Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.

2 minute read

March 24, 2025, 9:00 AM PDT

By Clement Lau


Close-up on charging port for electric cars.

Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

California now has significantly more electric vehicle (EV) chargers than gasoline nozzles, marking a major milestone in the state’s transition to clean transportation. According to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, there are approximately 178,000 public and shared private EV chargers across California, compared to an estimated 120,000 gas nozzles—representing a 48% difference. As reported by Patrick George, most of these chargers—about 162,000—are Level 2, which are slower but adequate for daily use, while only 17,000 are DC fast chargers, which offer quicker charging similar to traditional refueling.

The surge in charger availability reflects California’s continued leadership in electric vehicle adoption. In 2024 alone, the number of charging ports nearly doubled, a response to increasing demand as roughly 25% of new car sales in the state last year were electric vehicles. To further support this growth, California is investing $1.4 billion into expanding charging and hydrogen fuel infrastructure, improving charger reliability, and accelerating permitting processes—part of a broader effort to meet its climate and clean energy targets.

These developments come amid policy tensions at the national level. Governor Newsom criticized efforts by the Trump administration to reverse federal support for EV infrastructure and tax credits, stating that California is doing the opposite by strengthening its zero-emission goals. Under current state law, 68% of all new vehicles sold must be zero-emission by 2030, with a complete ban on new gas-powered car sales by 2035. While legal and legislative challenges may follow, California continues to push forward in building a transportation system centered on electric mobility.

Saturday, March 22, 2025 in Inside EVs

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

People walking up and down stairs in New York City subway station.

In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving

Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.

April 18 - Scientific American

White public transit bus with bike on front bike rack in Nashville, Tennessee.

Report: Zoning Reforms Should Complement Nashville’s Ambitious Transit Plan

Without reform, restrictive zoning codes will limit the impact of the city’s planned transit expansion and could exclude some of the residents who depend on transit the most.

April 18 - Bloomberg CityLab

An engineer controlling a quality of water ,aerated activated sludge tank at a waste water treatment plant.

Judge Orders Release of Frozen IRA, IIJA Funding

The decision is a victory for environmental groups who charged that freezing funds for critical infrastructure and disaster response programs caused “real and irreparable harm” to communities.

April 18 - Smart Cities Dive