* Public charging points up 60% in 2019 - IEA
* China accounts for 60% of global total - IEA
* Fast chargers account for 31% - IEA
By Christoph Steitz
FRANKFURT, June 15 (Reuters) - The number of publicly
accessible charging points for electric vehicles (EV) jumped 60%
in 2019, the biggest increase in three years and outpacing sales
of battery-powered cars, according to the International Energy
Agency (IEA).
In its annual Global EV Outlook, the IEA said the number of
public slow and fast charging spots reached 862,118 globally,
with China, the world's largest car market, taking a 60% share.
Fast chargers accounted for 31% of the total. The IEA
defines slow charging as providing power of up to 22 kilowatts
(kW), taking hours to charge a vehicle battery. Fast chargers,
including Tesla's superchargers, can take minutes.
"China continues to lead in the rollout of publicly
accessible chargers, particularly fast chargers, which are
suited to its dense urban areas with less opportunity for
private charging at home," the report said.
(For an interactive version of the graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2BVCFMu?eikon=true)
The increase reflects efforts to build critical
infrastructure ahead of an expected boom in EV sales, which
accounted for just 1% of global car stock last year, according
to the IEA.
While most EV charging takes place at home or at work, the
rollout of public infrastructure is key to convincing
prospective buyers that there is no risk of them getting
stranded on an empty battery.
As part of its economic stimulus plan, Germany announced
earlier this month that it would provide 500 million euros ($563
million) to support the rollout of private charge points, of
which there are 6.5 million worldwide.
"I view this as an organic step in the right direction, but
not a revolution with big winners or losers," said Thomas
Daiber, founder of e-mobility advisory firm Cosmic Cat, of the
German plan.
As well as Tesla, charge point providers include Anglo-Dutch
group Shell, France's Engie, Germany's E.ON
, Volkswagen and ChargePoint, whose
shareholders include Daimler, BMW and
Siemens.
($1 = 0.8886 euros)
(Editing by Mark Potter)
