EV Charging Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules (and Some Laws)

Move your car when you are done

This is the most important rule. A charging space is for charging, not parking. ChargePoint's own etiquette guide puts it plainly and notes that its app can notify you when your car is fully charged. Most network apps and many cars can send the same alert.

Set a reminder when you plug in, and plan your errand or meal around the expected finish time. If you will be away longer than the charge takes, a regular parking space is the better choice.

Idle fees and congestion fees

Many networks charge extra if your car stays in a stall after charging. These are network policies, not laws, and they vary by company and location. Always check the app or the screen at the station before you walk away.

Tesla's Supercharger fees page is a clear example. Tesla says congestion fees apply only when a site is busy and your battery is at or above 80% or your session has ended. You get a five-minute grace period, then a per-minute fee that is often around $0.50 and can be up to $1.00 per minute depending on location, with no cap. The car and app alert you when fees apply.

Charge to what you need on fast chargers

DC fast charging slows down a lot as the battery fills, so the last 20% can tie up a stall for a long time. ChargePoint suggests aiming for about 80% on fast chargers when others may be waiting. If your battery is mostly full and a line is forming, consider charging later or at home.

On a road trip, charge enough to comfortably reach your next stop. That is usually faster for you and fairer to the people behind you.

Never block a charger

Parking a gas car in a charging space is often called ICEing, after internal combustion engine. It is more than rude in some places. A few examples of state laws:

• California: Vehicle Code 22511.1 bars parking or leaving a vehicle in a space designated for EV charging unless it is connected for charging, and also bars blocking access to those spaces.
• Florida: Statute 366.94 makes it unlawful to stop, stand or park a vehicle that cannot use a charging station in a space designated for EV charging. It is a noncriminal traffic infraction.
• Rhode Island: parking in a space with charging equipment and EV-charging-only signs is not allowed unless the vehicle is plugged in, with a $100 fine, according to the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Plugged-in EVs that are not charging

Notice that laws like California's apply to EVs too. An EV parked in a charging spot without being connected can be in violation. Even when it is legal, leaving a fully charged EV in the stall for hours keeps someone else from charging. Treat the space the way you would want someone to treat it if you pulled in with 5% left.

Level 2 courtesy and sharing

Level 2 sessions take hours, so etiquette there is a little different. At a workplace or apartment with a few shared chargers, it helps to agree on a rotation or a time limit. Some ChargePoint sites offer a Waitlist that lets drivers join a virtual line when all ports are busy, which only works if people move promptly.

ChargePoint also suggests leaving a note with your phone number and when it is okay to unplug your car. Plug-in hybrids have every right to charge, too.

• Coil the cable and hang it up so it does not get run over or damaged.
• Keep the connector off the ground and out of puddles and snow.
• If a station has two ports, park so the other port stays reachable.
• Use only the space you need and avoid blocking access to the next stall.

Don't unplug someone else's car

As a rule, leave other cars alone. ChargePoint advises against unplugging another driver unless you are sure they are fully charged and you urgently need the spot, or they have left a note saying it is okay. Unplugging a car that is still charging can leave its owner stranded or facing a longer wait.

If a car has finished and its owner left contact info, reach out. If not, check whether the site has staff or a posted contact, and look for another charger.

Report broken chargers

When a charger fails, report it so the network can fix it and the next driver does not waste a trip. Networks have their own process. ChargePoint, for example, lets you open the station in its Driver App, tap the port, choose Report a Problem and add a comment. It also lists a 24/7 support line on its site.

Leaving a quick check-in or comment in a crowd-sourced charging map app also helps other drivers see the station's current status before they drive there.