According to the California Energy Commission, there are 79,023 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Golden State, of which 35,594 are public chargers. You can find the closest ones to you using an online map.

With rising gas prices, electric cars have taken the world by storm—and California has seen some of the biggest jumps in EV usage in the country. As of December 2021, California housed 39% of EVs nationwide, with 563,070 registered.

To incentivize going electric, the Golden State offers up to $7,000 back on the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), battery electric vehicle (BEV), or a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). But the state’s public charging infrastructure must also expand to keep up with the growing interest in going electric.

If you own an EV and are looking for the easiest way to charge it when you’re not home, the

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Jerry

is here to help. Here’s how to find public charging stations for your EV in California. As a bonus, we’ll also fill you in on how to lower your

California car insurance costs

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Where to find electric vehicle charging stations in California

Charging an electric car isn’t as simple as finding a charging station and plugging in—you’ll need to consider a few factors before you track one down. Before looking for a station, it’s essential to know the different types of charging equipment available and which charger you need.

Level 1: Equivalent to a 120-volt household outlet; charging generally takes over 24 hours; ideal for plug-in hybrids

Level 2: 220 volts; charging takes between 4 and 8 hours with a charging rate between 12 and 80 miles of range per hour; ideal for home charging

Level 3: Also known as DC fast charging (DCFC); 400 to 900 volts; charges at a rate of 3 to 20 miles per minute; ideal for road trips

Tesla Supercharger: Tesla’s proprietary DC fast chargers; more plugs per site on average

Most of the public chargers in California are Level 2, DC fast chargers, and Tesla Superchargers. Level 1 chargers are reserved mainly for home use, as the charging times are significantly longer and less ideal for those looking for a quick juice-up.

However, you will find Level 1s scattered throughout the state. For example, you can find a Level 1 charger at:

Fresno Yosemite International Airport - Long-Term Parking

Sutter Galleria Mall - University of California - Davis Extension

City of Bakersfield Amtrak Parking

If you’re looking for EV chargers in California, there are a few websites to help track them down:

ChargeHub

: Lists Level 1, Level 2, DCFC (Level 3), and Tesla Supercharger stations

PlugShare:

Shows pricing, user reviews, and parking information

U.S. Department of Energy

: Lists Level 1, Level 2, and DCFC (Level 3)

California cities with the most EV charging stations

City	Total number of public charging stations	DCFC stations	Tesla stations	Free stations
Los Angeles	4,293	341	95	540
San Diego	1,570	328	198	106
San Jose	1,219	238	148	107
Sacramento	775	135	57	31

MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in California?

While charging an EV will cost less than filling up your gas tank—especially in California—charging isn’t always free. Here’s what your EV charging costs might look like in California.

Although Level 1 chargers are substantially slower than Level 2 and DC fast chargers, they have one significant advantage: they’re usually free! However, if there is a cost associated with a Level 1 charger, it’s typically pretty cheap.

With faster charging, comes higher prices. California is moving away from time-based charging toward a fee structure based on kWh used. Drivers can expect to pay around $0.30 per kWh using a Level 2 charger and $0.40 per kWh for DC fast charging.

For example, a Nissan LEAF with a 150-mile range and 40-kWh battery would cost roughly $12 to fully charge (empty to full) using a Level 2 and $16 using DC fast charging.

Remember that you may have to pay for parking at a charging location. But you can help reduce charging costs with a membership. At specific charging sites, you can pay a small monthly fee and access reduced charging rates.

MORE:

How to get a hybrid or electric car tax credit

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California electric vehicle incentives

As the state with the highest number of electric car charging stations, finding one might not be a challenging task, but it still might be difficult in smaller towns. However, California is ahead of the curve, as the government continues to fund initiatives to encourage the adoption of low-emission vehicles.

California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) offers Californians a rebate of up to $7,000 on the lease or purchase of a new electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. They also offer residential Level 2 charger rebates to make home charging more accessible and affordable.

Rebates are also available for business owners. You can learn more about

available incentives in California

by visiting the Drive Clean website.

On top of individual incentives, California is also pushing to reach its goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California roads by 2025. The U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation's signoff on the California Deployment Plan for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program means there is an initial $56 million in funding available for installing charging stations throughout the state that will support the transition to clean, zero-emission electric vehicles here.

MORE:

California electric vehicle incentives

How to save on electric car insurance in California

If you’re behind the wheel of an electric car in California, you’re racking in massive savings on fuel costs (the average price for gas in California is $6.196 per gallon). But, you’re probably paying higher-than-average prices for car insurance.

Car insurance for green vehicles

—especially more expensive models—is typically more than for gas-powered vehicles due to EVs’ higher costs for parts and repairs.

For example,

Tesla Model 3 insurance costs

average around $3,213 annually compared to

Honda CR-V insurance costs

, which are around $1,100 a year. While the fuel savings may add up, the insurance savings don’t.

But when you shop for

car insurance

with

Jerry

, you’ll find the most affordable rates regardless of where you live. As a licensed insurance broker and comparison shopper, Jerry scans over 55 of the nation’s top insurers in under a minute to find real-time customized quotes without sacrificing coverage.

Getting started is simple: download the app, plug in your driving details, and scan your quotes. It’s worth it—the average Jerry user saves over $800 a year on car insurance!

“
Jerry
saved me $80 a month! I have a Tesla Model Y and really wanted to lower my rates. And they did! I really recommend you give this a shot!” —Nick M.

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