As New Zealand’s electric fleet grows, our charging network will expand with it. Even so, you may have to wait at a charging station for your turn occasionally. Fortunately, those early adopters of electric vehicles put together a set of charging etiquette that helps prevent bad behaviour. These came about gradually through trial, common sense, and majority support. ChargeNet both helped in the development and fully supports, the official EV Charging Etiquette. We respectfully ask that you, our customers, do too.
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All EVs Are Equal. Whether PHEV, small or large capacity, all EV’s have equal right to use chargers. Use your discretion in sharing, if there is a choice of high-powered/low-powered DC chargers. Only use public chargers if you cannot charge at home. Keep them free for those that need them.
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Charging Not Parking. Parks displaying this official NZ sign are for charging only. Do not park there if you are not charging, even if you’re in an EV.
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Be Nice to ICE. Be a good EV Ambassador. Don’t leave anything other than a polite note on an offending vehicle.
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When to Unplug. Only unplug another vehicle if you are certain it has finished charging, or you have been given permission, eg: on Plugshare. Not all cars can be unplugged during, or even after charging, so respect the owner and know what you are doing before acting.
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Monitor With Your Phone. Make use of apps or text alerts to monitor the state of charge. Plugshare is a safe way to communicate, but is optional.
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Don’t Set and Forget. Stations are designed to allow you to leave your vehicle charging. But you must be back before charging stops, and before any parking time limits are up. Don’t expect others to unplug you.
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Check for Parking/Charging Limits. Some stations and/or EV parks have time limits to encourage vehicle turnover. Do not park illegally to reach the charger.
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E-Stop is for Emergencies. In other situations, only press E-Stop if you can’t get hold of the station operator by phone. Reset it before you leave.
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OK to Check Progress. It is acceptable and normal to check the onscreen progress of a station that you are waiting to use.
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Look after the stations, cables and plugs. Report any damage to the service provider, & ensure cables are safely tucked away
These social norms were created by the EV community and collated by the charitable group, The Better NZ Trust. They have printed them onto cards for new EV drivers and are handy to keep in the car to hand out if you come across someone who appears to be unaware of charging etiquette. Contact the Better NZ Trust if you need some or downloadable a printable version.
We very much recommend that you load your mobile number into your ChargeNet account and manage your SMS Preferences. That way, if you do get distracted while away from your vehicle, we can send you an automated text notification you when your charging has ended. This is a free text service that we offer to all our wonderful customers.
Charging stations have been likened to the office water cooler. They’re a great place to chat with other EV drivers, and this is always more pleasant when we care about other drivers by being kind. Remember, you might get back the same energy you put in.
