Debrett’s create definitive guide to the dos and don’ts of electric vehicle etiquette

Manners experts Debrett’s have teamed up with Vauxhall to create the definitive guide to electric vehicle etiquette, including a number of dos and don’ts that drivers might not be aware of.

The EV Etiquette Guide includes tips on the polite way to charge your car when visiting friends, advice on how to queue when waiting for a public charging bay, and whether it’s okay to unplug other vehicles at charge points.

It also features guidance on leaving charge points in a state you’d hope to find them in and advice on allowing enough room for larger vehicles to fit in public charging bays next to you.

Vauxhall, which has promised to offer fully electric versions of all of the models in its vehicle line up by 2024, partnered with Debrett’s to create the guide.

The guide follows a study by the car manufacturer which found 70 per cent of motorists believe there’s a lack of guidance on aspects of EV ownership – including charging.

It found 49 per cent of the 2,000 car owners polled claimed they’re ‘not clear at all’ on the general dos and don’ts when it comes to electric vehicle etiquette.

Liz Wyse, for Debrett’s, said: ‘As the electric vehicle revolution transforms our roads, our behaviour and etiquette must accommodate these changes. It is clear that many drivers are uncertain about the etiquette relating to owning an EV.

‘The new Electric Vehicle Etiquette Guide aims to address these uncertainties, providing clear guidance on charging and parking protocols, as well as some recommendations about good etiquette that will contribute to a civilised and agreeable EV experience.’

It found 49 per cent of the 2,000 car owners polled claimed they’re ‘not clear at all’ on the general dos and don’ts when it comes to electric vehicle etiquette.

Liz Wyse, for Debrett’s, said: ‘As the electric vehicle revolution transforms our roads, our behaviour and etiquette must accommodate these changes. It is clear that many drivers are uncertain about the etiquette relating to owning an EV.

‘The new Electric Vehicle Etiquette Guide aims to address these uncertainties, providing clear guidance on charging and parking protocols, as well as some recommendations about good etiquette that will contribute to a civilised and agreeable EV experience.’

The guide also advises those using a rapid charge point, to ensure they don’t stay longer than necessary and cause others to miss out.

And those with bigger vehicles should be careful not cross over into the space next to them – and obstruct other drivers needing to use the bays.

Vauxhall’s research also found charging issues are high on the list of reasons petrol or diesel drivers are discouraged from making the switch.

Exactly two thirds (66 per cent) cite fears over how far they can get on a single charge, and 60 per cent have concerns of charging times.

And 63 per cent worry about a lack of charge points, with recent reports suggesting Britain’s network of EV chargers is struggling under the load.

But 37 per cent of all the motorists polled believe the top benefit of driving an EV is the reduced impact on the environment.

While 43 per cent would enjoy the lower running costs, and the same amount would benefit from no emission or congestion zone charges.

Nearly half (46 per cent) of the EV owners polled, as part of the OnePoll research, also found they have been unable to park in a charging bay because a non-electric vehicle was using it.

Vauxhall Managing Director, James Taylor, said: ‘As part of our mission to electrify Britain and to become an electric-only brand from 2028, we are committed to making owning an electric vehicle as easy as possible.

‘With over three quarters of drivers unsure on electric vehicle etiquette, this very British guide is designed to answer any of the day-to-day questions that prospective EV owners might have.’

The news of the new guide comes after, electric car owners without access to a home charger are now paying up to a 1,500 per cent premium by being forced to top up their vehicles on the streets. 

Homeowners with a dedicated charger, smart meter and electric car tariff from their energy supplier can pay as little as 5p per kWh to replenish the vehicle’s batteries overnight. 

However, a neighbour relying on a council-backed on-street charger can face rates of 65p per kWh – meaning the same car could be filled for as little as £2.56 or as much as £41. 

Worse still for the second person, they can also face ‘idle fees’ of up to 6p per minute, if they remain attached to the charger once their vehicle is filled up. 

Some motorists, including Blackadder actor Rowan Atkinson have expressed their dismay about their experience driving an electric car and finding places to charge it.