European charging pile market situation

The European charging pile market is developing rapidly. Despite challenges such as uneven distribution and technological differences, the market prospects are broad.

The structure of urban agglomerations in developed European countries is mainly decentralized, independent, and low-density. The primacy of capital cities is very low. For example, the population of Paris, the largest city in the European Union, is about 14 million, and the German capital Berlin has only more than 4 million people. Most European cities have a population of less than 2 million. Medium and small cities with a population of 200,000 to 300,000 are highly developed, evenly distributed, and reasonably planned, forming dense urban agglomerations. Such urban layout characteristics have created convenient public transportation in the city, urban users prefer small cars, shorter commuting distances, and relatively long leisure driving distances, and there is a high demand for charging in the city and fast charging on highways.

•   Market size and growth trends
• Number of charging stations : By the end of 2023, there will be 630,000 public charging stations in Europe, and it is estimated that 8.8 million charging stations will be needed by 2030 to meet emission reduction targets.
• Growth rate : The European charging pile market is dominated by AC charging piles, but DC fast charging piles have a higher growth rate, and DC fast charging piles are the future trend.
• Market characteristics
• Uneven distribution: Thanks to the high level of urbanization in the EU, especially in developed countries in Western Europe, good infrastructure has been provided for the development of electric vehicles. However, the distribution is uneven and the charging efficiency is low. The Netherlands is the country with the largest number of charging piles, but the public is still not satisfied with the charging efficiency.
• Technical differences: Different countries and regions have differences in charging pile technical standards, charging power, etc., which brings certain challenges to market unification and interconnection.    
• Different scenario requirements of DC charging piles and AC charging piles
• AC charging pile: 220V AC charging pile is mostly used in homes and offices.
• DC charging piles: Highways, main roads and other scenarios often require DC charging piles for rapid energy replenishment.
• Household energy: The linkage between charging piles and household photovoltaic and energy storage systems will be a new market hotspot. Currently, there are very few similar products on the market.
• Policies and subsidies
• EU: Proposed the "Fit for 55" plan, requiring member states to accelerate the construction of new energy vehicle infrastructure.
• Germany: Invest 6.3 billion euros in the next three years to expand the number of electric vehicle charging stations.
• UK: Released the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy, planning to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations tenfold by 2030.
• Netherlands: Provide cost reductions and tax subsidies, and attach importance to the development of smart charging piles.
• France: Under the ADVENIR program, residents can receive a tax break of 960 euros for purchasing and installing charging piles.
• Certification requirements
• lCE certification : CE certification is a mandatory requirement for charging piles to enter the EU market, covering safety, health and environmental regulations. Charging piles must undergo rigorous inspections, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and compliance with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) to ensure that the equipment is safe and reliable.
• Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing: Charging piles need to undergo electromagnetic compatibility testing to reduce electromagnetic interference to the surrounding environment and ensure that the equipment can be used safely in the EU market.
• Low Voltage Directive (LVD): The Low Voltage Directive requires that charging piles must ensure user safety during the design and manufacturing process to prevent dangers caused by electrical faults.
• Measuring Instruments Directive (MID): As an instrument with metering function, the export of charging piles must comply with the requirements of the Measuring Instruments Directive 2014/32/EU to ensure the accuracy of energy measurement and the protection of consumer rights.
• Future Prospects and Challenges
• Challenges: Issues such as uneven distribution of charging stations, technological differences, and future demand forecasting still need to be resolved.
• Opportunities: Europe is expected to make greater progress in sustainable transportation by increasing investment, optimizing policy layout and promoting technological innovation.

The European home charging pile market is in a rapid development stage, and policy support and technological innovation provide the market with broad development space. Despite the challenges, the market outlook remains optimistic as electric vehicles become more popular and infrastructure improves.