Download this list of EV Charging Station in the Joshua Tree area.

Thinking about or going electric? You’re not alone. The emergence of electric vehicles continues to grow and the companies leading the charge, both car manufacturers as well as companies setting up charging stations are to be commended.

There are a few EV charging stations right here in the Joshua Tree Gateway Communities…Two in Twentynine Palms, including a Tesla charging station and two in Yucca Valley.

Blink has stations at the Public Library and we have a Blink Electric Car Charging Station in our very own parking lot here at The California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley.

It is just one of the various amenities that we offer visitors. So, if you have made the prudent choice of going electric and have travelled here in your electric car, you can rest assured we’ve got you covered for an ongoing desert adventure, including things to do while your car is charging!

Know Before You Go

It is important to plan ahead and know your destination ahead of time so you can assess if adequate charging stations are available. Many of them have their own Mobile Apps, but a good place to start is online.

Here are a couple of links to find the location of ANY charging station in the USA.

www.blinkcharging.com
www.plugshare.com

Charging 101

 There are different types of chargers and not all charging stations are alike. The primary difference between them is how much charging power they have and how long it will take to charge your EV’s battery. Charging time depends on the type of car and the type of the charging station available.

AC CHARGERS:
Level One chargers are intended for home use and overnight charging, taking as long as a day to charge an EV fully.

Level Two chargers are much faster. The Blink HQ 150 offers 32-amp charging on a standard 240 AC circuit. Charging time is around 25 miles per hour. The Blink IQ 200 is a Level Two Charger. It has an 80-amp charging capacity on a 100-amp circuit. Charging time is around 30-65 miles per hour.

DC FAST CHARGERS:
DC Fast chargers or Level Three chargers. They do not charge an EV first with AC power. They charge the battery directly with DC power. They usually charge a car over 80% in around half an hour. They also cost about twice as much as a Level Two charger to use.

Tesla Superchargers are DC Fast Chargers but only work for Tesla vehicles.

At the California Welcome Center, we have the fastest available Blink charging station and it takes around 4-6 hours to charge an EV.

So what do you do while your car is charging?

Come inside and say hi. Let our knowledgeable and desert savvy Ambassadors answer your questions or help plan your excursion into Joshua Tree National Park or surrounding communities. We even sell park passes that can be delivered right to your phone.

During high season the park can get super busy, but our Ambassadors can share ‘locals only’ information to get around that or help you find a multitude of other adventures in the area, so come inside and plan your trip.

We also have super clean restrooms, cold water, drinks and delicious snacks including Cactus jelly and Sees Candy! But the best part is our gift shop!

Yes, our gift shop includes T-shirts and all kinds of Joshua Tree souvenirs, but also essential items like hats, chapstick, walking sticks and multi-functional, utility knives to name a few.

We have free maps and other resources to help navigate our desert community, including our very own Mobile App available for Android and iOS devices.

We also feature over 65 local artists and unique works created right here in the Mojave desert. Whether you need a gift for a friend you’re visiting, something to keep the kids entertained while on the road or a little something to take home from your visit, we have something for everyone. There’s also all kinds of restaurants and shops within walking distance and we are centrally located.

Time For Change

Our reliance on fossil fuels has put tremendous pressure on our planet’s ecosystem. Our ever-growing carbon footprint threatens to bring forth climate change of great magnitude and repercussions for future generations. More than ever, it is now time to adopt clean, sustainable and environment friendly energy solutions. We will all need to work together towards a better and balanced world and the California Welcome Center is glad to be part of the Blink family.

Choosing to go green also falls in line with R.E.S.P.E.C.T, the California Responsible Travel Code from Visit California that we abide by. The P stands for “Preserve California,” a pledge to protect and nurture the state’s pristine outdoor spaces and cultural icons by maintaining a light footprint at every turn and paying special attention to delicate ecosystems.

California leads the country with Electric Vehicles!

 The U.S. market share of plug-in electric passenger cars increased from 0.14% in 2011 to 0.66% in 2015, to 1.13% in 2017. It achieved a record take rate of 2.1% in 2018.

The Golden State also has the highest number of EV registrations. The stock of plug-in electric vehicles in California is the largest in the United States with cumulative sales of almost 835,000 E-cars at the end of 2020.

The state of California has actively supported the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and zero-emission vehicles in general, with financial incentives in place to increase their market penetration. Back in March of 2012, the then Governor of California, Jerry Brown, issued an executive order that established the goal of getting 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on California roads by 2025.

Blink and Driving the Change

 Since 2009, Blink has designed, manufactured, and operated electric vehicle charging stations. They don’t just charge cars but imaginations too. Blink has been around for more than a decade and its singular focus has been to make electric vehicle charging more accessible, appealing and easy to use.

With its mobile app and map, Blink EV charging stations are simply a tap away. Finding nearby Blink stations and getting directions right from the phone is a breeze.

Charging can be initiated from the app as well. It also shows the charging status and the transaction history with a dashboard also to manage or reload the account. With a free Blink membership, EV drivers can access publicly available Blink charging stations and enjoy discounted charging rates.

Future Forward

Electric vehicles have come a long way from their initial days. More and more traditional car manufacturers are evolving production to roll out chargeable vehicles.  Blink, too, has pioneered and improvised its technology over the last decade expanding its number of charging stations, geography and chargers.

Seeing its growth trajectory and market penetration, one can confidently say that Blink is here to stay, just like electric cars and The California Welcome Center in Yucca Valley. Let us all keep charging the future!