7 Free EV Charging Options

As public EV charging stations continue to grow, find the best ways to charge for free.

Between 2019 and 2023, the number of charging stations across the United States nearly doubled, from 87,352 to 161,562. The number of public EV charging stations is growing, and experts think it will continue. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says that of the charging stations currently available, at least 140,000 are public, as opposed to private charging stations such as workplaces. Charging an electric vehicle is already cheaper than gas, but sometimes it's free. Public charging stations typically charge by kilowatt-hour or charging time. There are a variety of ways to charge an electric vehicle for free, from manufacturer incentives to ad-driven hookups. But these free charging options may dwindle over time. "As more people adopt electric vehicles, free charging offers will slowly disappear and be replaced by paid charging," said Grant Gold, director of real estate solutions at EV Connect.

Let's take a look at how savvy drivers can get free charging.

1.Free charging while shopping

Some major chains offer free charging as a customer benefit (and to keep you in the store longer). For example, dozens of stores, including Macy's and Cinemark movie theaters, have free charging stations. Kohl's also offers free charging at select locations, as do supermarkets like Fred Meyer, Stop & Shop, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Safeway, and Whole Foods.

2.Free charging while staying at a hotel

Many hotels and inns offer free EV charging to guests, including some Marriott and Hilton properties. Tesla and other electric car owners can also charge their vehicles for free when staying or dining at Radisson. The charging station's software "allows the venue owner to control the price," Gold said. "Hotels can choose to use it as an incentive to attract guests or charge a separate fee if they want." Check ahead before booking, or visit charging mapping services such as PlugShare, ChargeFinder, or ChargeHub to check the status of area charging stations.

3.Free charging during the school day

Many colleges have EV charging facilities on campus. Some universities offer charging for free to students, professors, and staff, and some campuses even offer it to visitors. For example, Santa Clara University, the University of Florida, and the University at Buffalo have all partnered with ChargePoint to offer free charging. Typically, there are some restrictions: For example, the University of Florida imposes a four-hour parking limit, and if you charge before 4:30 p.m., you must have a university parking sticker

4.Visiting national parks is free

According to the American Campgrounds Association, there are more than 140 chargers in 23 parks and campgrounds across the United States. Some of them are free, including six Level 2 charging stations at Oasis in Death Valley, California, which are powered by the resort's on-site solar energy. Rivian sponsors dozens of Waypoint chargers in Yosemite National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. By partnering with Adopt a Charger, the electric car maker will provide 10 years of operating and maintenance costs for both projects. In January 2022, Rivian announced plans to install 10,000 Waypoint chargers in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2023, including most state parks in Tennessee and Colorado. You can find a map of EV charging stations in the National Park System.

5.Charge for free while watching ads

There are more than 3,600 Volta chargers in 35 states and territories in the U.S., mainly in shopping malls, stadiums, amusement parks and hospitals in major cities. Volta, which was acquired by Shell in 2023, uses an ad-supported model, which means you'll see a lot of ads at charging stations. However, Volta offers EV drivers 30 minutes of free Level 2 charging - equivalent to about 35 miles of range. You can download the Volta charging app to find the charging station closest to you.

6.Take advantage of manufacturer incentives

Many automakers offer free charging packages to attract new customers. Tesla no longer offers unlimited free Supercharging for new models, but it often offers free charging promotions to boost sales, such as at the end of a quarter.

7.Search for free charging spots on a charging map

In addition to the above options, there are hundreds of libraries, museums, government offices, nonprofits, and private businesses that offer free EV charging. Charging map services like PlugShare, ChargeFinder, or ChargeHub show charging stations across the country with free charger settings. Just go into the filters and find the free charging option. You can also get information about how many minutes of charging are available, the charge level, the status of the charging station, and more.

Since this information is mostly crowdsourced, you may want to double-check its accuracy.