PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — As electric vehicles become more common, so do the frustrations at public charging stations.

So what are the unwritten rules of charging station etiquette?

“There are folks with a lot of etiquette, and there’s also some folks who could use a little more,” said Alexia Melendez Martineau with Plug In America.

Martineau said EV charging stations are not as plentiful as gas pumps, making it important for drivers to be mindful and avoid overstaying their welcome.

“At the malls and stuff like that, people will sit there and charge their stuff and won’t even look at their phone to see if it’s all the way charged up,” said Gerrick Debrest of Northeast Philadelphia.

“If you’re done charging, move the car. Move the car!” Martineau added.

Some charging companies have introduced “idle fees” at high-traffic stations to discourage lingering. After a short grace period, drivers may be charged additional per-minute fees.

“Biggest pet peeve is when people jump in line,” said another unidentified driver. “I’ve seen it countless times while charging.”

Martineau also advised drivers to be considerate when charging beyond 80%, especially if others are waiting.

“In order to protect itself, the battery will slow down your charging once you hit 80%. So that 80 to 100% will take you a lot longer,” Martineau said.

That extra time can tie up a charger unnecessarily. Debrest shared a personal experience: “I’ve even had it one time where I took it out because somebody was charging it to 100% and they wasn’t there. And it was 100%, I took it out and he caught an attitude.”

Martineau cautioned against touching other vehicles. “I cannot say that I’ve been the person who’s moved that charger. I wouldn’t do it. That’s a tricky one.”

Other common complaints include drivers not parking within the lines, failing to return the charger properly, and non-EV cars occupying charging spots.

The bottom line, according to drivers and experts: be courteous.

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