How many electric vehicle charging ports are in France, and where are they?
Interactive maps can help drivers find available ports
Charging ports are managed by multiple operators
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Electric vehicle usage is on the rise in France, bringing welcome news to a government seeking to push forward with environmental targets.
In the first seven months of 2024, over half of all car sales were electric or electric-hybrid vehicles.
Read more: CHART: Fewer petrol cars being bought in France in 2024
The rise in electric car usage comes with the caveat, however, that these vehicles need to be charged.
Thankfully, in France, an expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure is underway, with over 100 companies installing charging ports.
Out of these, at least 15 install charging points along motorways, meaning drivers can use their vehicles for longer journeys without the risk of running out of juice.
Read more: ‘We tried out driving from Yorkshire to Dordogne in an electric car’
How many charging ports are there?
Overall, there are around 147,000 commercial charging ports in France, although this number is continually rising.
This does not take into account private charging ports installed for personal use at homes or in shared buildings.
Read more: Can I install an electric charging point at our flat in France?
Of the 147,000 commercial ports, around 10% are ultra-rapid models, allowing a vehicle to charge in around 20 minutes, says Brieuc de Tonquédec, spokesperson for charging port operator Ionity.
Where do I find charging ports?
There are online resources to help you locate charging ports.
Official traffic watchdog Bison Futé provides real-time interactive map showing ports fulfilling the following criteria:
The charging power of the port is at least 50 kw/h
The port is located at service and rest areas on the motorway and trunk road networks, or within 1 km of a junction on these roads
You can find the map here, and it shows if the port is currently available or not.
However, it does not show the location of slower, less powerful ports, nor those in urban areas away from motorways.
Alternatively, charging port providers such as Ionity provide maps of their own ports.
This is particularly useful if you have a payment card for charging your vehicle with such a company, where you may be able to receive a discount for using their ports.
Read more: Are French bank cards required at electric vehicle charging stations?
