Paris is firmly stepping up its commitment to electric mobility and has set a clear target: reaching 30,000 high-power charging (HPC) points along the country’s main road corridors by 2035. This move aims to consolidate infrastructure as a strategic lever to support the growth of the electric vehicle fleet in the coming years.

The plan is part of a broader strategy to upgrade high-traffic corridors, with the goal of multiplying the current number of ultra-fast charging stations by five. The objective is to strengthen network reliability and ensure dense coverage—considered essential to support the rising number of electric vehicle registrations.

Long-distance travel remains a key factor in the adoption of electric vehicles. France is already starting from a relatively advanced position: all tolled motorway service areas are equipped with fast charging, with an average spacing of one station every 50 kilometres. However, the planned expansion aims to increase the number of available charging points, reduce waiting times, and improve service quality.

The goal is to build a system capable of supporting an increasingly electric vehicle fleet, in line with targets forecasting a growing share of battery-electric cars over the next decade. In this context, the expansion of ultra-fast charging infrastructure becomes crucial to make long-distance travel viable, significantly reducing charging times.

France currently has more than 140,000 public charging points and is targeting 400,000 by 2030. However, market growth requires further acceleration: since 2022, electricity consumption linked to road charging has doubled every year, and this trend is expected to continue.

The government’s ambition is significant: to reach two out of every three new cars being electric by 2030. In this scenario, the motorway network plays a key role: while it represents only 2% of France’s road network, it accounts for around one-third of total traffic.

The plan in detail: focus on cars and heavy transport

The current network includes around 4,500 charging points across more than 420 motorway service areas, supplemented by approximately 7,500 fast chargers near major routes. The new programme provides for:

• 22,000 fast-charging points for passenger cars, with power levels around 150 kW and average charging times between 20 and 25 minutes, distributed across approximately 900 sites;
• 8,000 charging points dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles, with power ranging from 100 to over 800 kW and charging times between 20 and 45 minutes, across about 560 sites;
• in parallel, the electrical capacity of service areas will be strengthened: 2.8 GW allocated to light vehicles and 1.6 GW for heavy transport.

Beyond numbers, Paris is also focusing on user experience, with commitments to interoperability, transparent pricing per kWh, and universal payment systems, including credit card access. Strengthening the French network also has a cross-border impact: major European transport corridors pass through the country and connect with Italy, making the investment strategically significant.

In Italy, growth is present but appears less structured. The public charging network has expanded from just over 50,000 points in 2023 to more than 73,000 in 2025, with an HPC share close to 19%. Electric vehicle registrations are also growing strongly, with significant increases in early 2025. However, challenges remain in motorway coverage and the spread of high-power chargers, as well as the lack of a comprehensive national strategy.

The rise of electric mobility brings a crucial challenge: grid load management. In Italy, electricity consumption for transport is expected to increase by an average of 4% per year in the short term, a trend similar to France. The issue is not only installing chargers, but building an intelligent and flexible system. Energy management, load balancing, dynamic pricing, and integration between home and public charging will be decisive elements in turning grid pressure into an opportunity.

The direction is clear: while Paris is accelerating with a defined strategy, Italy’s challenge is to move from quantitative growth to structured planning aligned with energy transition goals.

The industry appointment will be at E-Charge 2026, the trade fair dedicated to the EV charging industry and market, charging stations and infrastructure, technologies, services, and systems, taking place from 7 to 9 October 2026 at Bologna Exhibition Center.

It will be held as part of Urban Tech – The Urban Technology Show, the new event dedicated to e-mobility, traffic, commuting, security, telecom & data, and the environment.