EV Charging in California

Install EV chargers or score a site in California with EV Data Map by Charge Rigs. 19,882 existing public charging locations (2,765 DC fast, 17,100 Level 2). Free 0–100 profitability analysis on any California address.

California is served by 19,882 public electric vehicle charging locations operating 65,436 individual chargers. 2,765 of those locations (14%) provide DC fast charging suitable for road-trip stops, while 17,100 (86%) deliver Level 2 charging for longer-dwell parking such as workplaces, retail and hospitality.

The cities with the most public charging in California are Los Angeles (1,982), San Diego (905), Irvine (818), San Jose (669), San Francisco (601). Across the state, charging is provided by a mix of national networks and regional operators.

EV Data Map is an EVSE and DC Fast Charger location analyzer that scores every potential charging site in the United States from 0 to 100 for DC Fast Charger ROI — combining EV ownership density, daytime population, traffic, demographics, nearby competing chargers, dwell-time characteristics of surrounding land use, and grid capacity. Use the analyzer to enter any address in California and receive an instant score, demand projection and recommended charger configuration.

California charging by the numbers

Locations
19,882
Chargers
65,436
DC Fast locations
2,765
Level 2 locations
17,100

DC fast share: 14% · Level 2 share: 86% · 800 cities with public charging.

Top cities in California

The strongest EV charging hubs in California — explore site analysis and coverage detail:

Top cities for EV charging in California

The following California cities have the most public EV charging locations.

  1. Los Angeles — 1,982 locations (75 DC fast)
  2. San Diego — 905 locations (93 DC fast)
  3. Irvine — 818 locations (28 DC fast)
  4. San Jose — 669 locations (65 DC fast)
  5. San Francisco — 601 locations (69 DC fast)
  6. Sacramento — 499 locations (61 DC fast)
  7. Santa Clara — 374 locations (7 DC fast)
  8. Menlo Park — 306 locations (32 DC fast)
  9. Anaheim — 259 locations (31 DC fast)
  10. San Mateo — 246 locations (14 DC fast)
  11. Santa Monica — 240 locations (10 DC fast)
  12. Long Beach — 215 locations (24 DC fast)
  13. Redwood City — 204 locations (7 DC fast)
  14. Palo Alto — 200 locations (9 DC fast)
  15. South San Francisco — 199 locations (13 DC fast)
  16. Fresno — 186 locations (38 DC fast)
  17. Sunnyvale — 185 locations (14 DC fast)
  18. Torrance — 165 locations (17 DC fast)
  19. Oakland — 155 locations (12 DC fast)
  20. San Bernardino — 154 locations (10 DC fast)
  21. Mountain View — 149 locations (9 DC fast)
  22. Burlingame — 140 locations (4 DC fast)
  23. Orange — 137 locations (10 DC fast)
  24. Fremont — 137 locations (19 DC fast)

How profitability scores work in California

Every score on EV Data Map blends location demand, competition and operating economics into a single 0–100 number. Demand inputs include the registered EV count, commute and through-traffic patterns, daytime worker population, retail and hospitality footprint, and tourism inflows. Competition uses the count and quality of nearby existing chargers — DC fast power, network reliability and dwell-fit. Operating economics include estimated electricity tariffs, demand-charge exposure, expected utilization, and capital cost for the recommended hardware mix.

For California the model accounts for the existing footprint of 2,765 DC fast and 17,100 Level 2 sites distributed across 800 cities, plus interstate corridor traffic and state-specific incentive programs such as NEVI awards.

Frequently asked questions

How many EV charging stations are in California?
There are 19,882 public electric vehicle charging locations across California operating 65,436 individual chargers — 2,765 DC fast locations and 17,100 Level 2 locations.
Which city in California has the most EV chargers?
Los Angeles leads California with 1,982 public charging locations, followed by San Diego (905) and Irvine (818).
How much does it cost to install an EV charger in California?
Level 2 chargers in California typically install for $4,000–$12,000 per port including make-ready; DC fast installs run $80,000–$250,000+ per port depending on power level, utility upgrades and trenching.
What permits and incentives apply to EV chargers in California?
Most California projects need an electrical permit (and a building permit plus utility coordination for DC fast). Sites can typically stack the federal 30C tax credit (up to 30% / $100,000 per commercial charger in eligible census tracts) with California state, utility and NEVI-funded programs.
How long does it take to install an EV charger in California?
Typical commercial Level 2 installations in California energize in 4–8 weeks from site survey. DC fast installs typically run 4–9 months because of utility service upgrades, transformer lead times and switchgear procurement.
How long does it take an EV charger in California to become profitable?
Payback in California depends on utilization, electricity tariffs (especially demand charges) and incentives captured. Well-sited Level 2 stations typically reach payback in 3–5 years; DC fast sites with strong throughput in 3–6 years.

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