Electric Car Charging Stations in Iowa
As of 2022, Iowa City has the most electric car charging stations in Iowa—but Des Moines is catching up quickly.
Written by Mariza Morin
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Looking to charge your electric car in Iowa? According to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), there are 270 electric car charging stations in Iowa for public use.
Like the rest of the nation, the electric car wave has arrived in the state of Iowa. In fact, Iowa’s recently passed Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plan aims to support electric vehicles and help strengthen their viability moving forward—though further details for funding won’t come out until the end of 2023. But with the statewide popularity of electric vehicles on the rise, there are more charging stations than ever before in the Hawkeye State.
You might have a charging station at home if you own an electric car in Iowa, but what if you’re traveling across the state? That’s why
Jerry
, the #1-rated trusted car insurance
broker app, has created this guide to help locate EV charging stations near you. Stick around until the end and we’ll even show you how to save on Iowa car insurance costs
for your electric car. Where to find electric vehicle charging stations in Iowa
If you’re looking for an EV charging station near you, it’s crucial to understand the different types of charging equipment available. And most importantly—which one your EV requires.
- Level 1: 120 volts; charging can take over 8 hours; ideal for overnight charging
- Level 2: 240 volts; charging can take over 2 hours; ideal for short-range charging
- Level 3: Also known as the fast charger; charging can take over 30 minutes; ideal for long-range charging
- Tesla Supercharger: Tesla’s proprietary DC fast chargers; more plugs per site on average
In Iowa, you’ll mostly find public chargers that are either Level 2 or Level 3. It’s very rare to find a Level 1 charger for public use as it takes so long to fully charge an EV.
There are a couple of websites to help you locate EV chargers in Iowa:
- PlugShare:Lists pricing, user reviews, and parking information
Iowa cities with the most EV charging stations
City | Total number of public charging stations | Level 2 stations | Tesla stations | Free stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Iowa City | 31 | 31 | 2 | 30 |
Des Moines | 28 | 27 | 10 | 23 |
Coralville | 25 | 17 | 12 | 1 |
MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car
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How much does it cost to charge an electric car in Iowa?
While most public charging stations are free in Iowa, you might have to pay to charge your EV at certain locations. Here’s what it could cost to charge your EV in Iowa.
Level 1 chargers are hard to come by across Iowa, but if you do—they’re usually free! If payment is required, it’s usually the lowest-cost option when it comes to EV charging. You can expect to pay an average cost of $1.50 to $14 depending on your battery size and location.
From there, you’ll see an increase in costs with other chargers. Many stations in Iowa offer free Level 2 charging for public use, but some stations could charge you between $0.20 to $0.30 per kWh. This may end up costing you an average of $8 to $40. Of course, your final price tag will depend on your particular EV and the length of time you charge it.
And then we have the most efficient EV charging stations of all—Level 3 fast chargers. They are similar in price to Level 2 chargers, but you’ll usually be charged either per minute or per kWh. Currently, the national average is about $0.35/kWh, which could cost you an average of $10 to $30 per charge.
Be aware that you might also get charged for simply parking at a charging station. However, you could save on charging costs with a monthly membership fee instead of paying for the as-you-go rate.
Iowa electric vehicle incentives
Though Iowa doesn’t have as many public charging stations as other parts of the country, that’s all going to change in the coming years. Iowa’s
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment
plan was approved on Sept. 27, 2022 by the federal Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to start executing the plan and accessing funding from the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Plan. However, many details still need to be worked out among Iowa state officials, and the estimated time frame for announcing the availability of the first round of funds won’t be until late winter 2023. But Iowa’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plan vision promotes: “A readily accessible electric vehicle ecosystem that promotes mobility, reliability, and sustainability for the overall economic and social wellbeing of Iowa.” If all goes as planned, Iowans will see a growing network of charging stations across the Hawkeye State to support regional and interstate travel.
But while you’re waiting for this plan to be implemented, you might qualify for additional incentives if you’re a customer of one of these electricity companies:
How to save on electric car insurance in Iowa
While driving an electric car in Iowa means you’re saving on fuel costs, you could be paying more on your insurance premium. That’s because electric vehicles generally tend to be
more expensive to insure
than regular gas-powered vehicles on account of higher repair costs. But your location plays a big part in determining your insurance rates. For example,
Des Moines insurance costs
are the highest in the Hawkeye State, averaging about $2,275 a year. But drivers in University Heights, Ames, and other smaller IA towns will pay less on rates. But regardless of where you live, you can always find the best rates at the best price with
Jerry
. If you have 45 seconds, all you have to do is download and sign up with the trustworthy insurance comparison app
to access customized quotes from a host of over 55 of the nation’s top insurance companies. Once you pick a policy that works for you, Jerry’s team will handle the rest—including helping you cancel your old policy. How much can you save? On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance!
“
Jerry
is an amazing app. Thanks to it, I saved a lot of money for my Tesla Model 3’s insurance. I’m so glad I downloaded the app!” —Erza S.
4.7
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