Public Charging Stations

Public charging stations are similar to gas stations, allowing drivers to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) in public places. While drivers may choose to charge their vehicle at home, access to public charging stations extends driving range and allows for long-distance travel.

There are three levels of charging which relate to the speed at which they can charge an EV battery: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 DC fast charging. Public charging stations typically have Level 2 or Level 3 charging capabilities, so you can charge your vehicle quickly while on the go.

Charging Networks in North America

ChargePoint

ChargePoint has the largest EV public charging network in the U.S., with over 30,000 locations. In fact, ChargePoint provides roughly 70% of the networked Level 2 chargers in North America.¹ Most of their ports are Level 2, but they also have some DC fast-charging stations.

Tesla

After ChargePoint, Tesla has the second largest network in the US, with 6,000-7,000 locations and growing.² Tesla also has the largest global fast-charging network in the world, with over 60,000 Superchargers (equipped for DC fast charging). Since many major automakers have chosen to adopt Tesla’s standardized NACS connector port, it is likely that the Supercharger network will continue to expand.

Blink

Blink has more than 85,000 chargers globally.³ Its public charging stations support Level 2 charging, although DC fast-charging stations are available in select locations.

Shell Recharge

In 2019, the EV charging network known as Greenlots was acquired by Royal Dutch Shell. It was eventually renamed to Shell Recharge, and the network has expanded to include over 4,000 charging stations nationwide.⁴

EVGo

EVGo charging stations can be found in over 35 states, and the network has over 1,000 fast-charging stations.⁵ EVGo supports environmentally friendly processes and matches 100% of the energy used on its network with renewable energy certificates.

Electrify America

Electrify America is a Volkswagen-owned charging network of DC fast chargers. Like EVGo, it also has over 1,000 fast-charging stations throughout North America.⁶

Francis Energy

Francis Energy was originally a statewide network offered exclusively in Oklahoma. It was established to serve the central states to combat “range anxiety” and build infrastructure where charging networks are traditionally lacking. The company currently has 200 stations across 12 states, with development plans in 9 additional states.⁷

How to find public charging stations

One of the major concerns for those considering an EV is the availability and accessibility of reliable charging stations. According to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, as of 2025 there are over 210,000 charging ports at over 75,000 stations in the U.S. While the number of charging stations is growing, their distribution is not evenly spread throughout the country. California remains the most populated state with more than 18,700 stations, followed by New York with over 5,000, and Texas with over 4,000.

Locating these stations can be difficult if you are not already familiar with charging locations in your area. There are several other mobile apps and websites that can help you locate an appropriate charger, including the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation site, PlugShare, ChargePoint, EV Connect, Google Maps or Apple Maps, and various route-planning apps.

How do EV charging stations work?

Public charging stations do not use a “swipe and pump” payment method like gas stations do. Instead, public charging networks usually require you to create a user account through the provider’s mobile app. Stations charge based on the kilowatt-hour (kWh), meaning the amount of energy that is transferred to your vehicle in an hour. Rates are set by the station owner, like at gas stations, so fees can vary from place to place.

Here are some tips for using public charging networks:

Aim to charge your vehicle between 25% to 75% state of charge (SOC) to preserve your battery life and avoid tapering costs (it takes almost as long to charge from 75% to 100% as it takes to charge from 25% to 75%)
Do not idle in a charging spot - once your vehicle is fully charged, you’ll have to pay an idle fee for occupying the space
Try to limit your charge time to under 45 minutes at fast chargers or two hours at L2 chargers to be considerate of other EV drivers looking for a charging spot

¹ChargePoint Now Offers 30,000 Places to Charge an Electric Vehicle, chargepoint.com, 2025

²tesla.com/supercharger, 2025

³Blink EV Charging Network, chargehub.com, 2025

⁴www.shell.us/electric-vehicle-charging, 2025

⁵evgo.com, 2025

⁶electrifyamerica.com, 2025

⁷francisenergy.com, 2025

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