{"id":4235,"date":"2024-10-22T10:51:35","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T14:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/?p=4235"},"modified":"2024-10-22T10:51:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T14:51:35","slug":"how-to-have-great-ev-charging-etiquette-at-home-at-work-and-everywhere-else","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/blog\/ev-insights\/how-to-have-great-ev-charging-etiquette-at-home-at-work-and-everywhere-else\/","title":{"rendered":"How to have great EV charging etiquette at home, at work, and everywhere else"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the realities of EV charging today is that, often, a charging experience can be made or broken by the behavior and etiquette of other EV drivers.<\/p>\n

Little things that people do, usually unknowingly and with no intention of causing others problems\u2014can lead to delays and frustration that might be avoided with a little more thought.<\/p>\n

Want to be the best, most conscientious EV charging pal you can be? Here\u2019s a quick guide to the etiquette you ought to follow.<\/p>\n

Tips for good EV charging etiquette in any environment<\/h2>\n

No matter what environment you\u2019re looking to charge up in, there are certain \u201cgolden rules\u201d that ought to be followed to ensure the safety of your vehicle, others\u2019 vehicles, and all drivers and passengers in the vicinity of a charging station.<\/p>\n

Don’t unplug other vehicles without permission<\/h3>\n

With very, very few exceptions, it is considered bad form to unplug another driver\u2019s vehicle so that you can plug in your own.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, drivers return to their vehicles and discover that the state of charge they needed to reach for their upcoming trip was not reached because somebody else unplugged their car.<\/p>\n

Other times, damage can be done to a vehicle if the connector is locked to the car and someone attempts to disengage it or yank it out.<\/p>\n

In some circumstances, there is an argument to be made that it is acceptable to unplug a vehicle. If you are relying on a Level 2 charger at a hotel, for example, and you\u2019re 100% positive that someone\u2019s charging session is complete but they\u2019re unlikely to return (for example, the charging session ended in the middle of the night), you could make a case for unplugging the connector from the vehicle and connecting your car to the charger.<\/p>\n

But in general, in nearly all cases, it\u2019s just better not to touch another person\u2019s car. It reduces the odds of something happening and leaving you on the hook for it and also of just provoking an unnecessary argument.<\/p>\n

\"Unplugging<\/p>\n

Be mindful of charging time limits<\/h3>\n

Many public charging stations\u2014mostly DCFC or Level 3 stations\u2014have time limits posted nearby that drivers are expected to adhere to. These limits exist to encourage drivers to be more thoughtful about plugging in and sometimes even to get a car out of the way if it\u2019s reached a high state of charge (usually over 80%) and is therefore charging more slowly than a car with a lower state of charge would.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, a charging station just doesn\u2019t get you enough charge in the allotted time, and in those cases, it\u2019s usually acceptable to either overrun the mandated charging session time limit or to end the charging session and immediately start a new one, so as to avoid fines.<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re in a situation where there\u2019s a long lineup of cars, your car is about to exceed the time limit, and you have opportunities to plug in again later in your day, it\u2019s considered best to unplug and start another charging session later on.<\/p>\n

Move your vehicle promptly after charging<\/h3>\n

Once your car is charged, move it to free up the spot for others. Maybe you intend to remain at the location to eat some lunch or stretch your legs\u2014that\u2019s fine. Just move the car to an available, non-charging parking spot to allow someone else to plug in.<\/p>\n

Try to plug into the \u201cright\u201d charging station for your car<\/h3>\n

Not all EVs charge up at the same rate; some will max out at a lower rate than others and sometimes much lower than the ability of a particular charging station to deliver.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in an area with multiple free DCFC charging stations, it\u2019s considered good form to choose the station with the lowest delivery speed that still allows your car to charge up at its maximum speed. This will allow someone else who arrives and whose car can charge up faster than yours to enjoy a more efficient charging experience, possibly freeing up the charger more quickly for yet another vehicle that comes along looking to plug in.<\/p>\n

If all other stations are already taken, absolutely feel free to plug in at a DCFC station that far exceeds your car\u2019s maximum charging speed. But if you\u2019re able to choose a slower station without impacting your vehicle\u2019s charging session, it\u2019s definitely something other drivers will appreciate.<\/p>\n

\"DC<\/p>\n

Keep the charging area clean and tidy<\/h3>\n

Keeping the charging area tidy is especially important with regard to charging cables. Cables that are left lying around or suspended in an unsafe way could be a hazard (one of the reasons why we suggest using charging station pedestals with cable retractors).<\/p>\n

Report any issues with charging stations<\/h3>\n

Sometimes charging stations don\u2019t work for one reason or another. It\u2019s important to take the time to reach out to the charging station operator or at least alert a team member at the location where the charging station is located. This helps improve the likelihood that future drivers will be able to use the charging station without issue.
\nIn theory, charging station operators should generally know that a charger is out of service pretty quickly\u2014leading EV charging platforms like SWTCH will serve up proactive notices when an error occurs\u2014but sometimes odd quirks come up, so it\u2019s still appreciated that you reach out if you\u2019re able.<\/p>\n

\"EV<\/p>\n

Tips for good EV charging etiquette in a multifamily home environment<\/h2>\n

Charging at home, and particularly at a multifamily property where there may be several drivers all sharing a limited number of charging stations, can mean tailoring your charging habits to promote harmony at your building and ensure everyone has fair access.<\/p>\n

In addition to the general recommendations above, here are some practices that are considered important to multifamily charging etiquette.<\/p>\n

Understand and follow charging rules and policies at your property<\/h3>\n

At most multifamily properties with EV charging, there will be rules or requests in place that tenants and guests are asked to follow. Most of the time, those policies will map onto the same kinds of concerns covered in the general etiquette section above, but there may be some additional policies in place that go beyond those.<\/p>\n

As a default, just follow those rules, as they\u2019ve almost certainly been thought up to address particularities of your building. If ever there\u2019s a rule you\u2019re unclear about or which you think is unfair in some way, do reach out to building management to have a discussion. They\u2019ll likely be happy to chat with you and try to find a solution.<\/p>\n

Communicate with other neighbors who use the chargers<\/h3>\n

Sometimes, despite the best efforts and intentions of all involved, the policies in place at a particular building may not produce a perfect outcome for everyone who needs to use the charging stations.<\/p>\n

For issues you encounter related to the behavior of other drivers\u2014you might, for example, find there\u2019s one person at your building who seems to ALWAYS be plugged in\u2014you can of course speak to building management, but it\u2019s also not a bad idea to speak directly with your neighbor.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, the individual just doesn\u2019t realize that their behavior is causing inconvenience, or maybe they have a great reason and it\u2019s an unavoidable situation. Whatever the case, most people will probably be happy to discuss with you directly and maybe come to a friendly agreement that addresses your concerns. This isn\u2019t a must-do by any means, but it can be appreciated. Nobody likes \u201cgetting in trouble\u201d with building management.<\/p>\n

\"Communicating<\/p>\n

Be prepared with alternatives in the event access is disrupted<\/h3>\n

This is less an issue related to etiquette than something that will just be helpful to you, but it\u2019s advisable to be familiar with the general public charging landscape in your area on the off chance that access to charging at your property is disrupted for any reason.<\/p>\n

Being caught off guard and unprepared is a recipe for stress, and while it is certainly less convenient to have to go and find a public charging station to use while one or more of your onsite charging stations are unavailable, you\u2019ll at least have a plan in mind that you can fall back on if needed.<\/p>\n

Tips for good EV charging etiquette at work<\/h2>\n

Workplace EV charging likely requires similar etiquette to what is advised for multifamily environments, though it can be made a bit more complicated depending on the specific nature of the building you work in and the parking facility you use. Expectations around behavior, plus who to communicate with in the event of a problem, would likely be very different for a small business vs. a business that is located in a busy tower in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

Though not all of these may apply to all workplace situations, here are some guidelines for good etiquette for charging your car while at work.<\/p>\n

Follow company policies for EV charging<\/h3>\n

Whether you\u2019re looking to charge up in a small lot accessible only to other employees of your company or you\u2019re looking to plug in at a busy garage for a downtown commercial complex, there are almost certainly rules specific to your workplace chargers that you will be requested to follow.<\/p>\n

As a general rule, the best course is to follow them. If there are rules that don\u2019t make sense or are unfair in some way, it\u2019s best to discuss your concerns with whatever party is responsible for the charging stations.<\/p>\n

\"Workplace<\/p>\n

Communicate with coworkers about your charging needs<\/h3>\n

If you work in a relatively small office with private parking for employees and guests, chances are you\u2019ll be able to communicate with your coworkers to work things out if ever a car needs to be moved or if you just need to get a sense of how long someone\u2019s car will be left connected to the charger. It\u2019s worth doing!<\/p>\n

Just knowing which cars belong to who and (hopefully) being able to ask that they move their car when it\u2019s done charging can go a long way towards making the experience of sharing charging stations go more smoothly.<\/p>\n

Tips to help new EV owners have great charging etiquette<\/h2>\n

Beyond the steps outlined in the sections above, there are a few things that are worth doing to help you plan your charging sessions better and be a more proactively helpful individual in situations where you are sharing a private or public charging station.<\/p>\n

Pay attention to how your vehicle charges up<\/h3>\n

Different vehicles charge at different rates, both in terms of the maximum rate at which they charge and also the dropoffs in charging speed that most vehicles will have when they approach 70%-80% state of charge, and when they exceed 80% state of charge. They can also require charging for different lengths of time.<\/p>\n

Pay attention to your charging sessions\u2014particularly DCFC charging sessions\u2014and try to make a mental note of what your car\u2019s maximum charging speed is, at what states of charge your vehicle\u2019s charging speed experiences drop-offs, and the approximate amount of time your vehicle takes to charge up under normal circumstances, vs. when it\u2019s cold, when it\u2019s hot, etc.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, knowing these things will not necessarily impact your charging session in a direct way. Still, you\u2019ll be able to better select charging stations to use, plan your charging sessions, understand how long a charging session is likely to take under different circumstances, and have an informed conversation with any other EV drivers who might have questions about how you\u2019re conducting one of your charging sessions.<\/p>\n

\"Learning<\/p>\n

Get the right charging (and car) apps on your phone<\/h3>\n

Increasingly, charging networks are allowing roaming to occur, meaning you can access charging stations belonging to one network via an app belonging to a different network. Still, it is advisable to have multiple apps on your phone, just in case.<\/p>\n

At a baseline, it\u2019s worth ensuring that you have at least one charging app that allows you to access the charging stations you want to use, plus an app for your car itself if such an app is available. This will help you start charging sessions from your phone whenever needed, and also to monitor the status of your vehicle just in case the charging app doesn\u2019t deliver updates to you when charging sessions are complete, when errors occur, etc.<\/p>\n

To go a little further, it can be worth having the apps for every single charging network you might use over the course of a journey. As a default plan, just sticking with your main app is fine\u201490% of the time, you\u2019ll be able to complete your charging sessions without a hitch. But on occasions when weird errors occur, you might find that you have better luck with the native app than with a different app that allows you to access a given charger.<\/p>\n

The primary goal is to ensure that your own charging sessions go smoothly, but particularly when there are other drivers looking to use a charging station after you, being well-prepared can make a big difference to their experience as well.<\/p>\n

\"EV<\/p>\n

The number of EV charging stations is increasing, but the number of EV drivers is also increasing\u2014and increasing faster than the number of chargers.<\/p>\n

Over time, it\u2019s likely there will be periods where charging stations feel abundantly accessible and other periods where it feels difficult to charge up quickly or efficiently because of high demand.<\/p>\n

Throughout it all, having good charging habits will serve you\u2014and others\u2014well in producing the best possible circumstances for everyone looking to top up their car\u2019s battery. To the extent that it\u2019s an effort to have great charging etiquette, it\u2019s worth it\u2014we\u2019d all hope for the same from the others we encounter.<\/p>\n

Want to keep up with the world of EVs and EV charging?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow SWTCH on LinkedIn<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the realities of EV charging today is that, often, a charging experience can be made or broken by the behavior and etiquette of other EV drivers. Little things that people do, usually unknowingly and with no intention of causing others problems\u2014can lead to delays and frustration that might be avoided with a little […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":4236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"How to have great EV charging etiquette at home, at work, and everywhere else","description":"A charging experience can be made or broken by the behavior and etiquette of other EV drivers. Here's how you can be the best EV charging pal you can be."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4235","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ev-insights"],"acf":[],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":4235},"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4235"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4244,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4235\/revisions\/4244"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swtchenergy.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}