Electric cars are rapidly taking over the streets. Recently, you might have passed a Tesla Model Y cruising down the highway or seen a family unloading their gear from a Honda Prologue by the soccer field. They're everywhere. But there is one significant effect: more cars than ever need to get plugged in.
If you've charged in a busy urban area, you might have encountered full or over-capacity chargers. This means that drivers must be familiar with the proper etiquette to ensure swift and courteous charging sessions. Like the rules of the road, there are rules to charging. InsideEVs has compiled five key tips to make sure all EV drivers have hassle-free charging sessions.
Rule #1: Plug In If You're Sitting In An EV Spot
The cardinal rule of charging an electric car on a public charger is to plug in. This rule applies to all chargers, but primarily level 2 stations at work, hotels, or shopping centers. Namely, if you're in a charging spot, plug in. If your car is at a high enough state of charge where it doesn't need to be plugged in, then you should find a regular parking spot.
The charging spots are there for vehicles to charge, not for people's cars to occupy. 'ICE'ing' is a term used to describe an internal combustion engine-powered car that is intentionally parked in an EV spot. It's annoying and inconsiderate when this happens. But in the case of an EV not plugging in, it's the exact same scenario. There's a vehicle blocking other people's access to the charger.
With the influx of EVs on the road, charging spots are more likely to be occupied. And some people rely on these chargers for their daily travels. Therefore, if you see an open charging spot and need a charge, plug in!
Rule #2: Leaving Your Car Sitting After Charging
As an extension of the first rule, you should always leave a charging spot once a session is complete. When your car has completed charging, the spot should be vacated to allow others to charge. Especially at hotels, many EV drivers have likely planned their trip to account for an overnight charging stop. Therefore, if your car is done charging at ten at night, the courteous thing to do would be to unplug and find a different spot.
Most DC fast charging stations have idle fees, meaning you will receive a bill if your car is done charging and still plugged in. Tesla charges an idle fee of up to $1.00 a minute, depending on station business. Therefore, if your car has completed its charging session, it's time to find somewhere else to park.
Rule #3: Charging In The Optimal Range
While every electric car on the market features different charging profiles, generally, they charge faster at lower states of charge. This means that when road-tripping, it is sometimes more time-efficient to "bottom charge" your car. For instance, the Model Y takes around 33 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. But it takes 30 more minutes to go from 80 to 100. In other words, if the next charging stop isn't far away, it's not worth waiting to "top charge" the battery.
Some drivers have EVs that come with free charging subscriptions. BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen (not anymore), and Hyundai are a few automakers that supply their electric cars with unlimited 30-minute charging sessions on Electrify America. While free charging is undoubtedly a perk, some drivers like to fully maximize the offer by charging from, say, 60 to 100% while they're shopping.
While there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of an offer, one should be cognizant of others in line. If you're road-tripping, pulling in at 10 percent, and waiting for an ID.4 to reach 100%, you may not be a happy camper.
Rule #4: Supercharger Parking Rules
While Tesla opening up the Supercharging network to other makes and models is a big deal, there's one big caveat. A lot of EVs on the market have their charge ports in different locations. All Ford and most GM EVs feature charging ports on the driver's side front quarter panel. Meanwhile, BMW's electric cars bestow their ports on the passenger side rear.
On the other hand, Tesla's lineup has the charging port positioned on the driver's side rear. Since Tesla developed the charger and vehicle simultaneously, the engineers designed the cable to be just long enough to accommodate the port location. Shorter cables mean less coolant is needed, lessened electrical resistance, and a smaller bill of materials (particularly less copper).
Depending on the station design, shorter cables might have trouble reaching all cars. Pull-through Superchargers should pose no serious issues, though the traditional parking-space style ones might. To charge a Chevrolet Equinox EV on a Supercharger, occupying more than one spot might be necessary.
Simply put, if you're in a busy region, taking up multiple supercharging spots might block another driver's access to a stall. Tesla recommends not parking perpendicular to the spot lines, as that would block three stalls. Instead, drivers must straddle the dividing lines for the front charge port to come close enough to the cable. End spots are obviously the most desirable, though taking up two spots is the temporary solution for now.
Tesla's 4th generation Superchargers will have longer cables, so this issue is isolated with previous generation stations.
Rule #5: How Queuing Works
Unfortunately, queuing at charging stations is a bit of an issue. If you arrive at a full charging station in a busy spot, the best method is to park in a spot opposite the stalls. Therefore, you can see the cars entering and exiting. If there isn't a lot of parking lot traffic and it's safe, then it's usually all right to park in the lot facing the chargers. This way, other arriving drivers know that you were there first.
Finally, once you've been queuing and get on a charger, it's recommended not to stay at the station unnecessarily long. If there's a long line, and the next charger on your trip is less busy, you should charge as much as you need to get there with a buffer. This will help get people in and out of the station and on their way.
Final Note: Don't End Up In EV Purgatory
The electric car community is rapidly evolving, with more members than ever. However, proper etiquette is needed to ensure everyone can get to their destinations quickly and seamlessly. This means that drivers must be conscious of their time at stations.
But the best way is education. If you meet a new driver at a station, tell him or her about how charging works. Let that person know about the different types of charging stations or what charging curves are. Driving electric demands a learning curve, so keeping other drivers up to speed is good for everyone.
