Berg Insight just released new findings about the market for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Europe and North America. The number of connected EV charging points in Europe and North America reached an estimated 7.4 million units in 2023. Europe represents the largest share comprising around 5.5 million of these charging points, corresponding to a connectivity penetration rate of 70 percent. In North America, about 1.9 million of the total number of charging points were connected, equivalent to a connectivity penetration rate of 56 percent. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 37 percent, the number of connected charging points in the two regions is expected to reach 35.7 million in 2028.
The connected EV charging station market is served by a variety of players addressing different segments. Back-office software platforms for charging station management are offered by companies including software firms specialized in this area, hardware providers, and charge point operators (CPOs). In some cases, CPOs develop their back-office platforms in-house and offer them as white-label solutions to other CPOs.
ChargePoint is a leading CPO in North America, utilizing proprietary solutions and additionally providing these to other CPOs. The company also ranks as a leader in terms of charging points connected to its software platform in the region. Notable competitors in North America include Blink Charging, Flo, EV Connect, Shell Recharge Solutions, and Tesla. ChargePoint and Enel X Way account for the majority of connected private chargers in the area.
In Europe, specialized software vendors with significant numbers of charging points connected to their platforms include Last Mile Solutions, Virta, GreenFlux, Driivz, and AMPECO. Additionally, hardware-focused companies like Easee, Zaptec, and Pod Point have many connected charging points but typically offer a less comprehensive set of use cases with their software solutions.
Full-service providers such as Shell Recharge Solutions and EVBox (Engie) have also become significant players in Europe, boasting notable numbers of charging points connected to their back-office platforms. Several European CPOs have developed proprietary software solutions that manage numerous charging points, with examples including Vattenfall, Innogy, and Allego.
“The integration of communications technology in EV charging stations can have a considerable impact on the energy costs related to an EV charging station,” said Caspar Jansson, IoT Analyst at Berg Insight. Connected charging stations can be included in grid service solutions for utilities, allowing the charging output to be temporarily reduced to ease the momentary pressure on the power grid. Load management can also help reduce strain on the grids by ensuring that charging output remains within the capacity of the grid connection.
“Connected charging points enable their owners to support utilities with demand response programs, thereby reducing their own charging costs. The growing adoption of EVs, combined with high energy prices, will only strengthen the case for connected and smart charging solutions,” continued Mr. Jansson.
He added that it can be valuable to connect home chargers as well. “The number of connected home charging stations is growing in both regions. Connected chargers, for example, enable homeowners to be reimbursed for EV charging related to work travel, thereby reducing the need for public charging and the associated costs,” concluded Mr. Jansson.
Download report brochure: EV Charging Infrastructure in Europe and North America
