It’s a statement frequently heard when people talk about the possibility of purchasing an electric vehicle. Over the past years, there’ve been efforts to improve the charging network in every state in America. So the answer to the question “can I easily find EV charging stations near me” is that it depends both on the state you live in and the EV chargers of which company you choose to use.
So yes, you may be asking: “does it depend on the company supplying EV chargers?” Sure, finding EV charging stations near me will depend on those things already mentioned. In this article, we’ll explore a bit more about the types of chargers out there and how to find the one nearest you.
California: an example to look up to
With more than 22,000 charging points, California leads the EV charger scene. When in this State, the answer to the question “where can I find EV charging stations near me?” has a satisfying answer: everywhere! Yes, the number of chargers is huge and it keeps on rising.
To reduce harmful gas emissions through the adoption of EVs, President Joe Biden announced a new infrastructure bill a while ago. California will receive about $384 million in funding to create new DCFC and Level 2 EV charging stations. This State has not only the largest budget destined to increase the EV network, but also the largest market for electric vehicles and a zero-emission goal to achieve before 2035.
So far, California can claim to have an extensive network of DC fast chargers and Level 2 vehicle charging stations: the West Coast Electric Highway (WCEH). It has 56 chargers located along major West Coast corridors between Washington, California and Oregon. They’re currently being upgraded to incorporate new hardware for Level 2 chargers and new outlets to plug in e-scooters and e-bikes.
The provider of all EV charging stations in this corridor is EVCS, the same company that’s handling the upgrades and installation of new chargers. In addition, the same company partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to install EV charging stations in various parking lots throughout the city to bring more charging locations.
Tips to understand differents EV chargers on the market
It’s important that you know the difference between the various chargers that exist, for example in the WCEH, where all the chargers are either DCFC or Level 2. Time to know a bit more about them.
Level 1. It provides charging through a 120 V AC (Alternating Current) plug. Most of the EVs come with a Level 1 charger when you buy them, and they have a standard NEMA connector on one side, which means that they can be plugged to any household standard plug.
It’s the slowest charger on the market and can take more than 24 hours to fully recharge a standard EV. It’s a good choice if you don’t need to drive your vehicle for long distances every day and want to get it charged at home.
Level 2. It provides charging through a 240 V AC plug. They’re found both in residential areas and in public charging stations. As they’re faster than L1 chargers, most drivers install them at home to charge their vehicle overnight.
All available EVs come with connectors that can use both L1 and L2 chargers.
Level 3 (DCFC). This charger uses DC (Direct Current). This means that it charges the EV battery directly, enabling fast charging. There exist three different DCFC charging systems that depend on the EV charging port: CCS, CHAdeMO and Tesla.
This charger requires a bigger infrastructure and is not frequently found in residential areas, but in EV public charging stations. A DC fast charger can recharge a standard EV in less than an hour.
With all the information handy, you can choose how to charge your EV.
