Very good news for the reliability of charging stations

Photo credit: MaxPPP.

Better fast charging stations, but more often broken charging points. This is the disappointing assessment of the latest Avere census published in September 2024 on the state of charging stations for electric cars in France, which reported as of August 31 a total of 146,771 charging points and an average availability rate of 80%. . In detail, the reliability of direct current fast charging terminals had improved unlike those with alternating current.

This situation has changed significantly in the new Avere statement: As of October 31, the organization reports a total of 150,052 charging points in France open to the public. But the good news lies rather in the technical availability rate of these terminals, measured at 94% in this new ranking instead of 80% a month earlier!

All terminals are progressing

In detail, the “slow” alternating current terminals display an availability rate of 93.5%. Those with direct current with a power of less than 150 kW show an availability rate of 94.2% and those with direct current with a power greater than or equal to 150 kW, 96.2%. Figures which demonstrate a spectacular progression since they were respectively at 78, 87 and 85%, presaging a lower probability of coming across broken terminals (which we do not necessarily verify during our tests even if we obviously cannot draw generalities from our personal experiences).

Not only are there more terminals than ever in France, but they are now more reliable. Objectively good news even if the average price of the load in «  business to business » described by the same organization, given for €0.47 per kW for direct current charging and especially €0.70 for alternating current (!!) is enough to give users of electric cars a cold sweat. The Avère report recalls “that this is the price that the mobility operator (eMSP) pays to the terminal operator (CPO), and that this average price may differ from the price that the end user pays when roaming because it is the mobility operator who determines the final price with possible additional costs.