Lorraine Williamson
The rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) in Spain is being hindered by a significant lack of fast charging infrastructure in many regions.
According to recent data from the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU), several parts of the country fall well below the national average in terms of fast charger availability.
Uneven access to fast charging across Spain
The report highlights five key regions with the lowest number of fast charging points per thousand kilometres: the Canary Islands, Galicia, Extremadura, the Balearic Islands and Murcia. In some provinces within Aragon, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha and Navarre, fast chargers are entirely absent.
While these areas struggle with limited access, drivers in such regions face longer waits and greater inconvenience, particularly when covering longer distances. The situation is contributing to growing concerns about regional inequalities in EV adoption.
Madrid and Basque Country lead the way
In contrast, Madrid and the Basque Country offer far stronger support for electric driving. Madrid boasts nearly 100 fast charging stations per thousand kilometres—five times more than many other regions. The Basque Country provides over 50 fast chargers, while Catalonia, La Rioja and the Valencian Community all exceed 20 per thousand kilometres.
This disparity means EV ownership is far more feasible in some parts of Spain than others. The gap is particularly stark between urban hubs and rural or island areas.
Charger deficit stifles EV sales
Despite a growing number of affordable EV models—many under €35,000—Spain still sees relatively low uptake. Sales remain behind those in neighbouring countries such as France and Portugal. The OCU blames this on both the lack of charging points and the time it takes to connect new ones to the grid.
Calls for policy reform and faster connections
Currently, it can take more than two years to get a fast charger connected to the electricity grid. The OCU has urged the government to simplify this process and to provide greater financial incentives. They also stress the need for targeted subsidies in sparsely populated areas where private investment is less viable.
The consumer group also suggests an immediate discount at the point of sale for vehicles purchased under the Moves Plan, rather than requiring drivers to wait months for reimbursement.
Future of EV infrastructure hinges on better regulation
According to car manufacturers’ association Anfac, Spain has nearly 50,000 public chargers—but over 10,000 are reportedly inactive. This undermines public confidence and reduces the reliability of EV travel.
The OCU calls for a rethinking of how EV infrastructure is rolled out. Priorities include more affordable chargers along key routes and a coordinated national strategy to ensure consistency across regions.
Improving access and speeding up the installation of reliable, working chargers will be key if Spain hopes to accelerate its transition to cleaner transport.
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