The world is changing, and Belgium is keeping pace. Or rather, Belgium is zooming along, plugged into the grid. The country has just hit a milestone that feels like a triumph for the future of mobility: 100,000 public charging points for electric cars. Yes, you read that right. One hundred thousand of those shiny, futuristic sockets scattered across our little nation, ready to juice up your electric ride. And if you think this is the finish line, you’re dead wrong. This is just the start of a wild race toward 2030, when Belgium aims to double that number to 220,000 charging points. That’s more ambitious than a politician promising to fix traffic jams!
Let’s take a step back. A decade ago, electric cars were a rarity, like some exotic species you’d only spot in a trendy city district or at a car show. Charging stations? They were so scarce you’d have better luck finding a parking spot in central Brussels on a Friday night. Today, it’s a different story. With over 380,000 fully electric vehicles on Belgian roads – and a total of 650,000 plug-in cars, including hybrids – Belgium ranks in the European top three for charging infrastructure per capita. Only Denmark and the Netherlands edge us out, with 7.7 and 11 charging points per 1,000 inhabitants, respectively. Belgium’s at 7.6, and that’s no small feat for a country once known for its love of diesel and fries.
How did we get here? It’s a mix of clever policy choices, European regulations, and a hefty dose of entrepreneurial grit. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive kicked things off, while grid operators and innovative companies like Fastned rolled up their sleeves. Fast chargers – those powerhouse units that can take your car from 10 to 80 percent in half an hour – have been popping up like mushrooms. In 2023 alone, the number of DC fast chargers tripled to 2,460, and by the end of 2024, there were nearly 4,000. That’s growth that would make a bodybuilder jealous.
But let’s not get too comfortable. Because while 100,000 charging points sounds like a number to brag about, it’s just the starting gun. By 2030, the industry federation EV Belgium estimates we’ll need 220,000 public charging points to keep up with the growth of electric vehicles. That means installing another 120,000 sockets in the next five years. No easy task, especially when you consider that Wallonia needs to step up its game and our electricity grid must handle a tidal wave of demand. The good news? Experts like Philippe Vangeel from EV Belgium are confident our grid can cope, thanks to investments in solar, wind, and new gas plants. But let’s be real – it’s going to be a race against time.
And then there’s the elephant in the room: money. Because all those charging stations, fast chargers, cables, and transformers cost a fortune. Estimates talk of billions of euros in investments, not to mention maintenance and smart management costs. Professor Joeri Van Mierlo from VUB has an interesting idea: raise taxes on fossil fuels and give tax breaks to electricity. It’s a plan that could benefit both the planet and your wallet, but will politicians dare to nudge petrol and diesel drivers in that direction? That’s anyone’s guess.
Another sticking point is the disparity between regions. Flanders is the overachiever, aiming for 35,000 public charging points by 2025 and focusing on smart charging hubs rather than standalone stations. Brussels, meanwhile, is targeting a modest 11,000 chargers by 2035, and Wallonia seems to be lagging a bit behind. Especially in cities, where home charging is often not an option, public charging points are critical. Because, let’s face it, nobody wants to park their car three streets away and drag an extension cord across the pavement.
Still, there’s reason to be optimistic. The growth of charging infrastructure proves that collaboration pays off. Companies, governments, and grid operators are working together to prepare Belgium for an electric future. And with a car fleet getting greener by the day – one in four new cars is now fully electric – the message is clear: the electric revolution is unstoppable. But to stay at the front of the pack, we need to invest boldly in fast chargers, bidirectional charging (where your car can feed power back to the grid), and the electrification of vans and trucks. Because, yes, they need to join the green party too.
So, what does this mean for you, the driver? Simple: the future is electric, and Belgium is ready. Whether you live in the city or the countryside, chances are a charging station will soon be nearby. And if you’re still on the fence about making the switch to an electric car, know that the options are only growing and the technology is only getting better. The 100,000 charging point milestone isn’t the end – it’s a springboard to a cleaner, quieter, and – let’s be honest – pretty darn cool future.
For those ready to take the plunge, check out our marketplace where you’ll find a wide selection of 100% electric cars. Search, compare, and buy your dream ride at https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
