From the April 2023 edition of Car and Driver.
Our recent experience at a public charger has us worried that the EV charging experience will soon turn into mayhem and mayhem. Too many people are trying to use too few stations, a situation exacerbated by unmanaged plugs. Before people get kicked out of weddings or thrown out, let’s see if we can tackle some of your messiest behavior dilemmas.
A few basics: Always put your fork to the left of your plate when you eat lunch on deck, and never park a combustion engine vehicle in an EV charging station. Now to the hard part.
IS IT TOO BODY TO STAY PLUGGED FOR A 100 PERCENT CHARGE? I MEAN I WAS THERE.
Aww, honey. It can feel incomplete to unplug at 82 percent, but if someone is waiting, don’t be greedy and do a full charge. It’s rude, because on a DC charger, it’s possible that the last 20 percent will take as much time as the previous 80 percent. Plus, charging to full accelerates long-term battery degradation, so it’s also unkind to your car. This rule goes threefold for Lucid drivers. Even at 80 percent, the Lucid has a highway range of over 300 miles, far more than most EVs.
I LOVE USING FAST CHARGER. IS THAT WRONG?
If you drive a Mini Cooper SE that can only accept a 50-kW charge and hook up to a 350-kW charger when a slower one is available, you’re making an angel cry. It’s like taking both armrests when sitting in the aisle on an airplane. You may be more comfortable, but you’re taking up space from people who could really use it. While some new EVs can accept over 200 kilowatts, most older models cannot. Know your limits.
I CAN CHARGE MY TESLA ANYWHERE, SO I PLUG IN WHEREVER I SEE AN OPEN PLACE EVEN IF IT’S NOT A TESLA STATION.
That’s not a question, but also, unless you’re desperate, please don’t do that. Someone will figure out how to pull the plug and launch it into low Earth orbit. Tesla offers an amazing and exclusive charging infrastructure that works, like, all the time! We can’t say the same for non-Tesla stations, so seeing Teslas at those booths when their own network is available nearby can be disappointing. Think about society.
DO I REALLY NEED TO LOG IN FOR SHARING PLUGS OR OTHER REPORTING APPS?
Of course not. You also don’t have to help the elderly with the groceries, but it’s nice if you do. Reporting a malfunctioning or broken station on an app like PlugShare can help other travelers avoid disappointment. If everyone does it, it can save you some frustration too. Crowdsourced information also helps stations organize repairs. A good car for all.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TASTY. CAN I MOCK THEM?
Sure, but that means something. Once you get used to public charging, it’s easy to forget how frustrating and confusing the stations can be. Some have a touchscreen, and some have what looks like a touchscreen but requires pressing buttons. Some swipe, and some seem to require months of alignment before accepting a credit card. If you see someone struggling, help them. You’re not going anywhere for a while. Maybe rip this page out and give it to them.