Overview
- Major charging companies report notable year‑on‑year growth in use, with Vattenfall saying roughly two‑thirds more electricity was loaded at its German stations and EWE reporting about 30 percent higher utilization.
- Despite those increases, national monitoring from BDEW found low simultaneous occupancy of public charge points in 2025, which shows overall infrastructure still outpaces peak simultaneous demand.
- Drivers face a fragmented public‑charging experience because prices vary by operator and location, start and authentication methods differ between stations, and confusing tariffs can lead to unexpectedly high bills.
- Many EV owners prefer home wallboxes because they are simpler and often cheaper, while drivers without home charging, company‑car users and occasional long‑distance travelers must use public stations and need tailored cost strategies.
- If public charging use keeps rising, the likely effects are more pressure on operators and regulators to improve tariff transparency and unify start procedures, and localized spots of higher congestion even though national capacity remains ample.