Spain has a problem with charging stations: they are installed, but not activated.

As of today, Spain’s public charging network consists of 58,075 stations. In the third quarter of 2026, 1,393 new stations were added, representing a 2.5% increase from the previous quarter. However, on an annual basis, the deployment of charging stations has slowed down, with 13,382 stations added between January and September—only 37.4% of the number installed during the same period last year.

ANFAC (Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers) states that the situation could improve if the numerous stations that have already been built but are not yet operational were put into use. In the third quarter, a total of 17,965 stations remained out of service, either due to damage or because they had not yet been connected to the electrical distribution network.

Therefore, 23.6% of the installed infrastructure is not operational; if it were, Spain would have 76,040 public charging points. ANFAC calls for accelerated processes regarding access and connection to the electrical distribution network. On the other hand, looking at the most common types of points, it is evident that those with lower capacity still make up the majority.

Of the 1,393 points installed in the last quarter, 693 had a capacity of 22 kW or less, while 399 had 150 kW or more. ANFAC is pleased that one-third of the installed stations are high-capacity. In total, Spain’s network has 6,651 points with 150 kW or more, accounting for 11.4% of the total. This type of infrastructure is crucial for enabling long-distance travel.

Electric car sales are rising, but infrastructure is growing more slowly

According to the methodology established by ACEA (Association of European Automobile Manufacturers), infrastructure deployment must ensure a minimum power output of 3 kW per electric vehicle and 2 kW per plug-in hybrid. Spain has currently reached 70% of the installed power target set for 2026.

José López-Tafall, general director of ANFAC, states that "the data from the third quarter show that market electrification is continuing to progress and holds increasing importance among Spanish buyers. The fact that one in three new cars registered last September was already electric demonstrates growing demand when consumers have the necessary conditions and sustained, appropriate incentives."

"While infrastructure deployment has been progressing positively, the cumulative slowdown in the first three quarters of the year requires attention... We need to maintain the deployment pace to keep up with market demands, and it’s crucial to streamline processes so that sites already installed through operators’ investment efforts can become operational as soon as possible. Similarly, we must continue focusing on underserved areas and regions with limited infrastructure that hinder a consistent user experience, as well as on heavy vehicles, where almost everything still needs to be done."

"Spain has an opportunity to establish itself as one of Europe’s major industrial hubs for electric vehicles, but to achieve this we need market development to be accompanied by appropriate infrastructure. We must continue expanding the grid’s capacity, especially in high-demand areas, ensuring its full functionality, and working toward an accessible and balanced infrastructure across the entire country. Only then can we narrow the gap with Europe and strengthen the competitiveness of our automotive industry."

Source | ANFAC