Europe’s EV Charging Shift Comes Home

As EV adoption grows, Europe’s charging buildout moves from highways to neighborhoods, betting on convenience, steady demand, and residential access

19 Jan 2026

Europe’s electric vehicle charging industry is turning away from motorway corridors and towards residential streets, as operators and policymakers confront the limits of fast charging for mass adoption.

After years spent rolling out ultra-fast chargers for long-distance travel, companies are investing in slower, neighbourhood-based infrastructure aimed at daily use. The shift reflects a growing recognition that convenience and reliability matter more to most drivers than charging speed.

The change is visible in the rapid growth of on-street and residential charging. One example is Connected Kerb, a UK-based operator that recently raised £65mn from strategic equity investors including Aviva Investors and the UK National Wealth Fund. The company plans to expand its network of nearly 10,000 charge points to about 40,000 sockets, focusing on towns and cities rather than highways.

Investors are increasingly attracted to such models. Analysts say predictable, local demand offers more stable, long-term returns than networks built around occasional road trips. Early charging infrastructure was designed for early adopters. The next phase is aimed at mainstream drivers.

The need is significant. More than 40 per cent of UK households lack off-street parking, a figure broadly reflected across Europe’s dense urban centres. For many potential buyers, the absence of nearby charging remains a primary obstacle to switching to electric vehicles.

“Access and simplicity are now the real battlegrounds,” said Connected Kerb chief executive Chris Pateman-Jones. Charging, he said, needs to become part of everyday life rather than an added task.

Residential and kerbside chargers also align with public policy priorities. Local authorities face pressure to cut transport emissions while managing limited street space and grid capacity. Slower chargers are generally easier to install, less disruptive and place lower strain on local electricity networks.

EU policy is reinforcing the trend. Measures such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation encourage wider and more equitable access to charging, particularly in urban areas.

Challenges remain. Planning approvals can be slow, local opposition can complicate installations, and Europe’s charging networks remain fragmented. Even so, most analysts view the underlying demand as durable.

As electric vehicle ownership rises, the industry’s focus is becoming less about spectacle and more about access. The next stage of Europe’s charging build-out is likely to happen close to home.