Analysis of EV Charging deployment near the Loire Valley
One of the main drivers for public EV charging deployment is long-distance travel and tourism. In our last paper (Beyond EV Charging #18), we explored deployment near highways, which focuses on offering the fastest charging possible. This ensures EV-driving tourists aren’t slowed down during long journeys. Meanwhile, destination charging, began with slower power levels, often led by public energy syndicates committed to fostering e-mobility across their territories (see Beyond EV Charging #16).
This observation led us to investigate how EV charging infrastructure has evolved in one of France’s most iconic tourist regions: the Loire Valley. Known for its Renaissance castles, vineyards, and UNESCO-listed landscapes, the Loire Valley welcomes over 4 million visitors annually. Notably, July and August are peak months. We analyzed our data to understand how EV charging infrastructure has adapted to support the growing wave of EV-driving tourists exploring the region.
Executive Summary
EV charging infrastructure near the Loire Valley has grown significantly since 2022. Fast and ultra-fast charging increased sevenfold, though slow chargers still dominate, accounting for 80% of the offer. Public energy syndicates have led the rollout, but private operators are increasingly contributing. Usage data shows a strong preference for fast charging. Indeed, fast charger use surged 243% over the past year. This highlights the need for rapid charging even in tourist destinations where longer stays might suggest slower options would suffice.
Overview of EV infrastructure near the Loire Valley
The first graph illustrates the evolution of EV charging over the past few years within the restricted perimeter of the most touristic castles of the Loire Valley.
We see a clear rollout from 2022 onwards, with a noticeable evolution of fast EV charging. While slow charging (<50 kW) has more than doubled over the past three years, fast and ultra-fast charging have boomed. They have grown nearly sevenfold over the same period. This is a direct consequence of increasing consumer demand. However, as of 2025, slow charging still dominates 80% of the public infrastructure in the area.
One of the reasons why fast charging lacks behind could be due to the difficulty of installing EV chargers near listed monuments such as Chambord, Chenonceau, or Villandry. Heritage protection rules and local bans may apply, requiring specific validation processes. In addition, strict guidelines regarding visibility and landscape integration can delay or limit deployment. These requirements often lead to additional costs, many of which are not covered by existing public subsidies.
Repartition of EV charging stakeholders
As the area we’re investigating is local, EV charging deployments are driven by public players. Nevertheless, the private sector also participates to enrich the offer in this major touristic area.
The graph above shows an interesting mix between public and private operators. Sixteen different CPOs offer charging services near the Loire Valley. Only 6 of them deliver fast and ultra-fast charging (≥50 kW). Modulo, one of the major networks of French energy syndicates, has more than 1,500 charging points across 10 departments. It accounts for one-third of the charging offer, mostly installing slow chargers (<50 kW).
According to our data, EV charging installations in tourist areas tend to mirror those found on streets and in public parking facilities. Specifically, high-power charging is typically concentrated at business sites, where rapid turnaround is essential. Low-power charging is predominantly found on streets and in public parking areas, where longer dwell times are expected.
Analysis of usage
Examining the average use of the charging points over the last 12 months reveals a visible increase in the share of fast and ultra-fast charging. As previously noted, the number of slow chargers (<50 kW) rose by 26% in that period, which is much less than the 140% growth seen in fast and ultra-fast chargers (≥50 kW). Usage data shows an even stronger contrast: slow charger usage increased by 59%, while fast and ultra-fast charger usage surged by 243%.
Diving deeper into usage, we see that chargers are used quite regularly as soon as they are installed. In the closest perimeter that we analysed, the greatest increase in usage was near hotels, with a preference for ultra-fast charging. When we compare usage between August 2024 and August 2025, we see that the share of fast and ultra charging (≥50 kW), all sessions considered, went from 37% to 44%. Most of this increase was driven by ultra-fast charging above 150 kW.
Conclusion
As e-mobility rolls out throughout Europe, touristic places must meet EV drivers’ growing needs for charging while travelling. The Loire Valley exemplifies how public players initially led EV infrastructure deployment in tourist areas. However, the growing demand for fast charging is reshaping the landscape. Private operators are increasingly contributing. Despite longer dwell times at tourist sites, EV drivers still favor faster charging options. Consequently, strategic, high-power deployments are needed, even in heritage-sensitive zones.
