The expansion of charging infrastructure in recent years has made Bulgaria one of the most developed markets in the European Union, in terms of the ratio of charging points to electric vehicles (EVs). With one public charging point for every six vehicles, the country is ahead of France and Germany, where the ratios are one to eight and one to nine, respectively, and well ahead of the EU average of one to 11, Capital reported.
In 2022, there were fewer than 700 charging stations across Bulgaria. However, the number has since soared to an estimated 3,400, fueling electric car sales in the process, the portal noted.
The estimated number of charging stations likely translates into 4,000-4,500 charging points, as the industry standard now requires the construction of hubs with multiple chargers, it added.
The growth of charging networks has fueled electric car sales in Bulgaria
The lack of charging infrastructure used to hinder electric car sales in Bulgaria. However, the market is now well covered, and sales have been growing rapidly. Between January and May 2026, a total of 1,982 new electric passenger cars and light commercial vans were registered, accounting for 8.7% of the country’s entire new car sales.
The five-month figure exceeded total sales for the full 2024, which stood at 1,898 units, and was more than double compared to the January-May period of 2025.
The best ratio of chargers to EVs is in the Netherlands, with one public charging point for every 2.5 vehicles, followed by Belgium and Luxembourg, with one for every 3.5 vehicles, according to European Commission statistics cited by Capital.
Charging station operators plan further expansion in the coming years
Bulgaria has about 20 charging networks operated by different companies. Eldrive is the largest, operating about 1,000 charging stations with 1,500 charging points across the country. It plans to increase the number of charging points to 7,000 by 2028, supported by loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), according to the report.
The second-largest operator is Fines Charging, with 578 charging stations and 949 charging points. It plans to add at least 100 locations and 300 chargers annually over the next five years.
At Eldrive stations, the standard price of vehicle charging is EUR 0.41 per kWh, while Fines charges EUR 0.39 per kWh, the portal wrote.
