‘Charge rage’ on the up for electric car owners

Forget ‘range anxiety’, the latest term to sweep the world of electric cars is ‘charge rage’.

The new phenomenon hitting owners of zero-emission vehicles relates to the growing number of electric cars on the roads – because public charging infrastructure is failing to expand at the same rate.

On Bing: see pictures of electric car charging points

Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader

This means owners are actually fighting over these plug-in points, with some rather unsavoury behaviour reported causing charge rage for many electric car drivers.

As electric cars become more widespread, motorists are become less worried about range and more concerned about the number of charging points.

With EV numbers increasing in America in particular (president Obama wants 1 million on the roads by next year) occurrences of charge rage through oversubscribed charging points in particularly popular areas for electric vehicles, like California, are now becoming much more common.

Some owners have reported finding their car unplugged when returning to car parks, with other vehicles jumping the queue and stealing the slot.

Quite how this is done is still yet unknown, as most electric vehicles ‘lock in’ they’re charging cables on both the car side and at the charging point to try and combat this.

The growing charge rage problem has prompted website plugincars.com to release some rules regarding vehicle charging etiquette.

First up, the company says “EV cars for EV spots” – basically, unless you’re in an electric car, don’t park in a charging bay, just like rules for disabled blue badge holders.

Secondly, it reckons if you do come across a combustion engine vehicle in an EV spot, don’t leave a nasty note – it doesn’t do your case any favours. Be firm, but be fair if you want to leave a message.

Alongside this, plugincars.com advises EV drivers to charge only when necessary, freeing up spots for users in greater need, as well as moving on as soon as your car reaches 100%, freeing the space up for another driver.

One thing drivers of electric cars should never do is unplug another plug-in hybrid or EV – except, of course, if that car is finished charging. This is the only case when it is acceptable to do so, believes the plug-in car expert site.

Above all else, it advises to put safety first – and we couldn’t agree more. Plugincars.com says “Practice safe charging. The means properly managing the cord. Neatly wind the cord on its holder, and tuck it in so people will not trip on any excess length, or drive over it.” Hear, hear.

On Bing: see pictures of electric car charging points

Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader

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By motoringresearch.com