Electrification Advances in Spain, but Charging Network Slows Down: One in Five Points Not Operational

Spain's transition towards electric mobility presents a dual reality in the second quarter of 2025. While sales of electrified vehicles (electric and plug-in hybrids) continue to rise steadily, the growth of public access charging infrastructure, crucial for this expansion, has significantly slowed and maintains a high percentage of non-operational points.

According to the latest Electromobility Barometer by ANFAC, the charging network grew by 3% this quarter, adding 1,534 new points and reaching a total of 47,892 chargers. However, this progress starkly contrasts with the 7,633 points installed in the previous quarter.

The main concern lies in the network's efficiency: the report reveals that 13,782 installed charging points, 22% of the total, are not operational. This means that one in five chargers installed in Spain is not working, frustrating users and hindering the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

If all were active, Spain would be close to ANFAC's target of 64,000 points by 2024. Despite infrastructure challenges, the electrified vehicle market in Spain shows strong momentum. Registrations of electrified passenger cars have doubled compared to the same period last year, achieving 62,615 units in the second quarter and now representing 16.8% of the total market.

This has boosted Spain's overall electromobility indicator to 18.7 points out of 100, a growth similar to that of the European Union. However, Spain remains far from the continent's average (32.3 points) and lags behind in terms of electrified vehicle penetration, only ahead of Italy, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.

José López-Tafall, ANFAC's general director, emphasizes the need to "keep accelerating" and adopt more impactful measures, such as improving incentives and a supportive tax policy, to prevent Spain from falling behind in the European electrification race.

López-Tafall highlighted that "both the sector and users have shown a willingness to adopt electromobility. When positive measures are promoted, such as the renewal of MOVES, the increase in available charging networks, or the significant efforts by brands to offer a more accessible and affordable range, they have a greater impact in encouraging citizens to switch to electric cars. But it's not enough to grow; we must grow at the accelerated pace imposed by regulation. Therefore, we must avoid sending messages against private vehicles, regardless of the technology, that could confuse and create unnecessary noise that does not benefit this transition."

The fast-charging network (from 150 kW) represents 9.1% of the total network, a 0.6% increase from the previous quarter, with a total of 4,379 points. In the last three months, 371 charging points from 150 kW have been opened to the public.

This data shows that the need to expand this high-power network remains pressing. The deployment of this type of infrastructure, which allows for recharges similar to refueling an internal combustion vehicle, is vital for the rollout of electric vehicles and also for promoting the electrification of heavy vehicles for goods and passenger transport, which is completely stalled due to a lack of support and visibility of plans in this regard.

On the other hand, since April this year, 1,085 charging points with a power of 22 kW or less have been installed. These chargers still represent nearly 70% of the entire public access charging network in the country. Undoubtedly, a less favorable figure for the deployment of electric vehicles in Spain, considering that the current technology of light battery vehicles already comes with charging powers exceeding 100 kW and will increase with the introduction of new models.