and shared private chargers.

According to the Californian Energy Commission, the state has ambitious plans to move towards zero-emission vehicles.

“The state has goals of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) onto California roads by 2025, 5 million by 2030, and 100% of all in-state sales of zero-emission passenger cars and trucks by 2035.”

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Grace started her career writing about the weird and wonderful for the international press. She's covered everything from lifestyle to sports and hard news and now finds herself pursuing her main interest - cars. She's loved cars from a young age and has a keen interest in luxury travel too.