Which Charging Networks Can your EV Access?

Sebastian Blanco | Aug 30, 2022

Learning how to find public charging stations can be one of the most challenging aspects of switching to an electric vehicle (EV). The good news is that the Department of Energy maintains a growing list of EV charging locations in the United States, which includes almost 50,000 stations that offer a total of 124,000 plugs. These stations are run mainly by nine large network operators, each with its own accounts and payment rules.

Which Charging Networks Can your EV Access

If you are new to EVs, there's no reason to be intimidated by the different charging networks. The electric vehicle industry offers standard Level 2 charging connectors, and whatever EV you buy will work with any of these plugs.

It's mostly the same with DC fast charging, but there are exceptions. Tesla models, for example, can fast charge using the company's Supercharger network, which is incompatible with EVs from other companies. (Tesla may open its Supercharger network to other EVs in the future.) We've noted other exceptions below, where you will find a list of all EVs available for the 2022 and 2023 model year, along with the charging network providers with which they work.

Since providers often design EV charging networks to work with the largest number of EVs, any model on the following list with "standard connectors" means it can charge at any Level 2 charger or use the widespread DC fast-charging standard called CCS. The only networks listed that don't fit this definition are the Tesla Supercharger Network and the Rivian Adventure Network.

Models listed below as having "standard connectors" can access the following networks:

Blink

ChargePoint

Electrify America

EVConnect

EVCS

EVgo

Francis Energy

Greenlots/Shell Recharge Solutions

And other, smaller networks

Audi - Find the best Audi deals!

Audi E-tron and E-tron Sportback, E-tron GT, Q4 E-tron—Standard connectors. Audi offers incentives on the Electrify America network.

BMW - Find the best BMW deals!

BMW i4, iX—Standard connectors. BMW offers incentives on the Electrify America network.

Cadillac - Find the best Cadillac deals!

Cadillac Lyriq—Standard connectors. General Motors offers incentives on the EVgo fast-charging network.

Chevrolet - Find the best Chevrolet deals!

Chevrolet Bolt EV, Bolt EUV—Standard connectors. General Motors offers incentives on the EVgo fast-charging network.

Ford - Find the best Ford deals!

Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E—Standard connectors. Ford offers benefits on the Electrify America network. Ford's BlueOval Charge Network simplifies visits to stations from multiple providers, including Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVgo, and others.

Ford E-Transit—Standard connectors. As it is a commercial vehicle, Ford doesn't offer any Electrify America incentives with the E-Transit. However, drivers can still access Ford's BlueOval Charge Network, as with the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E.

Genesis - Find the best Genesis deals!

Genesis GV60—Standard connectors. Genesis offers incentives on the Electrify America network.

GMC - Find the best GMC deals!

GMC Hummer EV—Standard connectors. GM hasn't announced any charging network operator incentives for the Hummer EV, but the automaker usually works with EVgo.

Hyundai - Find the best Hyundai deals!

Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kona Electric—Standard connectors. Hyundai works with Electrify America on charging incentives.

Jaguar - Find the best Jaguar deals!

Jaguar I-Pace—Standard connectors. Jaguar does not offer any charging network incentives.

Kia - Find the best Kia deals!

Kia EV6, Niro EV—Standard connectors. The EV6 includes an incentive on the Electrify America network.

Lucid

Lucid Air—Standard connectors. Lucid offers an incentive on the Electrify America network.

Mazda - Find the best Mazda deals!

Mazda MX-30 EV—Standard connectors. Mazda offers incentives on the ChargePoint network.

Mercedes-Benz - Find the best Mercedes-Benz deals!

Mercedes-Benz EQB, EQS—Standard connectors. Mercedes offers an incentive on the Electrify America network. A MercedesMe Charge account can simplify charging at "almost" all charging stations in North America.

Mini - Find the best Mini deals!

Mini Cooper SE Electric—Standard connectors. Mini does not offer any charging network incentives.

Nissan - Find the best Nissan deals!

Nissan Ariya, Leaf—The Ariya will have standard connectors, but the aging Leaf is the only new EV sold in the U.S. that still uses the CHAdeMO fast-charging connector. Some stations on the independent network operators offer CHAdeMO ports, but we recommend double-checking if you plan to head to a station you haven't visited before. Nissan offers charging incentives with EVgo.

Polestar

Polestar 2—Standard connectors. Polestar offers charging incentives with Electrify America.

Porsche - Find the best Porsche deals!

Porsche Taycan—Standard connectors. Porsche offers charging incentives with Electrify America. Porsche also provides Porsche Destination Charging at select high-end hotels and other premium locations. All electric Porsches can charge free at these stations.

Rivian - Find the best Rivian deals!

Rivian R1S, Rivian R1T—Rivian's EVs have standard connectors but can also take advantage of the Rivian Adventure Network, which entails a series of stations built near busy roads and in remote areas. Rivian has not yet fully detailed how its customers will be able to access these stations once more are installed.

Subaru - Find the best Subaru deals!

Subaru Solterra—Standard connectors. Subaru offers charging incentives with EVgo.

Tesla - Find the best Tesla deals!

Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y—Tesla uses a proprietary connector that allows the company's electric vehicles to replenish their batteries anywhere on the Tesla Supercharger Network. Tesla includes an adapter with each new car it sells so they can also recharge at standard charging stations.

Toyota - Find the best Toyota deals!

Toyota bZ4X—Standard connectors. Toyota offers charging incentives at EVgo stations.

Volkswagen - Find the best Volkswagen deals!

VW ID.4—Standard connectors. VW offers charging incentives with Electrify America.

Volvo - Find the best Volvo deals!

Volvo XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge—Standard connectors. Volvo offers charging incentives at Electrify America stations.

Summary

Most new EVs will work with the majority of charging stations. But there are exceptions. This list can help you figure out where to charge your new EV. If you haven't decided which new EV to buy, you can learn more in our Shopping Guides section.

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