Although charging an electric vehicle isn’t as expensive as filling a car up with gas, it can still be costly. While charging your electric car at home is pretty convenient, you will still have to bear the expensive electricity cost.
Therefore, many people seek free charging stations for their EVs, leaving us to answer the question; where are these free charging stations found in the US?
You’ll most commonly find charging stations at bustling attractions such as shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, and other leisure areas. You can even find them at hotels, car parks, and other accommodation centers. Moreover, you can use apps like Plugshare to find available charging stations near you.
Generally, there are several free charging stations available throughout the country, but there’s a catch. These free deals depend on the provider and can often change due to holidays or other national events. However, with some research, you can often discover charging stations that are free of cost.
In this guide, we’ll look at how you can charge your electric car for free.
Where To Find Free EV Charging Points In the US
Finding free charging points for your electric car isn’t that easy. However, we’ve listed some areas where you might find a free EV charging station.
Car Dealerships
In the US, many manufacturers provide free charging for electric cars at their dealerships or via affiliate charging networks, such as Electrify America. These dealerships often provide free charging to customers who have bought a car from them.
Across the nation, you will find several Hyundai, Audi, and Volkswagen dealerships willing to provide free EV charging to their customers.
Near National Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) collaborates with partners and networks to offer free EV charging for park visitors, staff, and commercial trucks as part of its Green Parks Plan. Charging stations have been installed in tourist centers, lodges, and partner sites, making it feasible to recharge in various locations around the park.
While not all national parks provide free EV charging stations, some common national parks, such as Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts and Everglades National Park in Florida, have plenty of places to charge your car.
Supermarkets
Several supermarkets in the US provide free EV charging stations to their customers. Multiple grocery stores such as Fred Meyer and Stop & Shop have numerous charging stations in their parking lots to attract customers.
Most of these charging stations are produced by Volta Industries, which has also worked with various shopping malls around the US to provide free EV charging stations.
How To Find Free Charging Stations For Electric Vehicles
Finding free charging stations is the most enjoyable aspect of having an electric vehicle. While driving an electric car is far less expensive than paying for gas, especially when fuel prices rise, things are always wonderful when you are able to recharge your EV for free.
However, locating a free charging station is not as straightforward as it may seem. Fortunately, with some research, you can easily locate active stations providing free charging near your vicinity. Here’s how you can find free charging stations:
Use An EV Application Such As Plugshare
The most straightforward approach for finding a free charging station is by using an online app.
Plugshare is by far the most effective application.
This app is incredibly famous among EV owners, and it’s one of the easiest methods to find EV chargers throughout North America. It not only has a filter that allows you to exclude any chargers that require you to pay, but it also has a map specialized in discovering free charging stations.
Plugshare also strongly emphasizes crowdsourcing information, allowing EV owners to update information regarding charging stations. This feature makes this app incredibly reliable, as charging stations that aren’t free will be removed immediately from the app.
Use Volta’s EV Charger
Most of the EV chargers you see near a mall parking lot are by Volta, a charging network that is “commerce-centric,” meaning that it provides EV charging for businesses so their customers can charge their vehicles.
The main advantage here is that Volta’s chargers are entirely free to use. You can find the nearest Volta charger using their app, which is available for iOS and Android devices. However, remember that most Volta chargers have a time restriction, around two hours, to recharge your car.
Buy An Electric Car With Free Charging Packages
Yes, electric cars are expensive, and electric cars that provide free charging on different networks will be even more expensive. However, despite the high initial cost, you can save a fortune in the long run by buying an EV with free charging perks.
For example, the Audi E-Tron GT and Lucid Air have free DC charging on the Electrify America network. That means you receive three years of free 30-minute charging sessions. Other manufacturers such as Kia also provide free charging on the Electrify America network, worth 1000kWh of free charging over three years.
FAQs
Q) Is There A Time Or Access Restriction On Free EV Charging Stations?
Unfortunately, yes. Most free charging stations have some type of access restriction, which can vary depending on where it’s located. For example, free EV charging stations that are sponsored by supermarkets will often have a ‘customer-only’ restriction.
Q) Can We Keep A Charger Plugged In All The Time?
Even though there is no danger of overcharging if you’re using a high-quality charger, you should not charge your EV’s battery for more than 24 hours. Charging overnight is enough to fully recharge your vehicle.
Q) Can We Charge An EV In The Rain?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to charge an electric car in the rain. Most EVs are designed to withstand water intrusion to safeguard their electrical system.
Conclusion
Getting an electric car has numerous perks, and it goes without saying that one of the biggest perks is that you can charge your electric car for free whenever you want to.
As long as you’re ready to do a bit of research, you’ll come across various charging stations that will allow you to charge your EV for free.
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