Every new industry presents several indicators for growth. In the case of electric vehicles (EVs), one barometer is the market for charging equipment. According to a recent report, that market is about to see rapid growth on a global scale.


IHS Automotive projects the EV charging-station market to experience worldwide growth in the next five years. Specifically, the Englewood, Colo.-based market research firm projects the market to grow from more than 1 million units in 2014 to 12.7 million units by 2020.


In its report, “EV Charging Infrastructure,” there are two main types of plug-in EV charging stations: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). The firm notes that AC charging stations are the dominant of the two and expects it to remain that way.


Because they are much less expensive and more convenient than DC, IHS expects AC charging stations to play a crucial role in the public domain of the EV charging infrastructure. It projects that 10 percent of EV charging stations will be within the public or semipublic domain by 2015. On the other hand, the number of DC global charging stations is expected to be relatively low and located on the outskirts of cities and highway infrastructure, rather than in dense urban areas.


Internationally, the report singles out Japan as a key region of growth. The market there is already robust. IHS notes that the country recently passed a milestone by having more EV charging stations than gas stations.


The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Norway currently lead Europe with the most EV charging stations. In the United States, the number of EV charging stations depends in large part on policies at the state level. States such as California, with incentives and other green policies, have the highest number of charging-station installments.