ChargePoint, a provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), has released new data that illustrates the growing demand for EV charging as vehicle sales continue to increase at a rapid rate, hitting record-high numbers in the US last year. Across the ChargePoint network globally, there was a 53% increase in annual charging sessions, dispensing over 1 TWh of energy in 2023, marking a 70% increase year-over-year.
“Increased utilization pressure across all commercial segments demonstrates that EV charging has gone from a perk to necessity for businesses, their employees, and their customers,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “With more EVs on the road, drivers are looking for reliable and accessible charging where it’s most convenient for them, whether that’s pulling off the side of the highway to charge and grab snacks, or plugging in for a few hours while they’re at work. It’s clear charging infrastructure must scale more rapidly alongside the consumer and commercial adoption of EVs.”
On the ChargePoint network, global utilization outpaced active port growth across all commercial sectors in 2023. BloombergNEF predicts EV sales could reach nearly two million vehicles in the US in 2024, meaning charger utilization will continue to grow with a clear need for more infrastructure to meet charging needs.
In North America, fuelling and convenience locations, typically high-powered charging hubs along major highways, saw a 109% increase in charging sessions year-over-year, compared to a 47% year-over-year increase in active ports. As the return to office trend continues to grow, workplace charging stations saw a 64% increase in charging sessions year-over-year, compared to a 22% increase in active port growth. Additionally in workplace settings, the average number of active drivers per port increased by 21%.
Other segments that saw notable session growth in North America in 2023 include corporate fleets, with charging sessions increasing 83% from the prior year compared to a 54% increase in active port count, and multi-family commercial properties, which saw a 40% increase in charging session growth, compared to a 24% increase in active ports. Further, in the multifamily commercial property setting, the average number of active drivers per port increased approximately 53% in 2023.
In 2023, drivers spent more than 180 million hours charging across ChargePoint’s network of more than 274,000 active ports under management globally. ChargePoint reported a 49% year-over-year worldwide increase in annual active drivers, surpassing 1 million quarterly active drivers globally during the company’s fiscal third quarter. ChargePoint drivers have avoided over 1.6 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions with approximately over eight billion electric miles driven to date.
ChargePoint defines “active ports” as the total number of charging ports on the ChargePoint network in North America and Europe with at least one charging session during the relevant period, excluding roaming ports. A “charging session” is defined as a charging session on an active port where energy is dispensed during the relevant period.
An “active driver” is defined as a driver account using the ChargePoint network for a charging session in each relevant period, excluding roaming sessions. ”Energy dispensed” is defined as the energy dispensed, in kWh, through active ports on the ChargePoint network during the relevant period. Port growth does not represent the number of new installation growth year-over-year, but the number of ports with at least one session year-over-year.
Filed Under: Technology News