France had 202,804 publicly accessible charging points at the end of September 2026, up 13% in a year, according to the national barometer published on 12 October 2026 by Avere-France and the Ministry of Ecological Transition, based on data from Gireve. For the first time, the country passed 300 public charging points per 100,000 inhabitants. The bigger change is in use: each point averaged 32.7 charging sessions a month in September, up from 25.2 a year earlier.
Key Takeaways
- France reached 202,804 public charging points at the end of September 2026, up 13% in a year.
- The network now exceeds 300 points per 100,000 inhabitants.
- Average use rose to 32.7 sessions per point per month, and energy delivered rose more than 72%.
- Points above 150 kW grew 28.2% to 26,803.
Key Figures
| Indicator | End of September 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Public charging points | 202,804 | +13% in a year |
| Points per 100,000 inhabitants | More than 300 | Threshold passed for the first time |
| Average sessions per point per month | 32.7 | Up from 25.2 |
| Points above 150 kW | 26,803 | Up from 20,908 (+28.2%) |
| Electricity delivered at public points | Not stated | More than +72% in a year |
Background
France first passed 200,000 public points in summer 2026. Since then, the headline count has grown at a steadier pace, while the high-power segment and utilisation have grown quickly. Avere-France’s delegate general, Clément Molizon, described a record summer followed by a September with very high use. Electricity delivered through public points rose more than 72% in a year, far faster than the 13% growth in the number of points. That gap points to a network that is being used much more intensively.
What It Means
Higher utilisation improves the business case for public charging. More sessions per point means faster payback for site hosts at supermarkets, hotels and car parks, and it supports adding capacity where existing points are busy. It also raises the bar on reliability, since a busy charger that is out of service frustrates more drivers.
For site owners adding AC capacity, a dual-connector Type 2 station such as the EV-AC03201T serves two cars from one pedestal and connects to back-office software through OCPP 1.6J. Where dwell times are shorter, a compact DC charger can complement AC. Our commercial charging solutions page explains the options.
Related Reading
- EV Charging News: France Tops 200,000 Public Charging Points
- Commercial EV Charger Maintenance Checklist
- How Much Do Commercial EV Chargers Cost?
