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Charging etiquette

Last checked: 8 November 2026.

Public charging is not like pulling into a servo. Chargers are shared, power is often split between plugs, and the person behind you may be on a long trip. A few habits keep it easy for everyone, and most of them cost you nothing.

Where this comes from

Based on the AEVA's charging etiquette guide1. It is backed up by advice from the Electric Vehicle Council2 and RACV3.

Quick card

Screenshot this one.

  1. Never park in a charging bay unless you are charging. It is illegal in many states.
  2. Charge to what you need, usually 80%. The last 20% is slow.
  3. Move as soon as you are done. Idle fees can apply.
  4. Pick the charger that suits the stop. Fast for a coffee, slower for a long shop.
  5. Take an empty charger over a shared one where you can, so you do not split power.
  6. Never unplug someone else's car.
  7. Return the cable to its dock and take your rubbish.
  8. Report faults to the operator and log them on PlugShare.

At public DC fast chargers

Charge to what you need

Avoid charging above 80% at a DC fast charger unless nobody is waiting and your next leg needs it. Charging slows right down near full, and 80 to 100% can take as long as 10 to 80%1. On a long trip, two partial charges are usually quicker than one long one1. The EVC and RACV give the same advice23. Why it slows is in AC vs DC and the charging curve.

Zeekr note

The 7X can accept up to 450 kW (RWD) or 420 kW (Long Range and Performance AWD) on DC, and 10 to 80% takes roughly 10 to 16 minutes depending on variant and charger6. Because the car does most of its work before 80%, you will rarely need to sit past it on a trip. Peak rates are for ideal conditions; the public charger itself is often the limit.

Don't park without charging

If you are not plugging in, do not use the bay, whatever you drive. See the rules on EV bays below.

Pick the right charger

  • Chargers with several plugs often share power between users, so use an unoccupied charger if you can1.
  • Faster chargers cost more per kWh than slower ones1. If you are stopping for an hour anyway, leave the fast one for someone who needs it.
  • Carry your own Type 2 cable. Not every public site supplies one, especially AC sites3.

Queueing and sharing

Wait your turn and be patient: some cars charge slower than others and many drivers are new to this3. If someone looks stuck, offer a hand2. If you are at a site with fewer plugs than cars, a quick chat sorts out who needs what. A short conversation is also good for the sport1.

Use the app and check in

Many networks have an app that shows charge status, so you can come back when you are done3. Checking in on PlugShare tells others the charger is working, and a "waiting to charge" check-in lets you be notified when a bay frees up1.

Idle and congestion fees

Some operators charge you for staying plugged in or parked after you are done. These are set by each network and site, so read the signage or app before you connect3.

  • Chargefox has been reported to charge $1 per minute after a 10 minute grace period5.
  • Tesla Superchargers open to other brands can charge idle or congestion fees at busy sites. In March 2025 it was reported that congestion fees at some sites start once the car reaches 80%, even while charging, and that both fee types are waived if you move within 5 minutes5. Non-Tesla owners see fees in the Tesla app, and typically pay more per kWh than Tesla owners3. You need the Tesla app and an account to use a Supercharger3.

Check current terms

Fee amounts and triggers change. We could not confirm current Evie or NRMA fee terms for this page. Check the app for each site.

Unplugging someone else's car

Don't. It is not okay to unplug another driver's EV, even if it looks finished. Wait for them to return or use another charger3. If a car has been sitting for a long time, that is a conversation for the operator's support line, not for you and the connector.

Faults and tidiness

  • Put the cable back in its dock and take your rubbish1.
  • Report a damaged or faulty unit to the operator straight away, via the sign on the charger or their app23.
  • Log faults and successful sessions on PlugShare. It saves the next driver a wasted trip1.

At AC destination and kerbside chargers

AC chargers are slower (typically 7 to 22 kW)1 and suit places you will be for hours: hotels, workplaces, shopping centres3.

  • Overstays. Leave when you are charged or at the signed time limit. If the bay is signposted EV charging, you can only stop there while plugged in3.
  • Leave a note. A short dash note with your mobile number and expected unplug time is a courtesy, not a rule, and helps in holiday towns where chargers are scarce. (Club suggestion, not from a cited source.)
  • Holiday towns. Leave home with a full battery and, if you can, top up where you are staying before heading home. This leaves public chargers free for others2.
  • Accommodation. Ask the host before plugging in. If there is no policy, offer to pay a little for the power21. Do not overload a circuit or run extension leads; Zeekr's 7X manual says not to use adapters or extension cables7. Offering to add the venue to PlugShare can help them attract EV guests1.
  • Destination chargers. Tesla Destination chargers may be set to Tesla-only by the operator, and most do not need the Tesla app3.

The rules on EV bays

Parking in an EV bay when you should not is illegal in most states, and the rules differ between EV parking bays (reserved for EVs) and EV charging bays (you must be plugged in)3.

State or territory Summary Source
Victoria Only an EV may stop in a charging area, and only while plugged in. Fine of two penalty units, $418.20 for 2026-27. Plug-in hybrids may use the bays when charging. RACV3
NSW Fine up to 20 penalty units for stopping in an EV charging area if not plugged in, or a non-EV in an EV parking area. Rules from November 2022. NRMA4
ACT Up to 20 penalty units for a non-EV in an EV parking space, or any vehicle in an EV charging bay without plugging in. Rules from May 2022. NRMA4
Queensland Up to 20 penalty units for stopping in an EV charging spot unless an EV that is plugged in or has just been unplugged. NRMA4

Penalty unit values are indexed each year, so check current amounts before quoting a dollar figure. The NRMA article (September 2024) also covers SA, Tasmania, the NT and WA4. In private car parks, EV bays are usually a courtesy backed by the car park's terms, not a state fine4.

Accessible EV charging bays are only for a driver who is charging, displaying a current accessible parking permit, with the permit holder in the vehicle3.

Road trips and club drives

The club's trip guides say to stagger charging if the stop has fewer plugs than cars, to allow 20 to 40 minutes at DC stops, to move the car once done, and not to hog a charger past what the next leg needs8. Putting that together for a convoy:

  • Tell the group before you leave how many plugs the stop has. Fewer plugs than cars means staggering, not a pile-up.
  • Charge the lowest-range cars first, since the convoy plans around them.
  • Charge to the next leg, not to 100%. Two partial charges beat one long one1.
  • Split across chargers or nearby sites if there are two, rather than all queueing at one.
  • Stay with your car or within phone reach, so you can move when it finishes.
  • Have a backup charger for any single-unit stop, and flag faults to the trip lead and on PlugShare8.
  • Be welcoming. Other drivers at the stop may be first-timers. A convoy is a good advert for the community.

See Road Trips for planning and the club's trip guides on the club website.

Sources 8Everything on this page is sourced from the links below.

  1. Australian Electric Vehicle Association, "Electric vehicle charging etiquette" (updated February 2026), https://aeva.asn.au/electric-vehicle-charging-etiquette/, accessed 8 November 2026.

  2. Electric Vehicle Council, "EV charging etiquette key as more electric cars hit roads this summer" (27 December 2024), https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/media-releases/ev-charging-etiquette-key-as-more-electric-cars-hit-roads-this-summer/, accessed 8 November 2026.

  3. RACV, "The rules and etiquette of public EV charging" (9 September 2026), https://www.racv.com.au/royalauto/transport/electric-vehicles/ev-charging-station-etiquette-rules.html, accessed 8 November 2026.

  4. NRMA, "What are the fines for parking in EV charging bays?" (20 September 2024), https://www.mynrma.com.au/open-road/advice-and-how-to/fines-for-blocking-ev-chargers, accessed 8 November 2026.

  5. The Driven, "Tesla introduces Supercharger congestion fees in Australia" (6 March 2025), https://thedriven.io/2025/03/06/tesla-introduces-supercharger-congestion-fees-in-australia/, accessed 8 November 2026. The Chargefox figure is as reported there.

  6. CarExpert, "2027 Zeekr 7X update: more power, same price", https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/2027-zeekr-7x-update-more-power-same-price, accessed 8 November 2026.

  7. Zeekr 7X Manual (unofficial mirror, Netherlands edition), "Charge the car", https://zeekr-manual.pages.dev/sections/charging/T10211230, accessed 8 November 2026.

  8. Zeekr Insiders, "Trip Planning Guide" and "Participating in a Trip" (club trip guides), https://zeekrinsiders.com.au/garage/guides, accessed 8 November 2026.