The prevalence of electric vehicles is perhaps the most important innovation in the automotive world in the last decade. For many years, drivers were interested in alternatives to traditional gas vehicles, but they simply weren’t practical enough for the average consumer. As ranges, availability, and vehicle options became less of an issue, electric cars became more and more common on the road.

With this explosion, the availability of EV chargers has also grown. In California, there are 178,549 public and shared EV chargers compared to 120,000 gas pumps. This means that owning an electric car has never been more practical or convenient, and if you have been sitting on the fence about it, now is a great time to make the switch.

California’s EV Infrastructure Milestone

In March 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the number of EV chargers in the state had far surpassed the number of gas nozzles. In a state that has been a major innovator in the electric vehicle field with companies like Tesla and Rivian, this should come as no surprise.

This also means that other states in the U.S. are likely to follow suit, seeing how the EV push has started to make its way to the rest of the country. While charging has always been a concern for anyone who has been considering switching to an electric car, this new statistic shows that the time has come for eco-conscious consumers to take the plunge into electric vehicles and clean transportation.

What This Means for Drivers in California and Beyond

The prevalence of the electric charging network in California means that there are many more opportunities for drivers to keep their vehicles charged and keep themselves on the road. Things like range anxiety and dead batteries at inconvenient times no longer have to be barriers to electric vehicle ownership. Instead, drivers can focus on the positive aspects of owning an electric car and all the money-saving elements that can make it such a great investment.

Even if you don’t live in California, EV chargers are becoming more and more common throughout the country and the expansion of their availability will help make EVs a much more viable solution for people all over. The more convenient it is to own one of these cars, the more drivers will be willing to take a chance on them and make big, positive changes in the automotive landscape and emissions.

Types of EV Chargers: What You’ll Find Across the State

The newly released statistics for California reflect public and private shared EV chargers. They do not include private EV chargers for at-home use, which means that there are even more single-family home chargers in the state than what has been reported. Most of the chargers that are publicly available are Level 2 chargers. This means that they work on alternating current (AC) and 240 volts. At this level, you can usually get somewhere between 10 and 60 miles of range per hour, which is faster than a Level 1 charger, which uses standard household power.

While many of the public chargers are Level 2, there are also around 17,000 DC fast chargers available. These faster chargers can generally give you up to 80% of charge within 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your vehicle. With this kind of charging power open to the public in so many regions, having an electric vehicle has never been more convenient or suitable for drivers of all kinds.

Challenges That Still Exist with EV Charging Access

The wide availability of EV charging stations is certainly a major asset for electric car owners in California, but there are still a few challenges that need to be overcome. Maintenance of the EV chargers is an ongoing issue throughout the country. It is difficult to ensure that every single charging station is in good working order at all times. This is largely due to connectivity problems and payment issues that stem from the massive push to get the chargers installed. While many of them have been put up over the years, having enough staff to keep them working has presented a whole slew of other issues.

Perhaps the most common problem that EV owners face is finding chargers in more rural areas. Charging services in less populated parts of the country are not as common, and this means that EV new car owners in these areas might not have the ability to charge anywhere outside of their home chargers.

Even if there are a few public chargers in these areas, the wait times due to their scarcity might make EV ownership less practical than it would be in urban regions or densely populated areas. If you live in a community that does not have many people, you might have a hard time finding a charger when you need it most.

Why EV Owners Should Still Consider Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

Being an EV owner is easier than ever these days, but that doesn’t mean that your electric vehicle is immune to mechanical problems. Your drivetrain, cooling system, and suspension can still malfunction just like they can in a traditional gas-powered vehicle. When that happens, you want to be sure that you have a protection plan in place so you can get the repairs you need.

Mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) is one of the best ways to protect your EV and your bank account from unexpected repairs. MBI works like traditional car insurance, but instead of covering repairs that come up due to accidents, it covers repairs that happen due to simple mechanical breakdowns from the use of the car.

With MBI coverage on top of the wide availability of public EV chargers, you can rest easy knowing that you won’t be stuck on the side of the road with no way to get home.

Protect Your EV to the Fullest With Endurance

Abundant EV charging infrastructure has made it more convenient than ever to own an electric vehicle. Even with such simple charging, though, you still need to be sure that your car is protected. Having a full battery doesn’t help you much if your car is having mechanical issues, and MBI can help protect your car and keep you on the road. That is why Endurance offers mechanical breakdown insurance for Californians, so you can rest easy whenever you are behind the wheel.

Endurance MBI is available with three different plans: Standard, Premium, and Elite Plus. You can also add a wide range of additional options, including business use, lift kit, and snowplow coverage. On top of excellent protection for your vehicle, Endurance MBI plans also come with a range of extra benefits like towing reimbursement, rental car coverage, and trip interruption protection. With Endurance MBI on your side, you can drive with confidence knowing that you and your car will be protected on the road.

If you are ready for the best possible coverage for your EV, contact our award-winning customer service team at (800) 253-8203 for a FREE quote. You can also go to the online store to see your price right away and shop with confidence.

For more auto expert resources, be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog. There you will find helpful guides like this one as well as DIY tips and tricks, provider comparisons, and much, much more.