EV Charging in Europe: Ranking the Best & Worst Countries

EV charging in Europe has come a long way, and after a multi-country road trip through six nations in Western Europe, I got a front-row seat to just how varied the infrastructure can be.

From flawless top-ups by a lakeside in Annecy, France to circling Monaco for a spot to plug in, this road trip revealed the best and worst of western’s Europe EV charging.

This made me think about how they compare to EV charging across Canada—so here’s how I rate each country I visited based on availability, reliability, and cost.

My Route Through Europe EV Charging Territory

My European EV road trip started in southern France and took me through northern Italy, across the Swiss Alps, and back through France and into northern Spain. From there, I headed through the Spanish interior to Andorra before looping back to Toulouse for my flight home.

It was a truly epic European EV road trip, complete with highlights, hiccups, and everything in between.

EV Charging Cost in Europe

Costs varied wildly across the countries. France and Switzerland were fairly consistent with moderate pricing.

Switzerland gave me the most expensive charging session I have experienced to date. Context, though, it was in the picture-perfect tourist town of Lautenbraun and gave me free parking.

Expect to pay anywhere from free to €0.90 per kWh depending on the provider and location. Tesla Superchargers remained the most reliable and often the best value.

🇪🇺 EV Charging Costs by Country (€/kWh)

Rank	Country	Avg. DC Fast Charging Cost (€/kWh)	Notes
1	Monaco	Free	Public charging stations are free and widely available.
2	Andorra	€0.40	First two hours free on public chargers; thereafter, fees apply.
3	Spain	€0.40–€0.60	Prices vary by provider; some, like Zunder, may charge higher rates.
4	France	€0.49–€0.59	Generally consistent pricing; Tesla Superchargers offer good value.
5	Switzerland	€0.65–€0.90	Higher costs, especially at ultra-fast charging stations.
6	Italy	€0.65–€0.90	Costs vary; some areas have limited charger availability.

1. France – Best Overall for EV Charging in Europe

If I had to crown a winner for EV charging in Europe, France easily takes the top spot. From the moment I hit the highway, EV charging points were everywhere.

Nearly every highway exit with a gas station also had chargers, and not just a random Level 2—fast chargers and Tesla Superchargers were widely available.

The convenience factor was unbeatable. I even charged right next to a lake while exploring a nearby village. Tesla chargers are easy to find in public lots, and France’s network in general made driving stress-free.

That said, France is also where I found out that, unlike in North America, hotels don’t typically offer free charging with your stay.

In one case, I had to pay for both parking and charging—even though there was free parking nearby and some public chargers were actually cheaper. Still, the reliability and volume of chargers across the country were unmatched.

Despite my first charging attempt in France being a comical fail—I accidentally started and paid for the charging session of the car next to me—Chargemap ranks France as one of the top countries for charging, and I can see why.

2. Switzerland – Reliable but App-Locked

Switzerland’s infrastructure was close to France in quality but fell short due to usability issues. The chargers were there, but most required RF tags or apps rather than accepting credit cards. Despite having a ChargePoint in my Apple Wallet, I couldn’t get it to work at some locations listed on ChargePoint.

Even hotels with EV options posed challenges. I booked specifically to use their chargers, only to be stumped by incompatible systems. Tesla Superchargers worked fine, though.

3. Andorra – Small But Surprisingly Efficient

Andorra EV charging was a pleasant surprise. For such a small country, the coverage was impressive. It’s a popular tourist destination, so it makes sense they’d prioritize accessibility.

I stayed at the Hotel Roc Blanc, which offered free EV charging. That came in handy after a long drive.

Public chargers were available throughout the town and had good reviews. However, my hotel experience had a hilarious twist: I was warned against entering the tight underground parkade, but after a quick look, I gave it a shot.

All went well until the Tesla chargers didn’t work. I had to resort to the mobile adapter, only for the hotel owner to show up—and magically fix the charger by simply plugging it in again. Classic IT move.

4. Spain – Hit or Miss

Spain was a mixed bag. My Spain road trip started strong with reliable Tesla Superchargers in the north and excellent hotel options with charging in San Sebastian and Bilbao. I even stayed near the Guggenheim at a hotel with charging, which worked perfectly.

But the southern and interior regions were another story.

Highway chargers were sparse and unreliable. At one Ionity station, my card was charged twice for pre-authorizations, only for the system to fail completely.

Another stop at a Zunder charger looked promising with 12 stations and 180kW capacity, but none were working properly. I spent five minutes getting the card reader to respond before finally getting a charge—at a steep price.

This reminded me of my time driving from Minnesota to Manitoba, although not as remote.

5. Monaco – Style Over Substance

Tiny Monaco has over 300 public charge points, all free to use—if you can find an available one. I aimed to top up while visiting the Monte Carlo Casino, but the parking lot was full.

I circled multiple times trying to access two nearby chargers, but both were occupied. Still, it was great to catch a glimpse of their electric buses in action—another sign of Monaco’s impressive EV push despite its small size.

Finally, I gave up and tried one more on the city’s outskirts, but it too was in use.

Monaco’s dense streets and limited public infrastructure make it tough to rely on EV charging here. It’s probably fine for locals with regular access, but for tourists, I wouldn’t count on a stopover charge like I did.

Note, I did not spend the night but do see several hotels with EV charging.

6. Italy – Room for Improvement

Last but sadly least was Italy. I’d read that Europe EV adoption in Italy was behind the curve, and it showed. Highway chargers were sparse, and the Chargemap app reflected a lack of options. One hotel in southern Milan advertised free EV charging, but I arrived to find the chargers blocked off and non-operational.

On the bright side, I found a McDonald’s near Lake Como with working chargers and topped up while grabbing a shockingly good macchiato. The drive along Lake Como also presented a couple of convenient chargers; however, they are very limited. With how popular the area is, I would not count on them.

Italy was also my first time seeing a Tesla Supercharger that required a PIN code to access. Kind of unusual, but assume there for security and to avoid ICEing.

Final Rankings for EV Charging Station Europe Experiences

1. France – Best all-around experience for EV charging points Europe
2. Switzerland – Reliable network with some usability quirks
3. Andorra – Small country, solid infrastructure
4. Spain – Great in parts, frustrating in others
5. Monaco – Nice try, but limited for travelers
6. Italy – Way behind the rest

If you’re planning an EV road trip across Europe, France and Switzerland are the most EV-friendly countries by far. Italy, on the other hand, needs some work.

I’m already hoping to return to Europe to explore more of its EV-friendly destinations—a road trip through Norway is high on the list. I can’t wait to see how the gold standard of EV adoption holds up to this ranking.

FAQ: EV Charging in Europe