EV Charging Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

There aren't many rules, and they're all common sense — but a few inconsiderate habits cause most of the friction at public chargers. Follow these and you'll never be the reason someone else's day went wrong.

The core rules

• Move off rapid chargers promptly. Rapid bays are for topping up, not parking. Once you're at 80% and the speed has dropped, unplug and free the bay — others may be waiting, and many sites now charge an idle fee for exactly this reason.
• Don't block a charging bay with a petrol car, or with an EV you're not actively charging. 'ICEing' a charger — parking a non-charging car in the bay — is the number-one complaint at public sites.
• Only unplug someone else's car if it has clearly finished and the car allows it — and even then, do it gently and leave their cable tidy. When in doubt, don't.
• Coil the cable back on the charger when you leave. A cable left on the ground is a trip hazard and can be damaged by the next car.
• Report a broken charger through the operator's app or number on the unit. It helps the next driver and gets it fixed faster.

At busy hubs, a friendly norm is forming: if you're going to be a while on AC, leave the rapid bays for people passing through. A little awareness of who actually needs the fast charger goes a long way.

If you're the one waiting

Be patient and assume good faith — the other driver probably can't see you. If someone's clearly finished but hasn't returned, it's fine to wait rather than unplug. And plan so you're rarely desperate: arriving with a buffer of range means a short wait is an inconvenience, not an emergency.