Charging Etiquette: Best Practices for EV Drivers

Close-up of electric vehicle charging stations with blue and white branding, featuring cables and a nighttime city background.

Whether you're new to EV life or just want to be a better charging citizen, following basic etiquette at public charging stations helps everyone. Here's what you need to know.

Don’t Hog the Charger

Public chargers are for everyone. Once your EV is topped up, move on so others can plug in. Staying connected well after charging is complete is the EV equivalent of parking in a fuel lane. Not cool.

Set Charging Alerts

Use your EV app to track charge time and set alerts when charging is nearly done.

What to Do if Someone Else Is Hogging

Most drivers are just distracted. A polite note or a friendly chat (when safe) often does the trick. Or consider reporting prolonged misuse through the charge point app.

Queue Fairly and Talk It Out

At busy charging points, the golden rule is simple: first come, first served. Don’t just plug in because your battery’s low. If you’re unsure who’s next, a quick chat with other drivers usually clears things up. Queue-jumping? Still not okay.

Chat Before Charging

If you're unsure who’s next, asking other drivers is usually the fastest way to avoid misunderstandings.

Don’t Skip the Queue

Queue-jumping is a major faux pas — whether you're in a rush or not.

Keep It Tidy

No one likes a mess. Once you’ve finished charging, return the connector to the holster properly and make sure it’s secure. If there’s a fault or issue with the unit, report it via the app — it helps keep things running smoothly for everyone.

✅ Tip: If a charger is out of order, reporting it helps everyone.

Understand Charging Capacity

Just because a charger offers high power, like 150kW, doesn’t mean your vehicle will always charge at that speed. Charging rates depend on multiple factors, including your car’s maximum charge capacity, battery age, current charge level, and even battery temperature.

It’s a common misconception that ultra-rapid always means ultra-fast. In reality, your car will communicate to the charger the speed of charge that it will accept, and this may be significantly less than the charger's maximum output. That’s completely normal!

✅ Tip: For the best results, try to charge after a short drive (so the battery is warm) and when your state of charge is below 60%.

Source EV sites focus on ultra-rapid charging to reduce wait times and keep drivers moving.

✅ Tip: Save ultra-rapid chargers for on-the-go top-ups, not overnight sessions.

Prioritise Need

If your car still has 60% battery and others are nearly empty, consider waiting or using a slower charger.

Be Aware of Time Limits

Some locations enforce maximum stay durations — check signage.

Be Kind to Newbies

Not everyone is an EV veteran. If someone looks confused, offer help (if safe and appropriate). Remember, everyone was new once. Charging apps can be confusing. A kind word or gentle pointer makes all the difference.

✅ Tip: Seen someone struggling? A quick, friendly tip goes a long way. Or just give them space – no judgement.

Bonus Tip – Choose a Reliable Charging Network

Nothing beats charging with confidence. Source EV’s ultra-rapid hubs are built for reliability, ease of use, and getting you back on the road quickly. No fuss. No drama.

Find your nearest Source ultra-rapid EV charging hub.

Charging Etiquette Makes EV Life Better for Everyone

Being a considerate EV driver isn’t just good manners, it’s part of building a better, more efficient charging culture. A little courtesy goes a long way. Let’s make every charge a positive one.