There's no doubt Californians love their cars. The Golden State accounts for almost 10 percent of all car sales in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported recently.
If you're in the market for an electric vehicle, you'll certainly have your pick. With its laws incentivizing car manufacturers to go green, California has driven the push for eco-friendly transportation.
Electric vehicles can provide up to three times the power conversion compared to their gas-powered counterparts and boast an engine that operates more quietly and requires less maintenance, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To top it off, buying an eco-friendly car can net you a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.
Though electric cars are more energy-efficient, you can still travel up to three times as far in some internal-combustion vehicles. Another thing to consider is electric car batteries are expensive to replace and can take up to eight hours to charge.
Several car manufacturers offer eco-friendly vehicles, including Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Tesla and Toyota.
Some manufacturers are establishing their own charging stations hoping to lure potential customers. Tesla has built a network of six solar-powered charging stations from L.A. to San Francisco, according to Car and Driver.
Whether you're looking to buy an electric car or you already own one, Los Angeles County is full of service stations—including several near Belmont Shore—that will keep you charged for your emissions-free commute.
Sure, you can charge your car at home, but why do so at your own expense?
Here is a list of local charging stations, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stations offer Level 1 (120 volts) and Level 2 (240 volts) charging.
- California State University - Long Beach
1250 Bellflower Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90840
Phone: 562-985-4146
Electric charging types: Level 2 - City of Seal Beach - North Beach Parking Lot
706 Ocean Ave.
Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: 888-758-4389
Electric charging types: Level 2 - City of Seal Beach
120 Main St.
Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: 888-758-4389
Electric charging types: Level 2 - Hyatt Regency Long Beach - Valet
200 S. Pine Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-491-1234
Electric charging types: Level 2 - Brookfield West
111 Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 888-758-4389
Electric charging types: Level 2 - Hooman Nissan - Long Beach
1800 E. Spring St.
Signal Hill, CA 90755
Phone: 800-973-3689
Electric charging types: Level 2 - OMP Sanders Rubbercraft
3701 Conant St.
Long Beach, CA 90808
Phone: 855-443-3873
Electric charging types: Level 2
