Electric Car Charging Etiquette Guide
By Nick Kurczewski 04/25/2023 12:00pm

Quick Facts About Electric Vehicle Charging Etiquette
- Plan ahead when taking a road trip beyond your EV’s maximum driving range, and make a backup plan.
- At public charging stations, make sure to park at the correct plug.
- Be considerate at EV chargers. When using charging station apps, read the real-time feedback about the station and share any pros and cons you encounter.
A rising number of car buyers are turning to electric cars for their next vehicle, but public charging stations haven’t kept pace with demand. Even the most advanced electric vehicle requires significantly more time to charge than gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles need to refuel.
With many different types of public chargers available and all kinds of EV drivers jockeying for the same public Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast chargers, it can create confusion about the do’s and don’ts. Use our helpful tips and advice to sharpen your charging manners. That way, you won’t short-circuit if other drivers don’t play by the rules.
Plan Ahead: Know Where To Charge Your EV

Before you head to the charging station, it’s essential to know the ins and outs of your electric vehicle (EV). Does your EV have DC fast-charge capability? Even something as simple as knowing the location of your charge port door can save time and hassle.
For local drives in familiar neighborhoods, even a novice electric car owner will soon know where to locate local charging stations and the number of available plug-in points. But if you take a road trip beyond your EV’s maximum driving range, you’ll want to plan ahead.
Using your EV’s navigation system is a quick and easy way to find charge points during extended trips. There are also apps from EV charging networks such as EVgo, ChargePoint, and Electrify America that will direct you to compatible charging stations.
Tesla owners can use these same methods to locate the nearest Supercharger station. Keep in mind that the Supercharger network is mostly limited to Tesla vehicles. However, the automaker started allowing other EV makes and models limited access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
Charging Etiquette Tips

- Park at the correct plug. When you find a public charging station, make sure you park at the right type of plug-in point. For example, if your vehicle isn’t compatible with DC fast charging, then a Level 2 (240-volt) station is what you’ll need.
- Avoid skipping the line. Check your surroundings and ensure you didn’t accidentally skip ahead in a line of waiting EVs pulled off to the side.
- It’s not a resting place. Attention all EV drivers: A charging station does not serve as a daylong or overnight resting place for your electric car. An EV owner will often use a charge point as an hours-long parking spot versus a place to recharge and go. Free chargers are especially in high demand. Public charging stations usually charge extra fees if the system detects a car is charged but still docked.
- Resist temptation. Drivers of gas or diesel-powered cars can be the culprit, too. In a crowded parking lot, the sight of any open electric car charging spot can be too tempting for some to resist. It sounds obvious, but if your car isn’t an EV, please don’t park in electric car charging locations.
- Pay attention to signs. If a parking sign says there’s a 2-hour limit, abide by the rules. Don’t leave others hanging.
Charging Guidelines To Follow
- Be considerate. The golden rule applies to EV charging, too. You’ll encounter times when an electric car camps out at a charge point all day or a fuel-guzzling vehicle parks at a plug-in point. Remember, humans are equally fallible at gas stations. So, don’t expect perfection because you’re driving an electric vehicle.
- Never unplug a neighbor. One vital piece of electric car etiquette: Resist unplugging another vehicle. Would you walk up to someone in the middle of refueling with gasoline and take the nozzle away because you’re in a hurry? No matter how tempting, never unplug a vehicle, even when its owner abuses a charging point. Our best advice is to grit your teeth and find an alternative.
- Spread some positive EV karma. When using apps like PlugShare or Electrify America, alert other EV owners of any pros and cons at the charging stations you visit. This can alert other drivers to inoperative stations, the rates for charging, and even what amenities might be available at a given location. Paying it forward to other electric vehicle drivers works best for everyone down the road.
- Track your progress. Smartphone apps are a great means of tracking your real-time charging progress. This is offered via smartphone apps from electric car charging networks such as ChargePoint, EVgo, and Electrify America. You can also use the apps designed by automakers for their specific EV models. With a tap or two on your smartphone screen, you can find out if your electric car is ready to roll or if additional recharge time is needed.
- Consider not topping off. Did you know the closer your EV’s battery gets to a 100% charge, the slower it takes to gain those last few bars or percentage points of energy? It’s true. This applies to all charging levels, including Level 3 DC fast chargers. Unless you truly need every ounce of driving range available in your vehicle, consider unplugging your electric vehicle when it has an acceptable charge level for your immediate driving needs.
- Leave a note. Many of us need to step away from our EVs while charging. That’s perfectly acceptable. But if the charging station is bustling with electric cars, it might be a good idea to leave a note saying you made a quick pitstop and will not camp out too long.
- Emergencies only. If, for some reason, your electric car gets desperately low on battery and there’s nowhere to turn, leave a friendly note explaining the situation should you absolutely need to unplug another vehicle and can’t explain it in person. No one likes to get unplugged. But emergencies happen.