If you’ve spent time driving an EV across Los Angeles, whether cruising through Hollywood, commuting across the Valley, or running errands downtown, you’re probably familiar with the best and worst charging setups in the city. Knowing where to charge is half the battle won when you own an EV.
That’s why I’ve created this guide for EV owners, particularly new EV owners, so they can quickly get to the closest EV charging stations in Los Angeles. You can use it to discover the best EV charging stations in Los Angeles, fast EV charging in downtown LA, EV charging near LAX, overnight EV charging facilities, and free EV charging spots. I’ll also tell you how to manage your EV charging so you never run out of charge.
EV Charging Landscape in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is surprisingly EV-friendly compared to many other US cities. Reportedly, the city has over 8,000 public charging stations, with 449 free charging spots among them. That’s a healthy density, though many are Level 2 chargers which are slower, rather than DC fast units.
The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) is actively expanding infrastructure. And the city is experimenting with streetlight EV charging stations, connecting chargers to existing power lines in streetlights to simplify deployment.
But with all of this infrastructure, you will still come across “charging deserts”, areas where charging stations are hard to find. You will face this problem in suburbs like Inglewood or Redondo Beach. Here, public chargers are sparse despite rising EV ownership.
Best EV Charging Stations in Los Angeles
Let’s begin with the best Los Angeles has to offer. At these locations, you’ll find some of the most dependable, high-capacity, and well-appointed charging stations in Los Angeles:
1. EV Charging Near LAX
If you’re flying in or out of Los Angeles, charging at LAX is easy if you know where to go:
- All central terminal area (CTA) garages and the Economy Garage have EV charging.
- Charging is available on Level 1 / Level 2 units; usage is billed at about $0.45/kWh + a $2 service fee per session.
- You can pre-book your EV charging spot via the airport’s parking portal, which helps reduce uncertainty.
If you land exhausted in Los Angeles and want to charge and sleep, pairing overnight EV charging with airport parking in the East or Economy garages works well.
2. Downtown / Hollywood / Central LA
- At Hollywood & Highland, there’s a public parking garage with 18 free EV charging ports, which is rare for central LA.
- L.A. LIVE that’s adjacent to the Staples Center / Crypto.com Arena installed 48 Atom EV charging ports in its East & West garages. The first 4 hours cost ~$2/hr, later $3/hr.
- Union Station East Garage offers EV Gateway charging in lots D & G, with parking for overnight EV charging permitted, meaning you can charge while you sleep.
3. Libraries & Public Facilities
- Some LA County library branches offer public EV charging, priced modestly at $0.30/kWh (peak: $0.45/kWh).
- County facilities themselves have over 1,550 chargers open to public, staff, and fleets.
4. Free EV Charging Spots LA
- Several free spots exist in LA, though they tend to be limited and sometimes unreliable.
- Toyota dealerships in Hollywood and Santa Monica have offered free EV charging for years.
- In West Hollywood, municipal garages, parks like Plummer Park or Hart Park, or municipal buildings occasionally feature free or subsidized chargers.
Just be cautious before you access these chargers. “Free” may still come with time limits, occupancy, or other conditions.
Fast EV Charging Downtown LA & Quick Charge Stations
If you’re in a hurry and want to top up quickly, go for DC fast chargers:
- For quick charging your EV in Los Angeles, EVgo, one of America’s largest fast charging networks, has many stations across LA.
- Because DC fast chargers are fewer, it’s best to route your trip so you pass through areas like South LA, downtown warehouses, or major shopping centers known to host fast units.
- Always check apps like PlugShare or EVgo before arriving, since uptime or reliability is a known issue across U.S. fast chargers. A 2024 study across 20,000 stations found only ~73.7% average uptime on these fast chargers.
In short, fast charging works, but sometimes fails. Keep backup routes in mind when using these chargers.
Overnight EV Charging in Los Angeles
Charging overnight is ideal for topping to 100% while you sleep:
- Home charging (Level 2 at your residence) remains the best option for overnight charges; most EV owners will rely on that.
- Public garages that permit overnight parking and host chargers are absolute lifesavers. For example, Union Station East Garage supports overnight parking and charging.
- Hotels with EV chargers allow guests to charge overnight. Check ahead via apps or booking platforms to ensure availability and compatibility.
Tips, Hacks & Tools to Improve Charging Experience
Now these are the tips and hacks I promised that should ease EV charging and range pressure in LA.
- Plan your trips via apps such as PlugShare, EVgo, or ChargeHub. PlugShare is crowd-sourced with live updates, notes, and photos of chargers.
- Filter by charger type in your app (Level 2 / DC fast) and check compatibility with your vehicle.
- Avoid peak hours, especially at busy stations near retail or downtown.
- Look for amenities nearby. Restrooms, cafes, or shopping malls will help you pass the time while you wait for your EV to get charged.
- Carry charging adapters if your EV supports multiple connector types.
- Monitor charger status ahead of time. Some stations report in real-time availability, which helps avoid “dry wells.”
- Maintain a buffer. Never let your battery fall below 10–15%. Because charger downtime is real.
- If you drive a Tesla, you can find a Tesla charging station map for Los Angeles on apps like PlugShare or the Tesla website.
Examples of Charging Routes / Use Cases
1. Airport to Home: Land at LAX, park in the CTA garage, charge overnight at the LAX charger, then drive into LA.
2. Downtown errand day: Use the Hollywood & Highland free chargers or L.A. LIVE ports while you shop or work.
3. Library run: Park at a library branch with a charger, run errands while the battery tops off slowly.
4. Overnight on the train: Park at Union Station East, leave your EV charging while you ride the train.
FAQ — EV Charging Stations Los Angeles
LAX’s central terminal area garages and Economy Garage have charging stations. Pre-booking is supported, cost ~$0.45/kWh + $2 service.
Yes, but they are limited. PlugShare lists free stations; Toyota dealerships in Hollywood/Santa Monica run free chargers; and certain municipal sites occasionally host free charging.
Reliability is a known pain point with fast chargers. Some studies show fast chargers across the U.S. average ~73.7% uptime vs what providers claim. Always have backups planned.
Yes, if the parking location permits overnight stays and the charger is available, such as at Union Station East. Otherwise, many public garages or chargers don’t allow overnight charging.
Out of over 8,000 public stations, ~449 are free as per PlugShare.
At LA County libraries, it’s ~$0.30/kWh (peak: $0.45/kWh).
EVgo is one of the big fast-charging networks operating in LA. Also, other networks and local garage DC fast stations may offer similar service.
Concluding Insights
Charging your EV across Los Angeles isn’t easy or perfect, but it’s far better than it was five years ago. With the right tools at your disposal, like apps, chargers, and backups, you can navigate LA’s roads and backstreets while ensuring your EV stays charged, whether you’re downtown, near LAX, or commuting.
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