Nobody handed you a pamphlet when you bought your EV. The dealer showed you how to open the charging port, walked you through the app, and sent you on your way. What they skipped: the unspoken social contract that governs every public charging station in America.
We’ve all been burned by someone ignoring it. We’ve all probably violated it too, at some point. So here it is, written down for once.
Rule #1: A charging spot is not a parking spot.
You pull up, plug in, and then you leave when you’re done. A charger is a gas pump with extra steps, not a reserved space for the duration of your Target run. When your car is full (or at 80%, see Rule #3), you move it. The fact that your app lets you monitor charging from inside a restaurant is not permission to stay through dessert. It’s a responsibility.
Rule #2: Never unplug someone else’s car. Ever.
It doesn’t matter if their session ended 45 minutes ago. It doesn’t matter if they’re at 100% and clearly done. It doesn’t matter if there are zero other chargers and you’re running on fumes. Unplugging a stranger’s EV is a line you don’t cross. Think of it like removing someone’s clothes from a laundromat dryer. Technically they’re done, but you still don’t touch it. Wait. Make eye contact with the charger. Sigh loudly. Find another station. Do anything else.
Rule #3: Know the 80% rule, and respect it.
DC fast charging slows way down after 80% state of charge. That last 20%? It takes about as long as getting from 20 to 80 did. So if there’s a line, charge to 80%, move your car, and top up somewhere else later. This isn’t leaving early. It’s being a decent human.
Rule #4: Always have a backup plan.
You’ve driven 40 minutes to this charger. You pull up. It’s broken. Three of the four stalls have the little orange cone. Now what? If you don’t have an answer to that question before you leave the house, your EV owner orientation isn’t done. Know your backup. Check PlugShare beforehand. “I didn’t think it would be broken” is not a strategy.
Rule #5: Put the cable back.
The cable goes back in the holster. Not on the ground. Not draped across the parking curb like a garden hose you decided you were done with. The next person has to use that cable, and they shouldn’t have to peel it off wet asphalt to do it. We’re trying to project a vibe here.
Rule #6: Don’t be a Level 2 camper.
There’s a charger outside a Whole Foods. It adds about 20-25 miles of range per hour. It was put there for quick top-ups while you shop, not for an all-day parking situation while you run errands across town. Leaving your car on a Level 2 all day is a parking spot with extra steps for you, and a dead end for everyone who shows up hoping to charge. If you need a full day, plug in at home. If that’s not an option, use a DC fast charger and move on.
Rule #7: Idle fees exist for a reason.
Most major networks charge idle fees once your session ends, typically around 40 cents per minute after a short grace period. This isn’t a cash grab. It’s the network nudging you to behave. Move your car when it’s done. You got the push notification. You made the choice to finish your show. The fee reflects that.
Rule #8: If a charger is broken, report it.
You noticed. You moved on. Two more people will show up today, see it’s broken, and also move on. Nobody says anything. This is how a charger sits out of service for two weeks while the network has no idea. It takes 30 seconds on PlugShare to mark it out of service and leave a note. You’ll have saved every driver who would have come here instead of somewhere that actually works. Do the 30 seconds.
Rule #9: The Supercharger handshake.
Tesla’s Supercharger network is now open to non-Tesla vehicles across most of the country, which means Tesla owners who’ve used these stations exclusively for years, and the rest of us arriving like we just moved in down the street. Be friendly. Don’t take the last stall if someone is clearly waiting. Nod if you make eye contact. You’re all just trying to get somewhere.
Rule #10: You will talk to strangers. Just go with it.
Charging takes time, people get restless, and there’s a solidarity that forms between drivers stuck at the same station. You will end up in conversations you’d never have at a gas pump. Someone will ask how you like your car, tell you about theirs, or want to debate home charging setups for longer than you expected. That’s fine. These are your people. Just step away from the cable so the next person can use it while you chat.
Now go charge your car. And put the cable back.