Electric Vehicle Public Charging Guidelines

Proper EV Etiquette for charging in public.
(Otherwise known as the EVguidelines by Sal Cameli)

1. Comply with posted #EVsigns in addition to the following #EVguidelines where applicable.

2. Designated charging spots are for charging vehicles only. Do not park in one if not charging.

3. Center your EV in the designated charging spot. Leave room for others to access adjacent chargers.

4. Leave your contact info on your dashboard as a manner of EV Etiquette.

5. Check in on the PlugShare App or similar.

6. If you must unplug another EV make sure it is done charging. Leave a polite courtesy note.

7. Do not park in DC-Fast charging spots longer than it takes to charge-up your EV.
DC Fast - otherwise known as Level 3, QuickCharge(QC), Tesla SuperCharger, DCFC & Rapid)
- are for a maximum of 30 to 90 minutes of charging. Some stations only charge for 30 minutes,
There are newer stations that charge for 45 to 60 minutes because of EV’s with larger batteries.
The common EV Etiquette courtesy is to return to your Vehicle within the first 30 minutes.
(Don’t Plug In and go see a movie or do something that will take more than 30 minutes)
You really should return before that first session is set to complete (there may
be other EV owners there waiting for you to finish). If you need another session and
nobody is waiting, then you can start a second session but you need to stay with your Vehicle.
If someone is waiting for you to finish and you're at 90% or more you really should stop and let them charge.
The last 10% takes a very long time and can do harm to your battery.
You cannot park there all day or for hours. These stations are strictly
for Quick Charging. As soon as you are done charging you need to move.

8. Your vehicle must not occupy a spot which does not have the correct
port to charge it. (Example: If your Vehicle does not have a DC port or a different DC than what’s
available at this current location do not only park your EV here) See #2 above.

9. Be available and ready to move your vehicle once your charge is complete
or the Charging Time that’s written on the #EVsigns has exceeded. (Whichever comes first)

10. Leave charging spots in better condition than how you found them (Holster the Handle, wrap cords, don’t litter, clean up trash, etc.)

11. An EV with an open charge port is the universal signal for "please-plug-me-in when you are done."
When you're finished with an adjacent charger, take a moment to provide them this courtesy.

12. All plug-in vehicles have a right to charge, and all are expected to follow the #EVguidelines for charging.

13. If there is an #EVcone Please put it back to the center of the Charging Spot so that
Non-Plug-IN Vehicles won't park there. #EVcone #EVcones

14. As an EV owner, I solemnly promise to handle blocking events politely. I will conduct myself with civility
and, should I choose to leave a note, I will leave only a polite note.

15. You must be a positive member of the EV community. Teach Novice EV owners these #EVguidelines (https://evguidelines.com)

16. You must teach the world about EVs.

17. You must not steal electricity. No "war charging."

18. You should not reduce your charging rate in order to park longer.
You must charge at full rate. Other EV owners may need to charge.

19. An owner whose vehicle is blocking a charging spot can and should expect notification.
Leave this #WindShieldNote behind under their wiper blades. No one taught this particular
EV Owner the #EVguidelines. We must teach these people so that we can make future Charging better for all.

20. Please remember: If a parking spot has a charging station or an electrical outlet to plug in your own charger
then it is no longer a generic parking spot. It is a charging spot.
You MUST be plugged in and charging to use such a spot.

21. If you don’t need a charge then you must park with the gas/diesel/petrol cars.
Don’t make it harder for EV adoption to happen simply to give yourself a few seconds of extra convenience.
See #2 Above.

22. If the Charging Station is broken please report it to the owner of the station and through the PlugShare App or Website.

23. As an EV owner, I solemnly promise never to block a Gas/Diesel/Petrol pump.

24. It is Good #EVetiquette to Share these #EVguidelines with EV owners who clearly do not know them.

25. If you need to park in a Bus, Train, Ferry or Plane Terminal then you must follow the direction of the #EVsigns
Most Terminals with EV Charging will have a section with Level 1 and/or Level 2 for long term Charging Spots.
If you don’t need a charge then park with the Gas Burning Cars. Do not only “park” in a Charging Spot.
You may block someone who is in desperate need of a charge. The Terminal may have DC Stations as well but
those are strictly to charge up and then move. They should not be “Parked in” for longer than 90 minutes.
You should use a DC Station and move as soon as you are full. See #3 for more detail.

26. If it's an extreme emergency. If you’re at a charging station and just about to run out of charge and
someone else is there actively charging and they have not left any contact info on their dashboard then
you can unplug them.
BUT, You MUST stay with your vehicle. Because most likely their car is going to
send them a message that they were unplugged and they may run out to see what happened.

(Before unplugging them, write a thoughtful and courteous thank you note and leave it under their wiper blades.
Mention that you’re going to plug them back in and if it’s a pay station, that you'll pay for the charge on your account)

If they did leave contact info then contact them first. Ask permission to unplug them for 30 minutes.
They may be done or almost complete anyways.

If it’s a pay station and you unplugged them then you need to pay to start them back up again.
That cost is a lot less than a tow truck.
(If you unplug them and don’t start them back up then you
become an #EVHOLE and that’s not a nice thing.)

Many jurisdictions do not have laws preventing ICE vehicles from parking in Charging Spots but some do. ​
One example is Arizona:
"Arizona Revised Statute 28-876 Parking spaces for electric vehicles; civil penalty
A. A person shall not stop, stand or park a motor vehicle within any parking space specially designated for parking and fueling motor vehicles fueled exclusively by
electricity unless the motor vehicle is powered by electricity and has been issued an alternative fuel vehicle special plate or sticker pursuant to section 28-2416.
B. If a law enforcement officer finds a motor vehicle in violation of this section, the law enforcement officer shall issue a complaint to the operator or other person
in charge of the motor vehicle or, if an operator or other person is not present, to the registered owner of the motor vehicle for a civil traffic violation.
C. A person who is found responsible for a violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of at least three hundred fifty dollars. Notwithstanding section
28-1554, the civil penalties collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the state general fund."
The Arizona Statute is straight to the point and carries a hefty fine. Many other states and Jurisdictions are looking to adopt the same.
If you're not careful you may return to your vehicle with a $350 ticket.
(legislation from other states can be found on this site: Plug in sites

Thank you, Sal Cameli
email me: Sal@ElectricSal.com

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The "EV Guidelines" by Sal Cameli is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://EVparkingTickets.com.