There are over 1,000 public charging stations throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Ventura County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.
SoCal EV is an electric vehicle (EV) program that gives all EVs in Southern California free access to public charging stations. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) developed the program, which includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo.
To find the nearest public charging station, you may visit the SoCal EV website. You can also use your smartphone's Google Maps app to locate charging stations.
What Are California's Top EV-Friendly Cities?
Are you concerned that your EVs battery will run out without having a place to charge? Well, If you're driving in these cities, this should be the last thing on your mind!
1. Los Angeles, California
The California city of Los Angeles has 3,733 public charging stations, 536 of which are free EV charging stations. There are 327 DC Fast Chargers in Los Angeles, 83 of which are Tesla Superchargers.
Charging Stats:
Total Stations:3,733
Free Stations: 536
New Stations in the last 90 days: 562
Fast Chargers: 327
CHAdeMO Plugs: 223
CCS Plugs: 257
Superchargers: 83
J-1772 Plugs: 3,084
Best Charging Networks
527 ChargePoint stations
468 Greenlots stations
187 FLO stations
150 EV Connect stations
2. San Diego, California
The California city of San Diego has 1,144 public charging stations, 79 of which are free EV charging stations. San Diego has 288 DC Fast Chargers, with 188 of them being Tesla Superchargers.
Charging Stats
Total Stations: 1,144
Free Stations : 79
New Stations in the last 90 days: 81
Fast Chargers: 288
CHAdeMO Plugs: 79
CCS Plugs: 103
Superchargers: 188
J-1772 Plugs: 754
Best Charging Networks
339 ChargePoint stations
179 supercharger stations
114 Blink stations
77 SemaConnect stations
3. San Jose, California
In the California city of San Jose, there are 1,067 public charging stations, 103 of which are free EV charging stations. San Jose has 228 DC Fast Chargers, with 160 of them being Tesla Superchargers.
Charging Stats
Total Stations:
Free Stations: 103
New Stations in the past 90 days: 121
Fast Chargers: 228
CHAdeMO Plugs: 40
CCS Plugs: 80
Superchargers: 160
J-1772 Plugs: 740
Best Charging Networks
344 ChargePoint stations
259 PowerFlex stations
148 Supercharger stations
54 Electrify America stations
4. Sacramento
Sacramento, California, has 664 public charging stations, 49 of which are free electric vehicle charging stations. Sacramento has 147 DC Fast Chargers in total, 60 of which are Tesla Superchargers.
Charging Stats
Total Stations: 664
Free Stations: 49
New Stations in the past 90 days: 24
Fast Chargers: 147
CHAdeMO Plugs: 66
CCS Plugs: 90
Superchargers: 60
J-1772 Plugs: 442
Best Charging Networks
147 ChargePoint stations
76 EVCS stations
63 EV Connect stations
57 Supercharger stations
Top-Rated Charging Stations From The Best California EV-Friendly Cities
We've compiled a list of the best places to charge your EV. If you are looking for a specific location that is not listed below, you can visit this website!
Los Angeles Best Charging Locations
Los Angeles Zoo (2,114 check-ins)
5333 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
LADWP (1,609 check-ins)
4814 Hazeltine Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, USA
LADWP (1,404 check-ins)
1394 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA
Arch Dr & Venture Blvd Parking (1,744 check-ins)
4261 Arch Dr, Studio City, CA 91604, USA
Playa Vista Community Center (1,462 check-ins)
12855 Runway Rd, Playa Vista 90094
LADOT Sylmar Metrolink Station (1,392 check-ins)
2100 Frank Modugno Drive, San Fernando, CA 91340
San Diego Best Charging Locations
Fenton Market Place (1,508 check-ins)
2149 Fenton Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
Vons Rancho Penasquitos Center (1,160 check-ins)
13289 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129, USA
IBEW/NECA Electrical Training (696 check-ins)
4675 Viewridge Ave, San Diego, CA, 92123
Fashion Valley Mall - Bloomingdale's Back Lot (1,247 check-ins)
7007 Friars Rd, San Diego 92108
SDGE Innovation Center (1,078 check-ins)
4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117, USA
SDGE Innovation Center (1,078 check-ins)
4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92117, USA
San Jose Best Charging Locations
Santana Row - Winchester Parking Garage (1) (212 check-ins)
330 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
Walmart (175 check-ins)
5095 Almaden Expy, San Jose, CA 95118, USA
Eastridge Center - USPS (302 check-ins)
2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122, USA
Eastridge Center - USPS (302 check-ins)
2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122, USA
Westfield Oakridge (172 check-ins)
925 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, CA 95123, USA
Sacramento Best Charging Locations
Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op (173 check-ins)
2820 R St., Sacramento, CA 95816
Sacramento Supercharger (118 check-ins)
3668 N. Freeway Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834
Delta Shores - Starbucks (176 check-ins)
8152 Delta Shores Cir S, Sacramento, CA 95832, USA
Arden Fair Mall - East (120 check-ins)
1701 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
Arden Fair Mall - East (120 check-ins)
1701 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815, USA
Are There Any Rules for EV Charging Stations in California?
On December 16, 2019, the California Administrative Law Office and the Division of Measurement Standards (DMS) approved the revised Electric Vehicle Fueling Systems Specifications. These rules govern the measurement and tolerance of electric vehicle charging systems, also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). With this change, EV charging stations will resemble gas stations, allowing EV owners to see the rate, quantity, and price in real-time.
Green energy powers 50% of California's automobiles. The state is working to boost EV owner confidence with these new DMS rules for EV charging stations. Many industry experts, as well as EV drivers, thought the per-minute billing was unjust. The maximum intake capacity of the vehicle, the initial charge on the battery (a battery that is 80 percent charged takes longer to charge), and the external temperature conditions all influence EV charging. The new regulations favor electric vehicle drivers. The state is creating the best charging experience on the go by providing complete transparency at the charging station.
If you want to learn more about this, you may visit the official CDFA website for detailed facts.
Conclusion
When it comes to electric vehicles, California is no stranger. With an increasing number of EV drivers traveling in and out of state, charging stations are becoming increasingly accessible. If you own an electric vehicle and are looking for a charging station, you can get this information with a single click, whether you use a search engine or an app.