The growth of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the US has been significant over the past few years. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of charging stations nearly doubled from 87,352 to 161,562. This trend is expected to continue as more people adopt EVs.
Currently, there are at least 140,000 publicly available charging stations across the country. These stations are accessible to the general public, unlike private charging options such as workplace charging. While some charging stations charge a fee based on the kilowatt hour or the amount of time plugged in, there are still ways to charge your EV for free.
However, experts predict that these no-fee charging options will decrease over time. Grant Gold, director of real estate solutions at EV Connect, believes that as EV adoption increases, free charging perks will gradually diminish. Eventually, it will become more common to pay for charging services.
In the meantime, here are some ways savvy EV owners can still get a free charge:
1. Charge for free while you shop: Some larger chain businesses offer free charging as a customer perk. Macy’s department stores, Cinemark movie theaters, Kohl’s, Fred Meyer, Stop & Shop, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Safeway, and Whole Foods are examples of businesses that provide no-fee charging stations.
2. Charge for free while checked in at a hotel: Several hotels and inns offer free EV charging for their guests. Select Marriott and Hilton locations provide this amenity. Additionally, Radisson hotels offer free charging for Tesla and other EV owners when they stay or dine at the hotel.
3. Charge for free while attending school: Many colleges and universities have EV charging stations on campus. Some institutions even offer free charging for students, professors, staff, and visitors. Examples include Santa Clara University, the University of Florida, and the University of Buffalo.
4. Charge for free while visiting a national park: There are more than 140 charging stations available across 23 national parks and campgrounds in the US. Some of these stations are free, such as the six Level 2 charging stations at the Oasis at Death Valley in California. Rivian is also sponsoring dozens of Waypoint chargers at California’s Yosemite National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
5. Charge for free while watching a commercial: Volta, a company acquired by Shell in 2023, operates more than 3,600 charging stalls across 35 US states and territories. These charging stations are typically located in shopping malls, stadiums, amusement parks, and hospitals. While using a Volta charging station, EV drivers have access to Level 2 charging for 30 minutes for free.
6. Get in on manufacturer incentives: Many automakers offer free charging packages to attract new customers. Tesla, for example, often provides complimentary charging promotions at the end of a quarter to boost sales. Other manufacturers, such as Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo, also offer various incentives for free charging.
7. Search for free charging on a charging map: In addition to the options mentioned above, there are numerous libraries, museums, government offices, nonprofits, and private businesses that offer free EV charging. Charging map services like PlugShare, ChargeFinder, and ChargeHub can help you locate these stations across the country.
It’s important to note that while these options exist, it’s always a good idea to double-check the accuracy and availability of the charging stations on these maps since the information is primarily crowdsourced.
In conclusion, while free charging options may become less common in the future as EV adoption continues to grow, there are still ways to charge your EV for free. By taking advantage of customer perks, hotel amenities, college charging stations, national park facilities, commercial-supported charging stations, manufacturer incentives, and using charging maps, savvy EV owners can save on charging costs.