If you’re looking for an electric vehicle charging station in your area, I recommend trying the PlugShare application iOS and Android, it can also be used on the web. PlugShare has mapped and cataloged more than 200,000 chargers across the United States. While in the app, you can upload pictures, share reviews and leave equipment updates for known charging stations. PlugShare also allows users to see whether a charging port is occupied or available.

ChargePoint, Tesla, eVgo, AmpUp, and Volta are some of the most widely used charging networks that can be found using PlugShare.

Chicago EV Charging Stations

There are a few clutch spots that offer free parking and free charging for electric and hybrid vehicles in Chicago. Each charging station is within 6 miles of the downtown area, or the Bean (201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602). At minimum drivers are allowed 30 minutes of free parking time while charging, at most, drivers are allowed 2 hours of parking time while charging.

Volta

The following charging stations all belong to Volta. The Volta network has free level 2 charging on offer in states like California, Hawaii, New York, and Chicago. Most chargers are available 7 days a week, 24 hours, even if the associated store is closed. Volta Charging stations are usually attached to highly visible, animated, plasma screens with blue lights atop their frames. If you know of an EV charging station fit for this list, please email the details to climatechangeisorg@gmail.com. Thank you in advance.

Volta Charger

The first charger is located in Jewels Osco’s parking lot, 1224 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605. This charger is on the northwest corner of the lot. Drivers are allowed a two hour charging time limit. The associated Jewels Osco closes before midnight. There are two J1772 connector types near the animated, plasma screens.

Here’s a single Volta charger in a Walgreens parking lot in Chinatown, 316 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL, 60616. 6 miles from the Bean. This station has a 45-minute parking limit while charging.

The second Volta charger can be found at 111 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607. It’s within 4.2 miles of the Bean. The J1772 chargers are on the south side of the block closest to the Walgreen’s main entrance. Parking is allowed for 45 minutes of charging time.

501 W Roosevelt Rd Chicago, IL 60607, approximately 4 miles from the Bean, chargers are near the Walgreens entrance by Canal street. There are two J1772 chargers for use with parallel parking spaces between the animated, plasma screens. The Walgreens is open 24 hours a day.

The final Volta charger is located in Lakeview East, 3531 N Broadway, Chicago, IL, 60657. There are two J1772 chargers, one in outdoor parking lot on the same level as the associated Jewels Osco, the other on the inside of the parking garage. The entrance is on the south end of the Jewels Osco; the north ramp is for exiting. Both chargers are free with a two hour parking time limit while charging.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF PLUGSHARE