Electric vehicles - Public charging stations

2024

Number of electric vehicle charging stations increases

To help ensure electric vehicle owners have ready access to power when needed, Washington has worked with its EV partners to increase the number of public EV charging stations and ports. As of 2024, the state had:

• 2,090 Level 2 public charging station locations (208-Volt to 240-Volt), containing 4,991 ports. Depending on the vehicle's acceptance rate and the power output of the station, it takes about three to eight hours to fully charge. The 2,090 locations represent a 14.5% increase since 2023 when there were 1,825 stations and a 66% increase since 2020 when there were 1,262 Level 2 charging station locations.
• 386 Direct Current fast charging public station locations (400-Volt to 900-Volt), containing 1,494 ports. Depending on the vehicle's acceptance rate and power output of the station, this takes about 30-60 minutes to fully charge. The 386 locations represent a 32.6% increase since 2023 when there were 291 stations and a 113% increase since 2020 when there were 181 Direct Current fast charging station locations.

Washington state's Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council completed a Transportation Electrification Strategy in 2023 which modeled EV infrastructure needs; the state is notably deficient in fast charging with only 386 direct current fast charging stations, representing 1,494 ports. The TES modeled the need for 6.2% more DCFC ports in 2024 for a total of 2,400 ports.

WSDOT, in partnership with the state Department of Commerce, created a new EV Mapping and Planning Tool which is an interactive map with access to thousands of public data sets. It helps policymakers, planners and partners make informed decisions about where to add charging stations as the state moves toward a zero-emission future.

WSDOT is supporting the need for additional fast charger ports through the federally funded National EV Infrastructure Formula Program and the state-funded Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership Program. These programs construct fast charging stations along all interstates, U.S. routes, and state routes.

2023

To help ensure electric vehicle owners have ready access to power when needed, Washington has worked with its EV partners to increase the number of public EV charging stations and ports. As of 2023, the state had:

• 1,825 Level 2 charging station locations (208-Volt to 240-Volt). Depending on the vehicle's acceptance rate and power output of the station, this takes about three to eight hours to fully charge. The 1,825 locations represent a 25% increase since 2022 when there were 1,462 and a 217% increase since 2019 when there were 575 Level 2 charging station locations.
• 291 Direct Current fast charging station locations (400-Volt to 900-Volt, depending on the vehicle's acceptance rate and power output of the station, this takes about 30-60 minutes to fully charge. The 291 locations represent a 29% increase since 2022 when there were 226 and a 191% increase since 2019 when there were 100 Direct Current fast charging station locations.

Washington state's Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council completed a Transportation Electrification Strategy in 2023 which modeled EV infrastructure needs; the state is notably deficient with only 291 direct current fast charging stations. The state aims to have publicly accessible DC fast charging stations every 50 miles on all roadways. This will account for a total of 2,633 miles designated as alternative fuel corridors. WSDOT is aiming to meet these needs using the federally funded National EV Infrastructure Formula Program and the state-funded Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Partnership Program to construct these charging stations along all interstates, U.S. routes, and state routes.

2022

To help ensure electric vehicles have ready access to power when needed, Washington has worked with its EV partners to increase the number of EV charging stations and ports. As of 2022, the state had:

• 1,462 Level 2 charging stations (Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt). Depending on the vehicle, this takes around eight hours to completely charge.
• 226 Direct Current fast charging stations (Fast Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt). Fast chargers allow most vehicles to recharge in minutes as opposed to hours.

Washington state's Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council along with the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program are leveraging state and federal resources to the ensure electric vehicle incentives, infrastructure, and opportunities are available and accessible to everyone.

2021

To help ensure electric vehicles have ready access to power when needed, Washington has worked with its EV partners to increase the number of EV charging stations and ports. As of 2021, the state has:

• 1,605 Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment units with 3,404 ports (Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt). Depending on the vehicle, this will take around eight hours to completely charge.
• 217 Direct Current fast chargers with 726 ports (Fast Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt). Fast chargers allow most vehicles to recharge in minutes as opposed to hours.

In the past five years, the total number of charging ports (both Level 2 and DC fast chargers) has increased 131% from 1,790 to 4,130.

Because not all electric vehicles use the same type of fast charger to plug in and recharge, WSDOT works with partners to ensure a variety is offered. Increased EV adoption is expected to help the state progress toward its goals of reducing greenhouse gases, protecting public health and the environment, and promoting economic growth.

2020

To help ensure electric vehicles have ready access to power when needed, Washington has worked with its EV partners to increase the number of EV charging stations and ports. The state has:

• 1,262 Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment units with 2,528 ports, and
• 181 Direct Current fast chargers with 591 ports

In the past five years, the total number of charging ports (both Level 2 and DC fast chargers) has increased 133% from 1,337 to 3,119.

Because not all electric vehicles use the same type of fast charger to plug in and recharge, WSDOT works with partners to ensure a wide variety is offered at locations across the state. Increased EV adoption is expected to help the state progress toward its goals of reducing greenhouse gases, protecting public health and the environment, and promoting economic growth.