How good is your etiquette at electric vehicle charging stations? The industry is developing quickly as more and more people ditch their internal combustion engine vehicles for fully electric cars, SUVs, and crossovers. As a result, EV charging stations are getting more congested.
Here are 16 etiquette tips to observe when using public EV charging stations.
Unplugging Other EVs Is Frowned Upon
Never unplug another driver’s EV from a charging station. You might be tempted to if someone’s vehicle is fully charged and they’re nowhere in sight. But it’s bad karma to unplug without permission. What you wouldn’t want someone to do to you, you shouldn’t do to someone else.
Failing to Unplug and Move Your Vehicle on Time
It’s wrong to unplug someone’s EV at a charging station. But it’s also rude to leave yours plugged in longer than necessary. Unplug your EV when it’s charged. Other people waiting in line won’t take kindly if you take up a spot unnecessarily.
Plugging In When You Don’t Need To
If you’re out and about on a long weekend and want to top up at an EV charging station, ask yourself if you need to. Your EV’s route planning software is a great resource. If you have plenty of juice left in the battery and don’t have to stop at a crowded charging station, don’t.
Taking Up Space With a Plug-In Hybrid
Drivers of fully electric EVs don’t want to see drivers of plug-in hybrids taking up spots at busy charging stations. Remember that plug-in hybrids can operate via battery or gas. If you drive a plug-in hybrid, you’re better off going to a gas station if an EV charging station is congested.
Leaving Charging Cables on the Floor
After filling a gas tank, it’s customary for people to put the hose in the proper place. You don’t just leave it on the ground. The same applies to EV charging stations. After charging your vehicle, return the charging cable to its proper spot. Doing otherwise won’t win you any friends.
Being Unfamiliar With Your EV
Another vital etiquette tip is knowing how to charge your EV before going to a public charging station. You don’t want to fumble around trying to figure out what to do. Other EV owners won’t be pleased if your lack of know-how means a longer wait time.
Using an EV Charging Spot as a Parking Spot
Even if you drive an EV, don’t use a spot reserved for charging EVs as a place to park your car if it doesn’t need charging. It doesn’t matter how quick you think you’ll be, there’s no excuse for taking up a charging spot when you don’t need to charge your car.
Failing to Assist Other EV Drivers
While it’s best to do your homework before going to a public EV charging station, things happen. For one thing, you might visit a station that’s unlike others you’ve been to. Be on the lookout for people who don’t know what to do and give them a hand if necessary. They’ll know what to do next time and won’t hold up the line.
Taking Up Multiple Charging Stations
Yet another mistake you must avoid as an EV driver is taking up multiple charging spots. Don’t park in a way that makes it impossible for someone on either side of your vehicle to charge.
Failing to Wait Your Turn
You don’t want any to cut in front of you when waiting in line to charge your EV. Neither should you do that to someone else.
Charging Beyond 80%
Charging an EV beyond 80% at a public charging station is frowned upon. The reason? It usually takes about as long to charge from empty to 80% as it does to get from 80% to 100%. So, you’re better off unplugging at 80% and going on your way.
Charging at the Wrong Spot
Another matter of etiquette is using the right chargers. If your vehicle charges at 50 kW, you don’t get any advantages by pulling up to a 350 kW fast charger. But if you do so anyway, an EV driver who can benefit from a 350 kW fast charger might be stuck with a 150 kW fast charger.
Parking an Internal Combustion Engine Car in an EV Charging Spot
Does this one even need to be explained? If you drive a car with an internal combustion engine car, there’s no reason to park in a spot reserved for EVs. Doing so out of convenience is no excuse.
Failing to Report Non-Working Chargers
Being a good member of the EV community means reporting chargers that aren’t working. If you’re road-tripping, you’ll want to know if the chargers at the station you’re headed to are non-operational. You can use the EV charging station app to report issues.
Leaving the EV Station Messy
Anyone old enough to earn a driver’s license should understand the need to clean up after themselves. When you go to an EV charging station, clean up afterward. Leave it as clean as you found it or cleaner if you can.
Ignoring Time Limits
Some shopping centers offer complimentary charging for EV drivers. But they often have strict time limits, which is fair considering it’s free and other drivers may want to top up too. You must avoid overstaying.
Observe These EV Etiquette Tips
If you own an EV, these are etiquette tips to live by. Charging at EV charging stations is new to many drivers. So, people are bound to make some mistakes along the way. But you must learn the dos and don’ts — and help others to do so — to improve the EV charging experience.
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