Electric Vehicle Charging Etiquette
Summary
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most important EV charging etiquette tips, EV charging dos and don’ts, and other points to remember to ensure a positive charging experience for you and other drivers.
The Golden Rule of EV Charging Etiquette
Charging your EV at public charge points, much like refuelling a traditional petrol or diesel car, comes with its own set of polite and practical rules. Thoughtful etiquette ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience for all drivers. Here’s our key rules to the essential dos and don’ts of EV charging.
Use the Right Charger for Your Needs
One of the most important public EV charger rules is to make sure you’re sticking to public chargers that are appropriate for your needs, and not taking up resources that other drivers have a greater need for.
If, for example, your car is only capable of charging at a rate of 55 kW, there’s no need to plug into a 350 kW charger. Using a charger with a higher rating won’t charge your battery any faster. Instead, you’ll only be taking up space that could be used for more demanding vehicles, and irritating the drivers in the queue behind you.
To make sure you’re using public charging points correctly, get familiar with the key charging stats of your EV, and avoid using public charging infrastructure that’s better suited to other vehicle models. You can find these technical specifications in your vehicle’s handbook or online by checking the manufacturer’s website.
Don’t Leave Your EV Plugged in Too Long
There are few things more frustrating than pulling up to a charging station and finding it obstructed by a car that’s finished charging, so keep aware of your car’s typical charging times, and make sure you’re not leaving your car plugged in past the timeframe that you actually need.
Most EV vehicles come with a linked phone app that will send you a notification to your mobile to let you know when your car has finished charging.
Avoid Unplugging Other Vehicles
Though this rule may seem like common sense for many new drivers, it’s still an issue with electric vehicle charging etiquette that affects many public charging spaces.
Many EV’s will have a locking system which will prevent others from unplugging the charging cable however, you should never interfere with another driver’s charging session by unplugging other vehicles to use the charger yourself, even if they’re breaking the first two rules by leaving a fully charged car plugged in, or using a rapid charger when their vehicle isn’t compatible.
Aside from being generally rude to other drivers, unplugging other vehicles without permission can set a precedent leading to more frequent flouting of charging etiquette rules.
Be Considerate of Queueing Drivers
Just like when you’re filling up a conventional petrol or diesel car at a petrol station, it’s important to be considerate of other drivers queuing up to use the charger, and avoid monopolising chargers whenever you can avoid it.
Whenever you’re starting or finishing a charging session, keep aware of the vehicles behind you and try to free up the space as fast as possible. By minimising the time that you’re taking up a charging bay, you’ll help the queue keep moving swiftly and ensure that everyone who needs the charger gets a chance to access it.
Park Responsibly at Charging Stations
While a large part of using public charging points correctly is to do with using the chargers themselves, it’s also important to follow basic parking etiquette and consider how positioning your car can affect others. This is especially important as an EV driver in the UK, where many public charging stations are in parking facilities that are tight on space, and poor parking can have a big impact on other drivers.
Whenever you’re using a public charging point, be sure to only park within a designated bay, keep neatly within the lines, and avoid blocking access to other spaces. This will help maximise access to all the charging stations in a given bay and prevent long queues building up and slowing down the charging process for everyone.
Etiquette for Workplace and Shared Charging
Generally, the electric vehicle charging etiquette for shared workplace chargers is the same as any public charging scenario. However, there are some additional shared EV charging etiquette rules to bear in mind to support a positive experience for you and your colleagues.
Some of these best practices include:
- Familiarising yourself with company-specific rules around EV chargers, and making sure you’re a part of group chats or email lists that are relevant to the workplace’s parking and charging etiquette.
- If your workplace uses a reservation system, make sure you arrive at your slot on-time, and don’t overstay past your designated time.
- Use your work’s preferred communication tools to alert people if a charger becomes available unexpectedly so others can use the charger when they need it.
- Give priority to regular commuters who depend on at-work charging sessions to make their way home.
- Use designated communication channels to let other drivers know when you’ll be done charging, and make sure you vacate the space by this time.
- Make sure you report any technical or maintenance issues to the appropriate people as soon as you notice them.
Finally, remember that positive changes to workplace EV charging often come from the drivers themselves, and you shouldn’t always rely on HR or management to create a positive charging experience.
If you have ideas about a booking system, time limits, or anything else that could create a better experience, don’t be afraid to communicate internally to move EV charging in the right direction.
Reporting Issues with Public EV Chargers
Occasionally, public EV chargers will experience technical issues, such as poor communication with the charger and vehicle’s computer, slow charging, or physical damage to the charging cable or other components.
An often-overlooked part of using public charging points correctly is reporting these kinds of issues to the bodies responsible, and helping maximise access for your fellow EV drivers.
When you notice issues with a public EV charger, you should follow these basic steps to report the problem and get the charger running again:
- Identify the charge point operator, which will usually be displayed on a sign or sticker near the charging point.
- Contact the operator either through a designated fault-reporting channel or a general contact form.
- Share information about the issue in as much detail as possible, including how the issue has affected your charging experience, the time and date when you noticed it, the model of your vehicle, and the model of the charger. The more details you can share with the operator, the faster they will be able to act on your tip and get the charger up and running again.
- Follow up with the charging point operator about a week or so after your initial report. Although most charging point operators have robust systems for addressing technical issues, managing a large network of chargers is complex and challenging work. There’s no harm in getting back in touch with the operator to check on the state of your report and ask if it’s being addressed.
