Visitor Information Center for Palm Desert & Palm Springs

EV Charging

EV Charging in Palm Desert, California

The city of Palm Desert in California has 198 public charging stations, 39 of which are free EV charging stations. Palm Desert has a total of 16 DC Fast Chargers. >>Map

Should I buy a charger before I get an electric vehicle?

Probably not. Almost all electric vehicles come with what’s called a level 1 charger. These chargers plug directly into a standard wall outlet. But while they require minimal effort and money, they will charge a car’s battery at a very slow rate. You might be able to add dozens of miles of range with an overnight charge, but it will take more than a day to fully charge an empty battery. You also need to make sure that your home’s electrical system can handle the additional burden of charging a car on top of, say, doing laundry or using a microwave oven.

When you hear about installing an EV charger at a home, those conversations are mostly about level 2 chargers. Because they’re more powerful, consumers can fill up their battery overnight, and get dozens of miles of range added by plugging the car in for an hour. Level 2 chargers require a different kind of plug (think of the outlet that your washer and dryer use) and you’ll need to call an electrician to get one set up.

Considering an electric vehicle?
Here’s how to prep your home for one.

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