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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Charging Plug-In Electric Vehicles in Public

Photo of a public charging station.

A standardized plug means vehicle owners do not need to worry about compatibility issues at stations.

For fleet drivers and consumers to charge their all-electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in public, charging stations must be deployed and integrated with consideration for daily commutes and typical driving habits.

Charging Stations

Public charging stations make all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles more convenient. Although the majority of EV and PHEV owners will charge at single-family homes, public charging stations can increase the useful range of EVs and reduce the amount of gasoline consumed by PHEVs.

General public charging will use Level 2 or DC fast charging. Charging stations should be located where vehicle owners are highly concentrated, such as shopping centers, city parking lots and garages, airports, hotels, government offices, and other businesses.

Read more from Project Get Ready about infrastructure costs and charging infrastructure development.

Learn about the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities infrastructure projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and other infrastructure deployment projects.

Workplace Charging

The ability to charge at work can potentially double the daily feasible commuting distance for an EV or a PHEV driver.

Many organizations are analyzing the trade-offs of installing charging equipment for their employees. With proper implementation, building managers can provide significant value to their occupants at relatively little cost. Premium parking, such as "employee of the month" spots or VIP spots, may come with access to a charging station in the near future. However, charging at work during peak demand for electricity may lead to higher electricity bills for the facility manager.

Learn about the U.S. Department of Energy's EV Everywhere Workplace Charging Challenge that aims to increase the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging tenfold by 2018.

Fleet Charging

City planners, fleet managers, and utilities can work with automobile manufacturers and installers to determine the best locations for fleet charging stations. After they determine where the fleet vehicles will be located, all stakeholders can propose charging stations in locations they believe will be the most efficient and useful.