Experts have called for an immediate code of conduct to prevent motorists from arguing at charging stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drivers have reported instances of irate motorists arguing over whose turn it is to use a charging station, and even unplugging other vehicles to give themselves a turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jessica Fletcher, an electric vehicle owner, spoke out about her negative experience in a supermarket parking lot just one week after receiving her vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve had the car a week, never had to queue for a charger, but tonight I think (if the shouting bloke is correct) I inadvertently jumped the queue,” she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There appear to be so many unwritten rules and so much resentment toward those who break them.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI pulled in the car park and saw a bloke in a little smart car waiting for the chargers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I thought I\u2019d done the right thing by parking up in a bay out of the way so when the smart car had a space I moved into his space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOnly then I ended up with some bloke in a huge Audi jumping out of his car jabbing his finger and shouting at me that I\u2019d jumped the queue – he\u2019d been waiting and I\u2019d just pulled up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI soon realised that there was no point in trying to explain that I\u2019d been parked in a bay and just begged him to leave me alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs this what it\u2019s like? Did my first charge lull me into a false sense of friendliness because the guys using the chargers were lovely?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Fletcher’s sentiments were well received, with many fellow electric vehicle drivers rallying to her side, stating that rules governing public charging should be clarified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Tim Alcock of LeaseElectricCar.co.uk, the industry should publish guidelines to prevent incidents of “Charge Rage.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Contrary to popular belief, not all electric vehicle owners are tree-hugging vegans who wouldn’t hurt a fly,” he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The truth is that EVs are now mainstream, and the drivers who use them are simply a subset of the general public.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They become just as angry and frustrated as other road users, but they also have to deal with a scarcity of charging points, as well as the additional stress caused by range anxiety.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Alcock continued: \u201cWe need better infrastructure to keep up with demand but we also need a clear code of conduct around the use of public charging points and what is and isn\u2019t acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Clearly it is never acceptable to become aggressive and intimidating and what happened to Jessica sounds very frightening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut until the number of charging points significantly increases and a code of conduct is adopted and integrated into the Highway Code, we fear incidents of Charge Rage will only increase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Experts have called for an immediate code of conduct to prevent motorists from arguing at charging stations. Drivers have reported instances of irate motorists arguing over whose turn it is … <\/p>\n