Be patient
Unlike petrol stations, EV charge points don’t have natural queuing systems. This means you’ll have to be considerate and patient toward other EV motorists who are using charging spaces.
If there are no other chargers then wait your turn. Under no circumstances should you attempt to unplug another EV’s connector as this can damage both the charging point and the other person’s vehicle.
Charge to 80%
Unless you desperately need a full charge to get to your destination then it is advised that you only charge to 80%. This is because charge rates slow down after this marker and pausing at this point will prevent you from hogging a charging bay.
It’s also healthier for your EV’s battery and recommended by manufacturers to stop charging at 80%. Check out our article on 80% charging to learn more.
Use the apps
Another way to ensure you don’t hog a charging bay is to keep an eye on your vehicle’s charging percentage through a charging app.
This way you can run a few errands whilst you charge and return to your vehicle once it's topped up. Leaving your fully charged EV in a charging space for too long won't make you popular with other electric motorists.
We put together a list of free EV apps to enhance your driving experience.
Choose the correct charger
Charge points have different speeds and EVs have different charging rates. If you’re EV can only accept 50kW charging rates then try to avoid using a 150kW ultra-rapid station, especially if more appropriate chargers are available.
Doing this will ensure that everyone makes the best use of the facilities available. To learn more about charging read our guide here.
Charging spaces are for charging
Charging spaces should be left for charging only. If you’re not going to be plugging in your vehicle then do not park in one of these spaces as you’ll be preventing other EV motorists from topping up their vehicles.
When petrol or diesel vehicles do this it's known as 'ICEing' or 'ICE blocking'. To learn more EV terminology click here.
Plan ahead
Using charging apps such as Zap-Map or PlugShare will enable you to see the location of chargers and which ones are currently in use.
This will not only reduce the risk of a long wait but will enable you to swiftly park up to a charge point you want to use without unnecessary dithering.
Windscreen warning
If it’s busy and you’re planning on doing some shopping whilst you charge, then it could be worth leaving a polite note in your windscreen to inform other drivers how long you’ll be.
Alternatively, if you know another driver is waiting for your space then letting them know how long it’ll be until you’re finished could be helpful.