Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

 

Newly installed Tesla EV charging stations at the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot on March 9, 2024. Signs read "Pay per use. Electric vehicle charging only. Scan [QR code] for Instructions to Charge a Non-Tesla."

NPS Photo

Do you plan to travel to the park in an alternative fuel vehicle? If so, good for you! Your actions help us reduce petroleum use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to anthropogenic climate change.

Six 240V electric vehicle charging stations with Tesla J3400 connectors (and J1772 adapters) are available for public use at the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot at Point Reyes National Seashore. You will need a mobile phone, a tablet (Apple or Android), or a Tesla to pay for use of the charging stations. The price will change seasonally as PG&E switches from winter to summer back to winter pricing rates. As of 2024, from October through May, the price is about $0.43/kWh. From June through September, the price is about $0.48/kWh.

Tesla vehicles come equipped to interface with the charging stations.

 

Instructions for Non-Tesla Vehicles

Non-Tesla vehicle drivers will need to download the Tesla app to their smart phone or tablet, either before arriving or by scanning the QR code on the large brown signs on the wooden posts near the chargers, i.e., the signs that read "Pay per use. Electric vehicle charging only. Scan [QR code] for Instructions to Charge a Non-Tesla." The driver will need to create an account with Tesla on their smart phone or tablet (free Wi-fi is available near the charging stations) and enter a valid credit card number into the app. There is a small, inconspicuous QR code on the left side of the charging station which may be blocked from view by the charger's cable that the driver will need to scan with the app to initiate the charging process.

Removing the plug with the J1772 adapter

You will need to press an inconspicuous button just above the Tesla plug while it is still in the side of the charging station to release the J1772 adapter. See image on the right below.

 

(L) Scan the small, inconspicuous QR code on the side of the Tesla EV charging station to receive authorization to charge your non-Tesla electric vehicle. (R) Press the inconspicuous button above the Tesla plug to release the J1772 adapter from the charging station.

NPS Photos

 

Find the charging station's serial number above the station's QR code. Match the last four digits of the charging station's serial number (highlighted in the image on the left) to the last four digits of the station ID provided in the FordPass app (highlighted in the image on the right).

NPS Photo / Dana Jenks

FordPass

If you drive a Ford EV and have the FordPass app, you may be able to charge your vehicle without downloading the Tesla app. Once you are in the FordPass app and have selected the Bear Valley Visitor Center as the location, you will be presented with a list of six charging stations from which to choose. Each option will include an alphanumeric string of characters which is the station's ID. You'll next need to find the charging station's serial number, which is provided in very tiny print above the small, inconspicuous QR code on the left side of the charging station. Match the last four digits of the charging station's ID provided in the FordPass app to the last four digits of the serial number on the charging station you wish to use. As an example, in the accompanying photo (on the right or above, depending on your screen size), the charging station's serial number is B7S23353J01570. To use this charging station, you will press the "Activate" button in the FordPass app adjacent to station ID of P1734412-02-D:SB7S23353J01570. (You can disregard the first 10 and 25 characters, respectively, which are identical, and just focus on the last four digits of both the serial number and the station ID.)

 

Additional Information

Use of these charging stations is on a first-come, first-served basis.

(Directions to the Bear Valley Visitor Center.)

Plan your trip with the Alternative Fueling Station Locator from the Department of Energy to find additional EV charging stations in West Marin (enter 94956 in the zip code field) and throughout the country.

NOTICE: Please be aware that parking in the Bear Valley Visitor Center parking lot—including at the EV charging stations—between midnight and 6 am is prohibited. An exception is made for visitors with current backcountry camping permits. Campers who have driven plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles may park overnight at the Bear Valley EV charging stations so long as they display the parking pass that was issued to them when they picked up their camping permit.

History of EV Chargers at Bear Valley

Three 120V electric vehicle charging stations with J1772 connectors were installed in late August 2014. These were replaced in June 2022 when the NPS installed six AC Level 2 (240V) electric vehicle charging stations with J1772 connectors. From August 2014 to March 8, 2024, the public was welcome to use these charging stations at no financial cost.