The Japanese-backed DC fast charging standard is steadily spreading across the globe. Nissan recently installed Europe’s 1,000th CHAdeMO charger, and growth in Japan and the US has been similarly swift. As of January 2014, there are 1,967 CHAdeMO chargers in Japan, 1,020 in Europe and 554 in the US. According to a recent statement from the CHAdeMO Association, these chargers serve over 131,000 EV drivers, accounting for two thirds of the passenger EV market.

“We are pleased to see this result, as this is a clear testimony that CHAdeMO fast charging technology has won the trust of investors and consumers alike in different countries in Europe,” said Jorge Sanchez, the CHAdeMO Association’s European President.

Igor Demay, EV Technical Coordinator for PSA, also welcomes this development: “On top of the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero that have become the reference for EVs all over Europe, in 2013 we have launched the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo EVs, assembled in Spain, equipped with the CHAdeMO inlet. We are certain that fast-chargeable [commercial EVs] will present attractive options for business owners for their fleet use, and having a dense network of fast chargers is indispensable for further EV adoption.” The Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero are rebadged versions of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

CHAdeMO fast chargers can be found in 25 countries across Europe. Ireland, Denmark and Estonia have established nationwide CHAdeMO charging networks, and Norway and the Netherlands are expected to follow suit soon.

Even as it crows about the rapid rise of its standard, the CHAdeMO Association is pushing for peaceful coexistence with the Combo standard that’s backed by the European Parliament and the German automakers. In its statement, the Association says that “multi-system chargers that are equipped with multiple connectors should be the answer going forward.”

“With multi-standard chargers, EV drivers can simply select, like Regular and Diesel, the right connector for the EV they drive,” affirms Joseph Beretta, President of AVERE-France. “Depending on the EV mix of the region, this can be an attractive and practical solution for EV drivers, investors, and automakers. More than anything, such multi-standard chargers should help accelerate e-mobility in Europe, which is essential.”

Source: CHAdeMO Association