June the 23rd, 2026 – There’s a genuinely electric problem for foreign tourists visiting Croatia and using the roads, with only one other EU country in a worse position…
As more Europeans switch to electric cars, Croatia is facing a new challenge ahead of the summer tourist season: whether it has enough charging infrastructure to support visitors arriving with electric vehicles.
Croatia has one of the lowest shares of fully electric cars in the European Union. Poslovni reports that out of around two million vehicles on Croatian roads, only about 10,000 are fully electric, placing Croatia near the bottom of the EU rankings. Only Cyprus has a lower share of electric vehicles.
While electric cars are still a small part of the Croatian market, the situation could become more complicated during the tourist season, when thousands of foreign drivers arrive from countries where electric vehicles are much more common.
The biggest concern is not necessarily reaching Croatia’s coast, but charging once tourists arrive. During the peak summer months, popular destinations could see increased demand for charging stations, creating waiting times and inconvenience for visitors.
“Getting to the destination is not the biggest problem — the bigger issue is having somewhere to charge once you arrive,” experts have warned.
Croatia currently has more than 1,300 fast charging points, along with thousands of slower chargers. Zagreb has the largest number of charging locations, while other major cities and motorway routes are gradually expanding their networks. New charging stations are also being added along key travel routes towards the coast.
However, charging speed remains another challenge. Unlike filling a petrol tank, charging an electric vehicle can require drivers to wait, especially when several cars need access to the same charger. This could become a significant issue during July and August, when traffic on Croatian roads reaches its annual peak.
Industry representatives say that Croatia’s tourism model creates a unique problem. For much of the year, charging demand is relatively low, but during the summer months the number of vehicles on the roads increases dramatically as international visitors arrive.
Government incentives and falling electric vehicle prices may encourage more Croatians to switch to electric cars, while new battery technology promises faster charging times. However, expanding the charging network will be essential if Croatia wants to keep pace with the changing habits of European travellers.
For tourists planning a trip to Croatia with an electric vehicle, preparation is becoming increasingly important. Checking charging locations before travelling may soon become as necessary as planning the route itself.
