The Dos and Don’ts of Charging Your EV
It’s perfectly understandable that EV charging etiquette would be a little rough around the edges. After all, these customary codes of acceptable behaviour often take decade to refine, so it’s no surprise that the conduct of some EV drivers leaves a little to be desired.
But when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) charging etiquette, what are the unwritten rules you should follow to keep a smile on everyone’s face?
Now, we don’t want to get all biblical on you, but before we get into the nitty-gritty of EV charging etiquette, it’s worth laying out a few simple rules that every electric vehicle driver should follow.
1. Do not 'borrow' thy neighbour's charger (just use the Bonnet app to find another charger in the area).
2. Do not park in a charging bay for any reason other than to charge an electric car.
3. Do not block an electric charge point with a petrol or diesel car under any circumstances (even if you’re just popping into the shop for a pasty). Drivers who block electric chargers intentionally (it does happen) are reserved a special place in hell.
4. Do not unplug thy neighbour’s charger.
5. Do not leave the charger as soon as you have finished charging. If you’re using an on-street or workplace charger, you should leave a note so other drivers can contact you if necessary.
So, we’ve got the hard and fast EV charging rules out of the way, but etiquette is more subtle than that. These are the unwritten rules that you can follow to make EV charging a more pleasant experience for everyone.
1. Know how long it takes your EV to charge
After charging your electric vehicle a few times, you’ll start to get a good understanding of how long it takes to reach a certain capacity. Knowing that and checking on your vehicle when it’s nearly ready will help to keep other drivers connecting.
You should also take into account the fact that your charging speed will slow when you reach 80%, something called the charging curve. So, by staying on for longer, you might disproportionately waste your own and other EV drivers’ time.
2. Communicate with your fellow EV drivers
EV drivers are usually a very considerate bunch. Where EV chargers are in high demand, they often leave notes on their windshields to pass on information about how long they plan to charge. Sharing your plans in this way can be a big help to other drivers.
On the Bonnet app, you can even ping other app users to let them know you’re waiting to charge. You can also report if the charger is blocked so it can be freed up for other users.
3. Choose a charger that meets your needs
When you have a choice of charge points, the considerate thing to do is to match your vehicle with a charge that best accommodates its needs. That means choosing a charging speed that is a good fit for the size of your battery. As an example, there’s no point using an ultra-rapid 350kW charger for your 60kWh car if there’s a perfectly good 50kW charger in the same location.
4. Look after the EV charging area
Depending on the location and circumstances, you may need to spend a bit of time in and around your car while it’s charging, but that doesn’t mean you should make yourself at home. You should keep your stereo down to a comfortable level - not everyone loves Tom Jones as much as you do – and take any rubbish away with you or put it in a nearby bin.
5. Look after the connector
EV charging connectors are pretty robust but they’re not indestructible, so always take care to hang the connector back up on its port when you’ve finished charging. This will also help to keep it out of the way of the next driver when they’re ready to charge.
6. Don’t press the emergency stop button unless you have to
Quite a common mistake for new EV drivers to make is to press the emergency stop button to end their charging session. Instead, to end your session, just press the ‘stop the charge’ notification on the screen. When you press the emergency stop button it causes the charger to go offline for the next user, leading to inconvenience and delays.
It has also been known for waiting drivers to press the emergency stop button to end the session of a charger-hogger. However, you should never use the emergency stop button for anything other than an emergency.
7. Limit your stay at a rapid charger to an hour
A maximum stay of up to an hour should be considered fair usage for a rapid charger, even if the charge point is located at a long-stay parking facility. When your charging session ends, just move your car to a standard parking space to give other drivers access to the charge point.
8. Leave your car at destination chargers for a maximum of 12 hours
Destination charges are intended for long-stay charging, so it’s perfectly reasonable to leave your car during this time. However, you should make an effort to return to your vehicle as soon as it’s finished charging whenever you can. A maximum stay of 12 hours should be adequate for most vehicles but make sure you consider the parking restrictions at the site as well.
Here at Bonnet, we provide a range of innovative solutions to give you the EV charging experience you deserve, all through one handy app. Just download the app to enjoy flat-rate EV charging on charge points from more than 17 UK and European networks.
The Dos and Don’ts of Charging Your EV
It’s perfectly understandable that EV charging etiquette would be a little rough around the edges. After all, these customary codes of acceptable behaviour often take decade to refine, so it’s no surprise that the conduct of some EV drivers leaves a little to be desired.
But when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) charging etiquette, what are the unwritten rules you should follow to keep a smile on everyone’s face?
Now, we don’t want to get all biblical on you, but before we get into the nitty-gritty of EV charging etiquette, it’s worth laying out a few simple rules that every electric vehicle driver should follow.
1. Do not 'borrow' thy neighbour's charger (just use the Bonnet app to find another charger in the area).
2. Do not park in a charging bay for any reason other than to charge an electric car.
3. Do not block an electric charge point with a petrol or diesel car under any circumstances (even if you’re just popping into the shop for a pasty). Drivers who block electric chargers intentionally (it does happen) are reserved a special place in hell.
4. Do not unplug thy neighbour’s charger.
5. Do not leave the charger as soon as you have finished charging. If you’re using an on-street or workplace charger, you should leave a note so other drivers can contact you if necessary.
So, we’ve got the hard and fast EV charging rules out of the way, but etiquette is more subtle than that. These are the unwritten rules that you can follow to make EV charging a more pleasant experience for everyone.
1. Know how long it takes your EV to charge
After charging your electric vehicle a few times, you’ll start to get a good understanding of how long it takes to reach a certain capacity. Knowing that and checking on your vehicle when it’s nearly ready will help to keep other drivers connecting.
You should also take into account the fact that your charging speed will slow when you reach 80%, something called the charging curve. So, by staying on for longer, you might disproportionately waste your own and other EV drivers’ time.
2. Communicate with your fellow EV drivers
EV drivers are usually a very considerate bunch. Where EV chargers are in high demand, they often leave notes on their windshields to pass on information about how long they plan to charge. Sharing your plans in this way can be a big help to other drivers.
On the Bonnet app, you can even ping other app users to let them know you’re waiting to charge. You can also report if the charger is blocked so it can be freed up for other users.
3. Choose a charger that meets your needs
When you have a choice of charge points, the considerate thing to do is to match your vehicle with a charge that best accommodates its needs. That means choosing a charging speed that is a good fit for the size of your battery. As an example, there’s no point using an ultra-rapid 350kW charger for your 60kWh car if there’s a perfectly good 50kW charger in the same location.
4. Look after the EV charging area
Depending on the location and circumstances, you may need to spend a bit of time in and around your car while it’s charging, but that doesn’t mean you should make yourself at home. You should keep your stereo down to a comfortable level - not everyone loves Tom Jones as much as you do – and take any rubbish away with you or put it in a nearby bin.
5. Look after the connector
EV charging connectors are pretty robust but they’re not indestructible, so always take care to hang the connector back up on its port when you’ve finished charging. This will also help to keep it out of the way of the next driver when they’re ready to charge.
6. Don’t press the emergency stop button unless you have to
Quite a common mistake for new EV drivers to make is to press the emergency stop button to end their charging session. Instead, to end your session, just press the ‘stop the charge’ notification on the screen. When you press the emergency stop button it causes the charger to go offline for the next user, leading to inconvenience and delays.
It has also been known for waiting drivers to press the emergency stop button to end the session of a charger-hogger. However, you should never use the emergency stop button for anything other than an emergency.
7. Limit your stay at a rapid charger to an hour
A maximum stay of up to an hour should be considered fair usage for a rapid charger, even if the charge point is located at a long-stay parking facility. When your charging session ends, just move your car to a standard parking space to give other drivers access to the charge point.
8. Leave your car at destination chargers for a maximum of 12 hours
Destination charges are intended for long-stay charging, so it’s perfectly reasonable to leave your car during this time. However, you should make an effort to return to your vehicle as soon as it’s finished charging whenever you can. A maximum stay of 12 hours should be adequate for most vehicles but make sure you consider the parking restrictions at the site as well.
Here at Bonnet, we provide a range of innovative solutions to give you the EV charging experience you deserve, all through one handy app. Just download the app to enjoy flat-rate EV charging on charge points from more than 17 UK and European networks.
The Dos and Don’ts of Charging Your EV
It’s perfectly understandable that EV charging etiquette would be a little rough around the edges. After all, these customary codes of acceptable behaviour often take decade to refine, so it’s no surprise that the conduct of some EV drivers leaves a little to be desired.
But when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) charging etiquette, what are the unwritten rules you should follow to keep a smile on everyone’s face?
Now, we don’t want to get all biblical on you, but before we get into the nitty-gritty of EV charging etiquette, it’s worth laying out a few simple rules that every electric vehicle driver should follow.
1. Do not 'borrow' thy neighbour's charger (just use the Bonnet app to find another charger in the area).
2. Do not park in a charging bay for any reason other than to charge an electric car.
3. Do not block an electric charge point with a petrol or diesel car under any circumstances (even if you’re just popping into the shop for a pasty). Drivers who block electric chargers intentionally (it does happen) are reserved a special place in hell.
4. Do not unplug thy neighbour’s charger.
5. Do not leave the charger as soon as you have finished charging. If you’re using an on-street or workplace charger, you should leave a note so other drivers can contact you if necessary.
So, we’ve got the hard and fast EV charging rules out of the way, but etiquette is more subtle than that. These are the unwritten rules that you can follow to make EV charging a more pleasant experience for everyone.
1. Know how long it takes your EV to charge
After charging your electric vehicle a few times, you’ll start to get a good understanding of how long it takes to reach a certain capacity. Knowing that and checking on your vehicle when it’s nearly ready will help to keep other drivers connecting.
You should also take into account the fact that your charging speed will slow when you reach 80%, something called the charging curve. So, by staying on for longer, you might disproportionately waste your own and other EV drivers’ time.
2. Communicate with your fellow EV drivers
EV drivers are usually a very considerate bunch. Where EV chargers are in high demand, they often leave notes on their windshields to pass on information about how long they plan to charge. Sharing your plans in this way can be a big help to other drivers.
On the Bonnet app, you can even ping other app users to let them know you’re waiting to charge. You can also report if the charger is blocked so it can be freed up for other users.
3. Choose a charger that meets your needs
When you have a choice of charge points, the considerate thing to do is to match your vehicle with a charge that best accommodates its needs. That means choosing a charging speed that is a good fit for the size of your battery. As an example, there’s no point using an ultra-rapid 350kW charger for your 60kWh car if there’s a perfectly good 50kW charger in the same location.
4. Look after the EV charging area
Depending on the location and circumstances, you may need to spend a bit of time in and around your car while it’s charging, but that doesn’t mean you should make yourself at home. You should keep your stereo down to a comfortable level - not everyone loves Tom Jones as much as you do – and take any rubbish away with you or put it in a nearby bin.
5. Look after the connector
EV charging connectors are pretty robust but they’re not indestructible, so always take care to hang the connector back up on its port when you’ve finished charging. This will also help to keep it out of the way of the next driver when they’re ready to charge.
6. Don’t press the emergency stop button unless you have to
Quite a common mistake for new EV drivers to make is to press the emergency stop button to end their charging session. Instead, to end your session, just press the ‘stop the charge’ notification on the screen. When you press the emergency stop button it causes the charger to go offline for the next user, leading to inconvenience and delays.
It has also been known for waiting drivers to press the emergency stop button to end the session of a charger-hogger. However, you should never use the emergency stop button for anything other than an emergency.
7. Limit your stay at a rapid charger to an hour
A maximum stay of up to an hour should be considered fair usage for a rapid charger, even if the charge point is located at a long-stay parking facility. When your charging session ends, just move your car to a standard parking space to give other drivers access to the charge point.
8. Leave your car at destination chargers for a maximum of 12 hours
Destination charges are intended for long-stay charging, so it’s perfectly reasonable to leave your car during this time. However, you should make an effort to return to your vehicle as soon as it’s finished charging whenever you can. A maximum stay of 12 hours should be adequate for most vehicles but make sure you consider the parking restrictions at the site as well.
Here at Bonnet, we provide a range of innovative solutions to give you the EV charging experience you deserve, all through one handy app. Just download the app to enjoy flat-rate EV charging on charge points from more than 17 UK and European networks.
