Greece’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining momentum, driven by ambitious national policies and EU mandates aimed at decarbonizing transport. The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) targets 30% of new passenger car sales to be EVs by 2030, supported by subsidies and the “Charge Everywhere” program. However, with only 4,782 public and semi-public chargers as of January 2024 and an aging vehicle fleet, Greece’s charging infrastructure lags behind the EU average. Opportunities for charging pile operators, installers, and distributors lie in leveraging government incentives, targeting urban and regional hubs, and addressing underserved areas. Challenges include limited municipal capacity, grid constraints, and the need for broader consumer adoption. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Greece’s EV charging market, offering actionable recommendations to maximize opportunities for stakeholders.
The transport sector in Greece, responsible for 16.1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions in 2021, is heavily reliant on fossil fuels (96% of energy consumption). Electrification, supported by the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan, is critical to reducing emissions and aligning with EU decarbonization goals. The charging pile industry is pivotal to this transition, yet Greece’s infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with only 9.6% of new car registrations being battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2024, compared to the EU’s 17.8%. This report analyzes Greece’s charging pile market, focusing on policies, market dynamics, opportunities, and challenges, to provide strategic insights for operators, installers, and distributors.
The NECP sets a target for EVs to account for 30% of new passenger car sales by 2030, supported by:
“I Move Electric” (IME) Program: Launched in 2020, it offers subsidies up to EUR 8,000 for new EVs, with EUR 110 million allocated across two phases.
Charge Everywhere Program: Initiated in 2023 with EUR 80 million to support public charging infrastructure.
Tax Incentives: Reduced taxes for EVs and charging equipment to stimulate adoption and investment.
Municipal Mandates: Requires municipalities to develop EV charging plans to identify strategic locations.
The EU’s AFIR mandates expanded charging infrastructure along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Greece’s compliance is critical but challenging due to limited charger deployment and regional planning gaps. The NECP aligns with AFIR but lacks detailed regional strategies.
Lack of Regional Plans: Unlike municipal mandates, regional authorities have not developed charging plans, hindering TEN-T compliance.
Data Deficiency: Limited data on IME applicants’ socio-economic profiles and charging habits restricts targeted policy design.
Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs): No subsidies exist for electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, limiting electrification in these segments.
As of January 2024, Greece had 4,782 public and semi-public chargers (≥7.4 kW), primarily in retail areas like supermarkets and malls. BEV registrations rose from 2.6% in 2020 to 9.6% in 2024, but lag behind the EU average (17.8%). The aging vehicle fleet (passenger cars averaging 17 years, trucks 23 years) and reliance on used imports (40% of new registrations in 2022) slow EV adoption.
Charge Point Operators (CPOs): Emerging players are partnering with municipalities, but competition is limited due to underdeveloped infrastructure.
Municipalities: Responsible for charger deployment plans, though many lack technical capacity.
Private Sector: Retail and commercial entities host most chargers, with limited public land deployment.
Most chargers are AC slow chargers (≤22 kW), suitable for retail settings but insufficient for fast-charging needs along highways or for HDVs. Fast chargers (>50 kW) are scarce, and ultra-fast chargers (>350 kW) are nearly absent, limiting scalability.
The “Charge Everywhere” program and tax breaks reduce financial barriers for operators and installers. Concession agreements provide long-term revenue certainty, making Greece attractive for investment.
High urban density in cities like Athens and Thessaloniki drives demand for public chargers. Island pilot projects, supported by the NECP, offer opportunities for innovative, renewable-powered charging solutions in tourist-heavy regions.
EU funding via the Technical Support Instrument supports infrastructure development. Collaboration with the International Transport Forum (ITF) and DG REFORM provides technical expertise, enhancing project feasibility.
Concession agreements, as outlined in 2023 guidelines, enable competitive bidding, reducing costs and improving service quality. Bundling profitable and less profitable locations ensures broader coverage.
Over 25% of Greek municipalities lack operational technical departments, hindering charger deployment. Limited expertise in electromobility complicates concession agreements and project execution.
Greece’s electricity grid faces capacity and stability issues, particularly for fast chargers. Scenario-based analyses indicate potential bottlenecks without significant grid upgrades, estimated to cost millions of EUR.
Price sensitivity and reliance on used vehicle imports (40% of registrations) limit new EV uptake. Range anxiety persists due to sparse fast-charging infrastructure, particularly on highways and in rural areas.
The absence of regional charging plans hampers AFIR compliance and TEN-T network development, leaving strategic sites underserved.
Adopt Competitive Models: Operators should prioritize concession tenders to secure long-term contracts, leveraging 2023 guidelines for streamlined agreements.
Bundle Locations: Combine high-traffic urban sites with less profitable rural areas to ensure comprehensive coverage, as recommended by EU best practices.
Collaborate with Municipalities: Offer technical support to municipalities lacking expertise, enhancing project feasibility and accelerating deployment.
Urban Hubs: Focus on deploying fast chargers in retail and commercial areas in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other urban centers to meet growing EV demand.
Island Projects: Develop solar-powered charging stations on islands like Crete and Rhodes, aligning with pilot electrification initiatives and tourism-driven demand.
Smart Charging Solutions: Distributors should integrate digital platforms to provide real-time charger availability, reducing range anxiety and improving user experience.
Subsidies for Used EVs: Advocate for expanding IME subsidies to used EVs, targeting price-sensitive consumers and increasing market penetration.
Renewable Integration: Installers should prioritize solar-powered chargers to reduce grid dependency, particularly in off-grid island regions.
Grid Collaboration: Partner with utility providers to assess grid capacity and advocate for targeted upgrades to support fast-charging deployment.
Regional Planning: Engage with regional authorities to develop charging plans aligned with AFIR and TEN-T requirements, ensuring strategic site coverage.
Data Collection: Collaborate with the government to collect anonymized data on EV users’ socio-economic profiles and charging habits to inform targeted infrastructure deployment.
Greece’s EV charging pile market is poised for growth, driven by supportive policies and EU alignment, but faces challenges from limited infrastructure, municipal capacity, and grid constraints. For operators, installers, and distributors, opportunities lie in leveraging concession models, targeting urban and island markets, and integrating renewable energy solutions. By addressing consumer barriers, enhancing municipal collaboration, and advocating for regional planning, stakeholders can position themselves as leaders in Greece’s electrified future, contributing to the country’s 2030 EV adoption goals.
ACEA (2023a, 2023b). Vehicle Fleet Age Statistics.
EAFO (2024). Electric Vehicle Registration Data.
European Parliament (2023). Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
Hellenic Government (2023). National Energy and Climate Plan.
IEA (2023). Greece Transport Sector Emissions Data.
ITF (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024a, 2024b). Transport and Electromobility Reports.
MoIT (2024). Public Charger Registry.
MEE (2023). Guidelines for Concession Agreements.
EETAA (2022). Municipal Capacity Assessment.
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