On paper, Spain’s electric vehicle charging network keeps growing. In reality, nearly 18,000 of the country’s 58,075 public charging points are out of action, leaving drivers stranded and the shift to electric mobility stuck in first gear.
The latest Barómetro de Electromovilidad from the Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Automóviles y Camiones (Anfac) puts the total at 58,075 public charging points. But 17,965 of them, or 23.6%, are unavailable. Some have broken down or fallen into poor condition; many are still waiting for a grid connection. This is more than a minor technical hiccup: drivers can’t rely on the network, and Spain’s electric ambitions lose credibility. Anfac says that if every idle point went live, the network would reach 76,040. The priority is getting existing stations working while building new ones.
ANFAC puts Spain’s infrastructure index for electric mobility at 15.9 out of 100, well below the EU average of 31.5. Only the Czech Republic and Hungary score lower.
Momentum has faded. Just 5,003 new points were installed from January to September 2026, down sharply from the 13,382 added over the same period last year. Anfac calls this a “impressive slowdown” and warns that the current pace won’t support a mass switch to electric vehicles. Industry sources cited by Europa Press point to one basic culprit: the slow, tangled process of connecting new chargers to the grid. Even after installation, months can pass before a point goes live.
Power output is another sore spot. Just 6,651 charging points in Spain deliver 150 kW or more, only 11.4% of the total. Most units, 39,437 or 68%, are capped at 22 kW or less. Fast charging remains a rare find. Drivers face long waits and little flexibility, especially on longer trips. Only 2,991 points offer ultra-fast charging above 250 kW, about 5% of the network, information from Expansión.
Frustration is building inside the industry. Anfac is pressing public authorities to cut red tape and speed up grid connections. The group also wants more high-power chargers, which are critical to making electric mobility practical at scale.
Spain’s national target for 2026 is 124,000 public charging points. With only 58,075 operational, the country has reached 47% of that goal. But, using the ACEA methodology, which accounts for power capacity per electric vehicle, Spain’s progress is estimated at closer to 70%.
Spain isn’t alone in facing these hurdles. Europa Press reports that bottlenecks in ultra-fast charger deployment and delays from electricity distributors are keeping infrastructure offline. Industry voices are calling for strict deadlines and real penalties to force action on idle points.
