Electric car: 5 golden rules to follow when recharging at a public terminal

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The proliferation of electric cars on our roads is gradually transforming the mobility landscape. This revolution is accompanied by new challenges, particularly around public charging stations. Between waiting times, cables that are too short and inappropriate behavior, tensions sometimes rise at charging stations. Before you risk getting into a fight, here are the essential rules for harmonious cohabitation.

Take a special EV parking space only if you need to recharge

The first fundamental rule concerns the occupation of charging spaces. A simple but crucial principle is essential: always plug in your vehicle when it is parked in a space equipped with a terminal. This rule may seem obvious, but many drivers use these spaces as ordinary parking spaces.

This behavior, comparable to the occupation of spaces by thermal vehicles, penalizes motorists who really need to recharge. The situation becomes particularly problematic in dense urban areas or shopping centers, where every space counts.

Free up the space once charging is complete

The parking time after recharging is the second major point of attention. Once the battery is recharged, quickly freeing up the space becomes imperative. Fast charging station operators have understood this by introducing fees for excessive occupancy.

Tesla, for example, charges up to 1 euro per minute of unnecessary parking on its Superchargers. This pricing policy aims to streamline rotation at the stations by dissuading squatters.

Optimize your charging time

Optimal management of charging is the third pillar of this label. Electric vehicles have specific charging curves: they generally accept higher power when their battery is low on charge. The time to charge an electric vehicle from 80 to 100% is often almost as long as charging from 20 to 80.

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An informed driver will therefore prefer to recharge between 20% and 80% during long-distance journeys. This practice optimizes your journey time, but also allows other users to access the terminals more quickly. Do not hesitate to use the route planners which will indicate the most efficient route to follow.

Position your electric car correctly

Positioning at the charging stations is the fourth crucial aspect, particularly since the opening of the Tesla network to other brands. The diversity of charging socket locations depending on the manufacturer sometimes poses technical challenges.

Some vehicles must occupy two spaces to reach the terminal, particularly on older generations of Superchargers with short cables. This situation, although temporary, requires special attention in busy stations. Future installations, equipped with longer cables, will gradually resolve this constraint.

Respect the order of arrival at the terminals

Queue management is the fifth part of these good practices. When faced with a full station, organized parking in front of the terminals makes it possible to establish a clear order of passage.

This simple method avoids tensions and ensures fair access to infrastructure. Experienced drivers also adapt their charge level to the busy conditions. If there is a queue, it is better to make do with a partial charge to reach the next less busy station.

The infrastructure will continue to expand, but compliance with these fundamental rules will remain essential to guarantee a smooth charging experience for all users. Given that the democratization of electric vehicles is only just beginning, it is best to learn best practices for everyone right away.

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