EV Charging Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules

Public chargers are a shared resource, and a little courtesy goes a long way. Following a few unwritten rules keeps stations available for everyone and makes the whole experience smoother.

Don't camp at fast chargers

DC fast chargers are for getting back on the road, not for topping off to 100%. Because charging slows dramatically past 80%, hogging a stall to squeeze out the last few percent makes everyone behind you wait far longer than it benefits you. Charge to ~80% and move on unless you genuinely need more to reach your destination.

Move your car promptly

When your session ends, return and unplug as soon as you can. Many networks charge idle fees precisely to discourage leaving a finished car parked in a stall. Set a timer or watch for the app notification.

Never unplug someone else's car... usually

Unplugging an actively charging car is a serious no-no. The gray area: some EVs let you unplug once they've finished charging. Even then, be respectful — leave a note if you do, and never interrupt an active session.

Don't block stalls with a gas car ("ICE-ing")

Parking a gas vehicle in an EV charging spot ("ICE-ing") is the cardinal sin of charging. If you drive a plug-in hybrid, only occupy a fast charger when you actually need it.

Mind the cables

Route cables so they don't drag across neighboring stalls or create trip hazards, and hang the connector back up when you're done. Damaged cables take a stall offline for everyone.

Leave a review

Reliability information only exists because drivers share it. If a stall was broken, slow, or blocked — or if it worked perfectly — a quick rating or "did it work?" check-in helps the next person. In ChargeScout, those community check-ins build a reliability score that genuinely saves people from dead plugs.

The golden rule

Treat the station the way you'd want to find it: available, working, and unobstructed. A community of considerate drivers makes EV ownership better for everyone — and it's the same spirit that powers crowd-sourced reliability data. For more on avoiding bad stalls, read how to avoid broken or ICE'd stations.