EV Charging Station Etiquette

Never unplug another person's vehicle, as it is never okay to unplug someone else's vehicle to charge your own. Although it's not technically breaking any laws, you can quickly become enemy number one in the EV world. Most electric vehicles will require hours of recharge, depending on your vehicle's make. EV stations are not as complicated as gas stations, so charge time is precious to EV owners, and unplugging them is s serious offense. You would never go to a gas station and unplug someone else's car, so never unplug someone's vehicle at a charging station.

A charging station is only for electric vehicles to charge. It is not a place for an electric vehicle owner to park while they go to the theatre to watch a movie or run some errands and then come back whenever they feel like it. If an EV parking spot is occupied and is not being used for charging, it can leave EV owners who might need a charge in a challenging situation. It can lead to angry drivers on your trail, or at worst; it can send out alarm notifications to parking management which can lead to being blacklisted. If you don't drive an EV vehicle, you should still follow these rules and respect EV chargers as well. Electric vehicle drivers hate driving into a charging bay only to find an Internal Combustion Engine vehicle parked in it. If you're not an EV driver, don't park in an EV space!

There needs to be a steady and organized flow of vehicles at all chargers, which is critical to running a smooth-running station. When a driver throws off the flow, it can cause many backups and frustrate drivers. One way EV owners can help maintain a suitable charging station is to keep track of time. Don't go too far from your vehicle that's charging. If your vehicle is done charging, but you still find yourself plugged in, it can leave someone who needs to use the charger irked, and it could cost you an "idle fee." There are many apps that you can use to help check the status of your charge that will let you know when you are done charging so you can be back at your vehicle in no time.

Sometimes life comes at you fast, and you may be unsure if you can make it back in time before your charge finishes. If you think you will be late in unplugging your vehicle from the station, leave a note. It's better to estimate that you'll be an hour late than have a driver thinking that you intend to leave your car there all day. We recommend using ChargeHub, an EV charging station locator, as it is an excellent resource for drivers who are concerned about timing. Drivers can also interact with others on the app, including giving updates and correspondence about their ETA.

If your EV is at a 90% charge, don't use a public charging station to get yourself a full charge. Save the charging station for drivers who need them to reach their destination. The last 10% of your battery will typically charge quite slowly, so either charge at the next en-route rapid charger or charge at your destination. After all, the point of driving green is to conserve energy instead of wasting it.

Now that you know the proper etiquette when you're at a charging station, it's time to get yourself behind the wheel of a new EV! To do so, head down to Cuero Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram and schedule a test drive with one of our outstanding sales team members, who can answer your questions and even accompany you on the test drive so you can get the full feel of your new EV. We have the latest versions of the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee 4xe here on our lot, and if you enjoy your test drive, then be sure to check out our finance department, where we will get you a great deal. You can also view our complete 4xe inventory here on our website!