The market for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has expanded in recent years in parallel with the deployment of publicly accessible charging stations, mainly funded by government programs.  Today, the large public investments for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure that characterized industry growth in North America and Western Europe over the past 3 years are beginning to slow.  According to a new tracker report from Navigant Research, there are now almost 64,000 public charging stations installed globally.

“As public investments in charging infrastructure wane, the numerous companies that emerged in the market’s early stages and championed various technologies and business models are now beginning to consolidate and standardize,” says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research.  “While investment in EV charging equipment technology has been significant during the past few years, the private sector now needs to focus on financing infrastructure deployments in order for the market to continue to grow rapidly.”

Alternating current (AC) installations account for the vast majority of public charging station installations worldwide.  AC charging, which is used in both residential and commercial applications, typically supplies capacities of up to 7.2 kilowatts (kW) and, in rare cases, up to 43 kW.  Used in commercial applications, direct current (DC) installations typically supply from 20 kW to 50 kW, although some manufacturers have introduced units with power ratings of up to 100 kW.

The report, “Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Tracker 3Q13”, surveys more than 150 key players in the EVSE industry and tracks the total number of publicly accessible EVSE units worldwide, segmented by region and technology.  Additional focus is placed on EVSE units for both public and private installations in the United States.  Data on the number of installations in the United States is segmented by state and by those metropolitan statistical areas with populations more than 500,000.  The report also examines EVSE technologies, business models, and market barriers on a regional basis.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries.  In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets.  The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors.  Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.