Across the United States, a vast network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations is rapidly expanding. These stations are strategically located nationwide, offering convenient public charging options and workplace charging solutions to complement the most common method: charging electric cars at home. For the majority of electric car owners, home charging remains the primary and most frequent charging location.
Finding Electric Car Charging Station Locations
Easily locate Electric Cars Charging Stations in specific areas or along planned routes using tools like the Alternative Fueling Station Locator. Utilize advanced filters to refine your search, including options for private, public, and upcoming stations, ensuring you find the perfect charging point based on your needs and preferences.
The Growth of Charging Infrastructure for Electric Cars
For individuals and businesses considering transitioning to electric vehicles, a reliable and accessible charging infrastructure is paramount. This infrastructure starts with convenient home charging or dedicated charging facilities for fleets. To further encourage the widespread adoption of electric cars, expanding charging availability at workplaces and popular public destinations is crucial, offering flexible charging opportunities in everyday locations. Community leaders can leverage resources for EV readiness planning, including insightful case studies showcasing successful implementations. The EVI-X Toolbox provides valuable tools for estimating charging infrastructure requirements, whether for daily commuting within a city or state, or for long-distance travel along highway corridors, and for assessing the impact of electric car charging on local electricity grids.
The Combined Charging System (CCS), also known as the SAE J1772 combo, is a versatile charge port found on many electric cars. It is compatible with Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging equipment, providing a unified charging solution.
Meeting the demands of the increasing number of electric cars on the road necessitates a robust and comprehensive network of charging stations for both individual consumers and commercial fleets. The Alternative Fueling Station Locator is an essential tool for users to locate both public and private charging stations. Stay informed about the expansion of charging infrastructure through quarterly reports on EV charging station trends, which track the growth of public and private charging facilities and evaluate the current state of the US charging infrastructure. Contribute to the accuracy of the Station Locator by reporting new charging stations via the Submit New Station form or suggesting updates to existing station information by selecting “Report a change” on the station’s details page.
Explore resources for state electrification planning and funding, including details about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which significantly supports EV infrastructure development. For those seeking certified and efficient charging solutions, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Product Finder list for ENERGY STAR certified chargers. A comprehensive directory of charging infrastructure manufacturers, filterable by product type and features, is available on the Electric Drive Transportation Association’s GoElectricDrive website. For detailed information on available charging infrastructure models:
- Plug In America’s PlugStar tool is a helpful resource for filtering Level 2 residential chargers based on price, cord length, and other specific features to meet individual needs.
- EPRI’s Vetted Product List focuses on commercial-grade equipment, evaluating products against rigorous industry standards like safety certifications from Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories and Open Charge Point Protocol compatibility, as well as adherence to government program requirements such as Buy America and ENERGY STAR standards. It’s important to note that this list is not exhaustive and represents products from manufacturers who have applied and paid a fee for their products to be vetted and listed. EPRI verifies compliance with third-party certifications where possible; otherwise, compliance information is reported by the manufacturers.
Understanding Electric Car Charging Infrastructure Terminology
The electric car charging industry adheres to a standardized terminology framework based on the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) protocol. This framework defines key terms such as station location, EV charging port, and connector to ensure clear communication and interoperability. The Alternative Fuels Data Center and the Station Locator utilize these definitions:
- Station Location: This refers to a physical location hosting one or more EV charging ports, such as a parking garage or a designated area within a parking lot. Large parking facilities, like those at shopping malls, might contain multiple station locations even with the same address.
- EV Charging Port (Charger): An EV charging port, often called a charger, provides the power to charge a single electric car at a time. While a charging post may house multiple EV charging ports, only one vehicle can be charged per port simultaneously. EV charging ports are also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ports.
- Connector (Plug): The connector, or plug, is the physical interface that is inserted into the electric car to initiate charging. An EV charging port may offer various connectors and connector types, like CHAdeMO and CCS, but again, only one vehicle can be actively charging at any given moment.
For a deeper understanding of networked stations and the processes for data collection and display within the Alternative Fueling Station Locator, explore Electric Vehicle Charging Networks.
Electric Car Charging Equipment Options
Electric car charging equipment is categorized by its charging rate, directly impacting how quickly batteries are replenished. Charging times are influenced by factors such as the battery’s state-of-charge, its energy capacity, battery type, the vehicle’s onboard charger capacity, and the specifications of the charging equipment itself (level, power output, electrical service). Charging durations can vary significantly, from under 20 minutes with DC fast chargers to 20 hours or more with Level 1 chargers, depending on these and other variables. When selecting charging equipment for specific applications, consider factors beyond just charging speed, including networking capabilities, payment processing, and long-term operation and maintenance.
AC Level 1 Charging for Electric Cars
Providing approximately 5 miles of range per hour of charging*
J1772 connector
Alternating Current (AC) Level 1 charging, often simply referred to as Level 1, utilizes a standard 120-volt (V) AC plug. Most electric cars come equipped with a portable Level 1 cordset, eliminating the need for additional charging equipment purchases. This cordset features a standard NEMA connector (like the common three-prong NEMA 5-15 household plug) on one end and an SAE J1772 standard connector (J1772, pictured above) on the vehicle end. To use Level 1 charging, simply plug the J1772 connector into the car’s J1772 charge port and the NEMA connector into any standard NEMA wall outlet.
Level 1 charging is particularly useful when only a 120V outlet is accessible, such as during home charging, and it can adequately meet the daily driving needs of many electric car owners. For instance, 8 hours of Level 1 charging can add about 40 miles of driving range to a mid-size electric car. As of 2023, less than 1% of public EV charging ports in the US were Level 1, highlighting its primary role in home and opportunistic charging scenarios.
* Based on an assumption of 1.9 kW charging power.
AC Level 2 Charging for Electric Cars
Delivering approximately 25 miles of range per hour of charging†
J1772 connector
J3400 (NACS) connector
AC Level 2 charging, commonly known as Level 2, operates on 240V (typical residential) or 208V (typical commercial) electrical service. Given that most homes have 240V service available and Level 2 equipment can fully charge a typical electric car battery overnight, it is a popular choice for home electric car charging. Level 2 chargers are also frequently deployed for public and workplace charging and can function at currents from 40 to 80 amperes (Amp). Most residential Level 2 chargers operate up to 30 Amps, providing 7.2 kW of power. These units require a dedicated 40-Amp circuit to adhere to National Electric Code Article 625 standards. In 2023, nearly 80% of public EV charging ports in the US were Level 2, making it the most prevalent type of public charging infrastructure.
Level 2 charging equipment utilizes the same J1772 connector as Level 1. All electric cars currently sold in the United States are compatible with both Level 1 and Level 2 charging systems.
Vehicles equipped with a J3400 connector (currently exclusive to Tesla vehicles) can utilize this connector for charging at all levels, including Tesla’s Level 2 Destination Chargers and home chargers. All Tesla vehicles include a J1772 adapter, enabling them to use non-Tesla Level 2 charging stations.
† Level 2 units can range in power output from 2.9 to 19.2 kW.
DC Fast Charging for Electric Cars
Adding approximately 100 to 200+ miles of range per 30 minutes of charging‡
CCS connector
CHAdeMO connector
J3400 (NACS) connector
Direct-current (DC) fast charging, often referred to as Level 3 charging, utilizes three-phase AC input to deliver high-speed charging at power outputs up to 500 kW, primarily deployed along major transportation corridors and at dedicated charging stations. As of 2023, over 20% of public EV charging ports in the US were DC fast chargers, and this number is projected to grow significantly due to federal initiatives aimed at establishing a nationwide electric car charging network. Key programs driving this expansion include the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, the national Alternative Fuel Corridors grant program, and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants. Furthermore, the adoption of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles (like commercial trucks and vans, and transit buses) and the development of fast charging hubs for transportation network companies (e.g., Uber and Lyft) are also contributing to the increased demand and availability of DC fast charging.
Three primary DC fast charging connector types exist, determined by the electric car’s charge port: SAE Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO, and J3400.
The CCS connector (SAE J1772 combo) offers versatility, allowing drivers to use the same charge port for AC Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast charging. The DC fast charging version of the CCS connector simply includes two additional pins at the bottom. The majority of electric car models on the market today are compatible with CCS charging.
The CHAdeMO connector is another common DC fast connector type, particularly favored by Japanese automakers for their electric vehicles.
SAE International is standardizing the J3400 connector, originally designed by Tesla as the NACS connector. This connector is compatible with all charging levels, including Tesla’s Supercharger network, their fast charging solution. While Tesla vehicles do not include CCS or CHAdeMO ports, they are supplied with limited CCS or CHAdeMO adapters that support charging up to 19.2 kW. Tesla also offers full-power adapters for both connector types. Several automakers have announced plans to adopt the J3400 connector starting as early as 2025, which will enable non-Tesla electric cars to utilize Tesla’s extensive charging station network equipped with J3400 connectors.
‡ DC charging units can deliver up to 500 kW. Actual charging power varies based on vehicle capabilities and the battery’s state of charge.
Electric Car Charging Infrastructure Procurement and Installation
Expanding the availability of both public and private electric car charging equipment requires strategic infrastructure procurement. Learn more about effective planning, procurement, and installation processes for charging infrastructure.
Operation and Maintenance of Electric Car Charging Infrastructure
Once electric car charging infrastructure is in place, proper operation and consistent maintenance are essential for optimal performance and longevity. Explore key considerations for the operation and maintenance of charging infrastructure.
Emerging Electric Car Charging Options
An additional standard, SAE J3068, was introduced in 2018 to facilitate higher AC charging rates using three-phase power, commonly found in commercial and industrial settings in the United States. This standard incorporates elements from European three-phase charging standards, adapted for North American AC grid voltages and specifications. In the U.S., typical three-phase voltages are 208/120 V and 480/277 V. SAE J3068 targets power levels ranging from 6 kW to 130 kW.
Megawatt Charging Systems (MCS) are currently under development for ultra-fast DC charging up to 3.75 MW, designed for short-dwell charging applications and lower power needs. A 2022 report examines the requirements for charging stations capable of supporting in-route charging for heavy-duty electric vehicles. While 500 kW chargers are already commercially available, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office is actively researching solutions to bridge technological gaps associated with large-scale MCS implementation in the United States. A 2017 report highlights technology limitations at the battery, vehicle, and infrastructure levels that need to be addressed. Notably, many electric cars currently on the road cannot charge at rates exceeding 200 kW. However, electric car technology is rapidly advancing, and newer models are increasingly capable of handling higher charging rates, paving the way for wider adoption of faster charging technologies. Further resources on electric car charging and advanced charging system research are available from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For answers to frequently asked questions about MCS and SAE J3271, refer to the fact sheet on Charging for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks from Argonne National Laboratory.
Inductive Charging for Electric Cars
Inductive charging, or wireless charging, technology utilizes an electromagnetic field to wirelessly transfer electricity to an electric car, eliminating the need for cables. This technology is commercially available as an aftermarket option. Current wireless charging stations typically operate at power levels comparable to Level 2 charging, although higher-power systems comparable to DC fast charging are becoming more common for transit and fleet operations. The U.S. Department of Energy is actively engaged in research to assess the viability of high-power wireless charging for electric cars. Additional information on inductive charging research initiatives can be found through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
