This　study　employs　data　from　Chinese　government　procurement　and　listed　companies　from　2015　to　2022　to　assess　the　influence　of　public　investment　in　charging　infrastructure　on　firm　productivity.　The　findings　of　the　study　indicate　that　public　investment　in　charging　infrastructure　has　resulted　in　considerable　positive　externalities　in　terms　of　technological　innovation　and　market　demand,　which　in　turn　have　led　to　significant　productivity　gains.　In　cities,　where　the　electricity　load　is　more　heavily　weighted　towards　the　residential　and　commercial　sectors,　increased　electricity　consumption　supported　by　improved　charging　infrastructure　may　crowd　out　industrial　electricity　consumption,　with　potentially　negative　consequences　for　firm　productivity.　However,　this　adverse　effect　is　not　large　enough　to　offset　the　productivity　benefits　from　innovations　and　demand　growth　caused　by　public　charging　infrastructure　investment.　The　results　provide　new　evidence　on　the　positive　externalities　of　public　energy　infrastructure.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd