The EU needs 15 times more public chargers by 2030 if plans to become climate neutral by 2050 are to be met, with priorities to be placed on home and workplace charging.

T&E says some three million public charging points will be needed to enable operation of 44 million electric vehicles in 2030 to meet 2050 net zero plans

Number crunching carried out by green lobby group Transport & Environment (T&E) shows some three million public charging points will be needed for 44 million electric vehicles in 2030 to meet 2050 net zero plans; part of the European Clean Deal revealed before Christmas.

This equates to a cost of €20bn (£25.6bn); just 3% of the EU’s annual spend on road infrastructure today.

Home and workplace charging must be prioritised, and between 20-30% of these chargers will need to be in disadvantaged and less densely populated areas to ensure everyone benefits from zero-emissions vehicles, said T&E.

The organisation also believes investment in public chargers poses a business opportunity and co-financing can come from the European investment plan, which will support €1trn of sustainable investment over the next decade under the EU Green Deal.

Lucien Mathieu, emobility analyst of Transport & Environment, said: “So far the number of charging points has kept pace with demand, but the coming electric surge needs to be supercharged by vastly expanding the charging network.

“The shift to EVs will create a multi-billion euro market opportunity for European industry in the grid works, and manufacturing, installation and maintenance of public charging. The EU must do everything it can to fight the climate emergency while supporting jobs in Europe.”