After the expo: Notes on Europe's AC EV Charger Market
Late June in Munich. The Power2Drive hall had the air conditioning cranked up so high that my colleague Tina and I were shivering in short sleeves on day one. By day two, we brought jackets. Outside, southern Europe was cooking in 40°C-plus heat, with parts of India touching 50°C. The contrast stuck with me – inside cold enough for a coat, outside almost unbearable.
The show itself was busy. Over 60 Chinese charger companies exhibited across the full chain – complete units, modules, smart-energy solutions. Being there is not the same as winning market share, but it does tell you something: European buyers are at least looking.
I had a long conversation with Pim, a product manager from Alfen EV Charging. We talked for maybe ten~fifteen minutes. He asked about a dozen questions – OCPP versions, 4G band support across different countries, thermal management under sustained high loads. He didn't mention cooperation once. But every question pointed in the same direction: how mature is your technology?
What struck me was his listening. After each answer he'd pause, say "Interesting" or "That makes sense," then ask another. No skepticism, no pushback – just careful attention. It felt like he was building a mental map of what Chinese manufacturers can actually do.
That, I think, is where Europe stands right now. Not rejection. Not an embrace either. More like: we're curious, but we'll verify in our own way.
The market itself is shifting. A few years ago, the landscape was clearer – ABB and Siemens dominated commercial installations, automakers ran their own charging services (VW's Elli, BMW and Mercedes' DCS), utilities like EnBW and Iberdrola played their home markets. Specialist brands – Wallbox, go-e, EVBox, Charge Amps – each found their niches.
Recent changes are more striking.
Oil companies have gained ground. Data now puts them among the top player categories in Europe's public charging market. Consolidation is visible too: in Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, the top three suppliers have expanded their combined share by roughly 10 to 19 percentage points over the past couple of years.
Specialist brands are breaking through. In June 2026, go-e entered the top ten AC charger suppliers in Europe, with 3% market share. Not huge, but meaningful. Their edge? Integration – their chargers talk smoothly to multiple back-end systems and energy platforms. That's becoming table stakes in Europe.
Distribution deals are multiplying. Zaptec partnered with Sonepar in Germany. Wallbox teamed up with Eneco eMobility. EO Charging linked with KEBA. Distributors are curating their product lines more tightly – products with clear technical differentiation get picked; others get dropped.
A few observations, loosely:
Chinese manufacturers are gaining visibility. Trade show presence alone doesn't win contracts, but it puts you in the consideration set. European buyers now have a better sense of what’s available – and they’re paying attention.
Integration capability is shifting from differentiator to requirement. Pim's questions were mostly about fit – how a product works within a larger system, not just what it does by itself. That trend will only deepen.
Geopolitical tensions have pushed energy prices higher, which in turn has boosted short-term demand for renewables and EV infrastructure. Not exactly good news – but it's a real market force right now.
The European charging market is still in flux. Who stays and who fades – it's too early to say. But one thing feels clearer than before: the era of winning on hardware alone is passing.
