Electrification of transport across Europe continues to advance, but progress remains uneven between Member States, according to a new report by Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML), commissioned by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).

The first quarterly KPI update of 2026 tracks the EU’s transition to zero-emission mobility across four key areas: electricity grid readiness, consumer adoption, charging infrastructure and battery production. While overall progress at EU level is described as positive, the report highlights “deep disparities” between countries, with some advancing rapidly and others lagging due to gaps in infrastructure, grid preparedness and policy support.

Charging infrastructure expands but remains insufficient

According to the report, the EU now has around one million public charging points, still far below the 3.5 million target set for 2030. As of early 2026, 174,000 public charging stations are operational—surpassing the number of fuel stations (114,163)—with total capacity reaching 39.1 GW in February.

However, in 17 of the 27 Member States, fuel stations still outnumber charging points. TML warns that without accelerated investment, the ratio of available to required charging capacity could fall sharply from 2.6 today to 0.8 by 2030.

Affordability improves, but adoption barriers remain

The report notes gradual improvements in vehicle affordability, with more electric models now priced below €30,000. Despite this, high upfront costs continue to weigh on consumer adoption, making tax incentives and purchase subsidies a key factor in driving demand.

The light commercial vehicle (LCV) segment remains particularly underdeveloped. Zero-emission vehicles account for just 10% of the market, with adoption progressing unevenly across countries and in some cases declining compared to 2025.

Regulatory gaps and grid challenges persist

Key regulatory enablers—such as dynamic electricity pricing, demand-side flexibility and fair taxation of energy storage—are not yet fully implemented across the EU. Double taxation of storage remains in place in 11 Member States.

Some progress is visible: smart meter penetration has reached 61% and dynamic pricing schemes are becoming more widespread. However, other indicators lag behind targets, including solar capacity per vehicle, which stands at around 1 kW compared to a 3.2 kW target, and vehicle-to-grid compatibility, stalled at 15%.

The report also underscores the challenge of scaling domestic battery production. Europe currently has a capacity of 342 GWh, well below the 1,136 GWh needed to achieve self-sufficiency by 2035.

At the same time, high energy costs continue to undermine competitiveness. Industrial electricity prices in Europe remain nearly twice as high as in China and 2.4 times higher than in the United States, posing an additional barrier to expanding manufacturing capacity.

Uneven transition across Europe

TML concludes that while the EU is making progress towards zero-emission mobility, the pace of transition varies significantly across Member States. Differences in infrastructure deployment, policy frameworks and energy systems continue to shape how quickly countries can electrify their transport sectors.

The findings highlight the need for stronger coordination and accelerated investment to ensure a more balanced and effective transition across the bloc.