Unwritten Rules You Need To Know
EV Charging Etiquette Explained
When you make the switch from diesel or petrol to an electric vehicle, you won’t receive a set of rules about charging your new vehicle. So, how do you know how to charge your electric car? In our guide, we’ll explain the unwritten EV charging rules so you can charge your electric car with the right etiquette.
Who Can Park in an EV Space?
It might seem obvious, but a space with an EV charger, whether at work or in a public parking space should be for plug in vehicles only. Also, you should only park at an EV charging point if you have the intention of charging up your car. Taking up the space if you are not charging or don’t have a plug in car could potentially take up the space for someone who really needs to use it.
How Long Can I Stay at a Charging Point?
There are no hard or fast rules about how long you can stay plugged in or parked at an EV charging point. However, you shouldn’t overstay your welcome! If your car has enough charge, if possible you should move it so that someone else can use the space if they need to. If you’re using a public car parking space, you shouldn’t wait until your vehicle is at 100% charge to finish charging. This is because once you reach 80% charge the rate of charging slows down significantly, which could stop someone who needs to use the charger more from being able to use it.
Can Someone Else Unplug My EV Charger?
One of the golden rules of EV charging is to never try and remove someone else’s charger while they are charging their car. Not only is it rude to tamper with someone’s charger and their car, but it could cause delays and disruption causing the cable to get stuck in the car. Most vehicles have an EV locking functionality which makes it impossible for someone to remove your charger while it’s charging.
Look after the EV Connector
You wouldn’t leave a petrol pump dangling when you’ve finished using it, so the same can be said for your EV charger. Make sure you put the charger connector back where it belongs once you’ve finished with it.
Be Patient
Sometimes you might have to queue to use a public EV charger, and when that happens, you should wait your turn patiently. If you’re parking in your workplace they may have a wait system in place. If so, you should communicate to manage expectations. If charging is a persistent problem in your workplace, make sure your facilities manager is aware, so they can expand the number and capabilities of the charger if possible to maximise charging opportunities. Find out more about workplace charging here.
Have Your RFID Tag or Key Ready
Avoid hold-ups by making sure you’re ready to charge. If you’re charging in public or at work, you can activate the charger by tapping your RFID Tag against the device and tap to deactivate when you have finished charging. Want to find out more? Learn more about RFID Charging here.
How can Zaptec Help?
Follow our top tips for stress free charging. If you’re looking for a simple to use EV charger that you can rely on for home charging, find out more about the Zaptec Go today, and benefit from a 5 year guarantee and speedy installation times. Or, if you’re looking for a powerful solution for workplace charging, that can be managed and scaled easily regardless of whether you need 1 charger or over 1000, then look no further than the Zaptec Pro. Need more help? Contact us today.
How can Zaptec Help?
Follow our top tips for stress free charging. If you’re looking for a simple to use EV charger that you can rely on for home charging, find out more about the Zaptec Go today, and benefit from a 5 year guarantee and speedy installation times. Or, if you’re looking for a powerful solution for workplace charging, that can be managed and scaled easily regardless of whether you need 1 charger or over 1000, then look no further than the Zaptec Pro.