Public charging is a shared resource with almost no signage explaining how to share it. These are the conventions that experienced drivers follow, and the reasoning behind each one.
- Move the car when it is done charging, not when you are done shopping.
- Charge to 80 per cent when there is a queue, not to 100.
- Never unplug someone else’s car unless their session has clearly finished and the car allows it.
- Report a broken charger. It is the only way it gets fixed.
The nine rules
- Do not park in a charging bay unless you are charging. This includes electric cars that are not plugged in.
- Move promptly when the session ends. Occupying a fast charger after you have finished is the single biggest source of frustration.
- Stop at 80 per cent when people are waiting. The last twenty per cent is slow and costs everyone else disproportionately.
- Take the stall that suits your port. Leave the cable-friendly bays for cars whose port position needs them.
- Do not double park across two bays. Obvious, common, and it disables a stall entirely.
- Coil the cable and return it to the holster. A cable on wet ground is a hazard and shortens its life.
- Do not unplug another car mid-session. Most cars lock the cable anyway, and it is a genuine breach of trust.
- Queue in one line, first come first served. Ad hoc lanes per stall create disputes.
- Report faults to the operator. Note the stall number. Operators frequently do not know a unit is down until someone tells them.
If a car has clearly completed its session and the owner has left a note inviting it, unplugging is usually fine. Without that invitation, wait or use another stall.
Why 80 per cent is the polite number
Charging slows sharply as the pack fills. Going from 80 to 100 can take about as long as 10 to 80, so a driver holding a stall for that last stretch may double their occupancy for a small gain. When the site is empty, charge to whatever you like.
Before you leave home
Have at least two payment methods set up, check the site status in the operator app, and have a fallback location in mind. Most bad charging experiences are really planning failures, and the fix costs two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I unplug someone else EV?
Not unless their session has clearly finished and they have invited it, for example with a note on the dashboard. Most cars lock the cable during a session anyway.
How long should I stay on a fast charger?
Stop at around 80 per cent when other drivers are waiting. Charging slows sharply above that point, so the final stretch holds the stall far longer than the extra range justifies.
What should I do if a charger is broken?
Report it to the operator with the stall number, using the app or the number on the unit. Operators often do not know a stall is down until a driver tells them, so reporting is what gets it fixed.
