EV essentials: 10 do’s and don’ts for using a public charging station

Navigating the ins and outs of public charging comes with a learning curve for new owners of an electric vehicle. And there has been a surge in EV adoption.

The sales rate of electric vehicles (EVs) in North America is growing, with record highs in the third quarter of 2024. In just the third quarter of 2024, it is estimated that 346,309 EVs were sold in the U.S., an 11 percent increase year over year.

With such a strong adoption rate, just as many new EV owners are entering the public-charging arena. But learning the dos and don’ts of public charging can ease the newbie’s learning curve around the EV veteran.

To help new EV owners avoid an unwritten blunder in etiquette, EV expert Craig Cole has cited the following do’s and don’ts to ensure everyone has a good EV experience. Cole is the co-founder and host of the Automotive Esoterica YouTube channel.

1. Use the appropriate charger for your vehicle. If you drive a Chevy Bolt that DC fast charges at a maximum of around 55 kW, there is no reason to plug into a 350-kW charger. Your car’s battery will not juice up any quicker, and you will irk any driver of a big, power-thirsty EV SUV like a Tesla Model X. Know the power rating of your vehicle and use the appropriate hardware.
2. Don’t DC fast charge to 100 percent unless needed. Do not fast charge to 100 percent unless necessary, such as on distance travel. Most EVs charge the quickest, from 10 to 80 percent. Beyond this range, the speed plummets, and getting the last 20 percent can take longer than the previous 70. An example is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. In a DC fast-charge test by EVPulse, Cole said the Ioniq 5 charged from 10 to 80 percent in a reasonable 18 minutes, exactly as the manufacturer claims. But going from 80 to 100 percent required another 32 minutes. Be courteous and avoid hogging a charger if you don’t need to.
3. Move your vehicle as quickly as reasonably possible when finished charging. Few things are more frustrating than waiting to re-energize your EV when there is another vehicle in the way, one that has finished charging. Be aware that some EV network providers charge an “idle” fee when users are plugged in and not charging. For example, Electrify America charges 40 cents per minute after a 10-minute grace period, Tesla charges 50 cents per minute for idling, and $1 per minute during peak usage times.
4. Don’t unplug other EVs. Respect another person’s charging session, regardless of their charge level. It is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to a positive EV community.
5. Put the charging cable back where it belongs. When you have finished charging, replace the cable connector where it belongs. Connectors usually click into a holster on the power dispenser’s cabinet. Doing this keeps the plug end and much of the cable off the ground, where these parts are less likely to get dirty or damaged. It is also worth noting, Cole says, that sometimes Tesla owners leave Supercharger cables unhooked if the station is malfunctioning. This is a way of signaling the problem to other drivers seeking a recharge.
6. Don’t public charge unless necessary. If you are running errands around town before heading home and your battery is at 95 percent, do not take up a DC fast charger that another driver might need. The U.S. public charging infrastructure is still a finite resource. If your EV still has plenty of range, consider other motorists who might need to charge more than you.
7. Unhitch a trailer while charging. It can be a major pain to unhitch a trailer, but it could prevent a traffic jam in the charging lot or block access to other chargers. Unless the public-charging parking lot is expansive or nearly empty, it’s courteous to disconnect your trailer while charging.
8. Exercise common courtesy. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way toward making the EV experience a positive one for all drivers:— When charging, park evenly between the lines so as not to block access for others.— Avoid cranking your music to obnoxious levels while chilling and charging— Definitely do not leave garbage behind in the parking lot.— Don’t use the same charger as another driver.
9. Whenever possible, avoid plugging into the same charging cabinet as another user. Many chargers are load-balanced and share a certain amount of power. If you start pulling electricity from the same cabinet, you could significantly reduce the other driver’s charging speed.
10. Listen for the click. When plugging the charger connector into your vehicle’s charge port, listen or feel for the click. The click indicates the proper connection and is necessary for the charge session to begin.

Mark Maynard has been writing about cars, their people, and products for 30 years. Find him at MaynardsGarage.com.

The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.