Rove Opens Second 'Full Service' EV Charging Plaza in Costa Mesa

The new location features 40 DC chargers, a lounge, and a Gelson's grocery store.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:38pm

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An abstract, colorful image of an electric vehicle charging station, with the individual chargers and infrastructure blurred into dynamic streaks of motion, conveying a sense of speed, technology, and modern travel.Rove's new 'full service' EV charging plaza in Costa Mesa brings a dynamic, high-energy experience to the charging process.Costa Mesa Today

Rove, a company focused on improving the EV charging experience, has opened its second 'full service' charging plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The new location features 40 DC chargers, including 28 Tesla-branded chargers and 12 Rove-branded ABB chargers, as well as a lounge, a Gelson's grocery store, and other amenities like window squeegees and trash cans.

Why it matters

Rove's charging plazas aim to provide a more comprehensive and convenient experience for EV drivers, going beyond just the charging stations themselves to include a variety of services and amenities. This approach could help address some of the common complaints about EV charging being inconvenient or lacking in creature comforts.

The details

The Costa Mesa location includes 400 solar panels providing energy and shade, 40 DC chargers with a variety of plug types, a lounge, and a Gelson's grocery store. The chargers are a mix of Tesla-branded and Rove-branded units, with the Tesla chargers operated through the Tesla app and the Rove chargers using a pay-as-you-go model. The site also includes features like window squeegees and trash cans that are often missing from typical charging stations.

  • Rove opened its first charging plaza in Santa Ana, CA in 2024.
  • The Costa Mesa site was first announced at a groundbreaking event in June 2025.
  • The Costa Mesa location officially opens the Gelson's grocery store and lounge on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Rove

A company founded to improve the EV charging experience by building 'full service' EV charging centers with access to amenities.

Gelson's

A regional upscale grocery chain that has partnered with Rove to operate a 'ReCharge by Gelson's' grocery store at the Costa Mesa location.

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What they’re saying

“There's a lot of talk about EV charging being difficult, but for those of us who have taken EVs on roadtrips, it's often a pleasant experience anyway. As long as there are clean chargers with something to do nearby, you really don't feel restricted by the time you spend charging.”

— Jameson Dow, Author

What’s next

Rove is working on additional locations in Torrance, Long Beach, and Corona, which are expected to open soon, with more sites in the planning phases.

The takeaway

Rove's 'full service' charging plazas demonstrate how EV charging can be transformed from a basic functional experience into a more comprehensive and enjoyable one, with the inclusion of amenities, services, and community-focused features. This approach could help make EV charging more appealing and accessible to a wider range of drivers.