Electric Vehicle Charging Services See Record Surge: Consumption Up 153.5%

According to a statement by İbrahim Öz, Head of the Energy Transformation Department at the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), Turkey's electric vehicle (EV) charging services experienced a record growth in the first six months of 2026. During this period, electricity consumption related to charging services surged by 153.5% compared to the same period of the previous year. Total charging time increased by 137.4%, and the number of charging transactions rose by 96.6%. These figures highlight the rapid expansion of the country's electric mobility ecosystem and the effectiveness of infrastructure investments.

Detailed data released by EPDK indicates that in the first half of 2026, a total of 15,408,578 charging transactions were carried out at stations operated by charging network license holders. These transactions amounted to 17,569,444 hours of total charging time and 392,252 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity consumption. In comparison, the first six months of 2025 saw 7,838,168 charging transactions, 7,400,977 hours of charging time, and 154,723 MWh of electricity consumption. İbrahim Öz emphasized that the use of electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure in Turkey continue to expand rapidly.

As of the end of June 2026, the total number of installed charging points (sockets) across Turkey reached 45,097. Of these points, 19,903 are direct current (DC) and 25,731 are alternating current (AC) charging units, with an additional 26 mobile charging points. This swift development in charging infrastructure is further supported by the increase in charging points from 12,084 at the beginning of 2024 to 26,462 at the start of 2025. This demonstrates a significant increase in charging network capacity, paralleling the growth of the EV market.

These impressive growth figures are of great importance for Turkey's energy transformation goals and sustainable transportation vision. The proliferation of electric vehicles directly contributes to efforts to reduce fossil fuel dependency and lower carbon emissions. This robust progress in charging infrastructure not only offers new investment opportunities for the energy sector but also creates a more accessible and reliable ecosystem for EV owners. The increasing electricity consumption also brings with it the need to strengthen the capacity and distribution infrastructure of the energy grid.

EPDK views ensuring strong and stable growth in the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and establishing a free market as key objectives. In line with this, the authority continues to implement regulations that encourage investments by charging network operators. With the goal of expanding Turkey's geographical coverage, the installation of charging stations on highways and state roads is accelerating. These developments have the potential to enhance the country's competitiveness in electric mobility on a global scale.

Analysts and market experts anticipate this momentum in the EV market to continue in the upcoming period. Further expansion of charging infrastructure, an increase in fast-charging options, and improved user experience are expected to boost demand for electric vehicles even further. Tools like the Şarj@TR mobile application developed by EPDK provide real-time information to consumers regarding the locations, prices, and availability of charging stations, demonstrating a user-friendly approach. Such technological integrations will contribute to the further maturation of the electric vehicle ecosystem.