How to Start Your First Public EV Charging Session: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-step guide to starting a public EV charging session—app setup, plug types, how to initiate on Electrify America, ChargePoint, and Tesla Supercharger, and how to end safely.
Before You Drive to the Station
The most common first-session mistake is showing up at a charger without a payment method or app configured. Fix this before you leave your hotel or rental car lot.
Download the right app: ChargePoint, Electrify America, and Tesla each require their own app to initiate sessions at their respective stations. You cannot start a ChargePoint session with the Electrify America app, and vice versa. Download all three before your trip if you plan to use any of them.
Add a payment method to each app: This typically requires a credit card on file. Some apps also support Apple Pay or Google Pay. Completing this step at home on a reliable Wi-Fi connection is far easier than at a charger with poor signal.
Know your plug type: Look at the charge port on your vehicle—either at the physical port or in the owner's manual. The three types you will encounter most in Las Vegas are NACS (standard on Teslas and most 2024+ non-Tesla vehicles), CCS (standard on 2020–2023 non-Tesla EVs), and J1772 (Level 2 only, found at hotel and retail charging stations).
Arriving at the Station
Park with your charge port accessible to the cable. Most stations are designed for front-or-side pull-in, but check the cable length before you commit to a specific stall angle. Cables typically reach 3–4 feet from the pedestal.
Confirm the stall number on the physical pedestal—you will usually need to enter this number in the app. Stall numbers are marked on the pedestal itself or on ground markings. In busy garage installations, look up, down, and on the side of the pedestal before concluding there is no number.
Starting a Session
Electrify America: Open the Electrify America app, tap "Charge," and either scan the QR code on the station or manually select your location and stall. Review the pricing before confirming. The app will tell you to plug in after confirming.
ChargePoint: Tap the ChargePoint card or use the ChargePoint app to start a session. Some ChargePoint stations accept tap-to-pay credit cards directly. Open the app, tap the station icon on the map, and follow the prompts for your stall number.
Tesla Supercharger (non-Tesla vehicle): Open the Tesla app, navigate to "Charge Your Non-Tesla," select your stall number, and confirm. Plug in when prompted.
RFID card option: If you have a network membership card (ChargePoint card, EVgo card), many stations accept these for tap-to-start without opening the app. This is useful if your phone battery is low.
Credit card tap-to-pay: Some newer stations, particularly Electrify America's updated equipment, support credit card tap-to-pay directly on the station. This is the most convenient option when it is available.
After Plugging In
Most EVs and stations provide an audible click or visual confirmation when the plug is secured. The station display and your phone app will show that charging has begun. Key things to monitor:
Power delivery (kW): The station display shows current power delivery. This should match the station's rated output within the first few minutes, though some vehicles ramp up slowly. If the station claims 150 kW and your vehicle shows 12 kW, the session may not have initialized correctly—unplug, restart, and try again.
Estimated completion time: The app shows how long until your target state of charge, which updates as charging speed changes (most vehicles slow charging above 80% to protect the battery).
Idle fee timer: Know when the session will end and set a phone reminder for 5 minutes before completion if you are not actively watching. Idle fees start the moment the session ends, not when you are notified.
Ending the Session Correctly
Unplug by pressing the release button on the handle (for most CCS and J1772 plugs) or twisting and removing (for NACS). Some stations lock the cable until you stop the session in the app first—if the cable will not release, open the app and tap "Stop Session" before pulling.
Return the cable to the holster on the station. A cable left dangling on the ground is a trip hazard and a station that becomes difficult for the next driver to use.
Receive your session receipt: The app sends a receipt by email or within the app immediately after the session ends. Save this in case of billing disputes.
For finding stations near your hotel before you need them, use the Charging Map. For session cost estimates, use the EV Calculator.
Use our tools alongside articles: map stalls before you drive, run numbers on gas vs electric, and compare rental options when you need a car in town.