Where Can You Charge an Electric Car?

By Renee Valdes 07/12/2023 2:00pm

White 2023 Nissan Leaf near EV charger.

You can charge an electric car at home and at thousands of public charging stations throughout the United States and elsewhere. You can locate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on apps like Electrify America, ChargePoint, and EVgo. Tesla owners also have access to the company’s network of Superchargers.

Where to Charge Your EV

Where to charge an EV and how long each level charging station takes to charge.

Knowing how to charge an electric car depends on where you’re charging the vehicle. You can also read about the Best Places To Charge Your Electric Car.

Level 1

You can use a Level 1 charger with a standard 120-volt wall plug if charging an electric vehicle at home. Just remember not to use an extension cord.

Level 2

You can also have a Level 2 charger (240 volts) installed at your home. These require special outlets like the kind you typically see for electric clothes dryers. Check with your state, local government, or utility to see if you qualify for a rebate or other incentive for installing a Level 2 charging station at home.

Level 3 DC Fast Charger

If you need a quicker charge, you can find Level 3 chargers (also called DC fast chargers, or DCFCs) that use direct current at typically 400 volts or higher at public charging stations typically found in shopping areas and other public spaces.

To charge your car in public, you only need to download the app for the charging station provider and a credit or debit card to pay directly.