The Arval Mobility Observatory 2026 found that 24 minutes is the point at which a charging stop becomes too long for most people making long trips. Nearly four in ten corporate drivers say longer charging times do not fit into their workday.
Spanish roads tell a different story. Filling a petrol tank takes only a few minutes, while most electric car owners prefer to charge overnight at home, when rates are lower. Only 28% use rapid chargers on highways, and even then, the cost can be high: ultrafast charging ranges from €6.46 to €11.34 per 100 kilometers, sometimes more than diesel or petrol. Government data show that, as of September 2026, Spain has between 42,318 and 52,746 public charging points, depending on how they are counted. Yet only a small share are the ultra-fast chargers needed to keep stops under 24 minutes.
The Spanish government launched the REVE platform in September 2026. It provides real-time data on approximately 44,700 charging points and shows that 99% of Spain's territory is within 50 km of a public charger.
Speed and price are only part of the problem; the network itself is also an issue. An independent review using MITECO data found that Spain has about 3,964 public charging points with at least 150 kW, the minimum needed to reliably keep charging times below 24 minutes. For 30% of surveyed drivers, this shortage is the basic reason they hesitate to use electric cars for longer trips. This figure is lower than earlier estimates, reflecting the gap between the total number of charging points and those that are actually high-powered.
Even when drivers find a fast charger, the data show that the average stop lasts about 25 minutes, although a charge of 18 to 23 minutes would be enough to continue the journey. Many drivers "overcharge," likely because they worry about running out of battery or failing to find another working charger. Industry sources such as ANFAC also point out that up to a quarter of public charging points may be out of service at any time, making the network less reliable in practice.
Price transparency is another issue. Home charging remains the cheapest and easiest option, but unpredictable public charging fees, especially for ultrafast chargers, make some drivers think twice. High costs and limited infrastructure are holding back Spain's electric vehicle market, while driver concerns add to the problem. Government reports say there were about 950,000 electrified vehicles on Spanish roads in 2026, but the fast-charging network is not growing fast enough to meet the needs of long-distance drivers.
Starting in 2027, all highway service stations with fuel sales above 10 million liters must install charging points with at least 600 kW capacity, under a Spanish government mandate aimed at addressing the shortage of ultra-fast chargers on intercity routes. But, connecting new high-power charging hubs to the grid can take up to three years, significantly slowing infrastructure expansion.
Official government sources
As reported by ElPlural.com, progress hinges on bringing charging stops below 24 minutes and expanding the network of 150 kW chargers. Clear, predictable pricing is also needed. Without those changes, electric cars will remain a niche choice for Spanish drivers.
Recent news in the global electric vehicle market, including the recall of millions of Teslas in China, shows how much infrastructure and user experience matter. In Spain, electric cars will struggle to move beyond early adopters until charging gets faster and cheaper, with chargers easier to find.
