Public EV charging etiquette in South Africa

Answer first: Charge, then clear the bay. Home charging should cover most weekly kilometres; treat public DC as a top-up tool. Check live availability in the network app (GridCars ChargePocket and peers) before you queue, and leave the cable hung so the next driver is not fishing a muddy connector off the tar.

Why etiquette matters more here than in denser markets

Naamsa-linked new-energy vehicle volumes are rising fast (2025 calendar year and 2026 year-to-date both show sharp BEV growth on this desk’s news pages), but public high-power sites remain concentrated on metros and N-route corridors. One blocked 120–150 kW bay at a mall or Ultra City can strand the next driver. Courtesy is infrastructure.

The non-negotiables

1. No ICE-ing. Do not park a petrol or diesel car in a marked EV bay “just for five minutes.” AutoTrader and local EV writers have flagged this as a growing frustration.
2. No spot-squatting. If you are not charging, do not occupy the bay. Move to a normal bay when you have enough state of charge to reach home or the next charger.
3. Do not unplug someone else’s car without clear consent. AutoTrader’s SA guidance is blunt on this — it is their energy and their session.
4. Stop at “enough,” not always 100%. DC taper slows hard above ~80%. If you only need 40% more range, take it and free the stall — Jaguar/GridCars-era etiquette notes made the same point years ago and it still holds.
5. Hang the cable. Connectors on the ground get driven over and collect grit; GridCars’ own how-to asks drivers to store the cable properly after unplugging.

Idle fees and “finished but still plugged in”

GridCars’ FAQ states it is best to move once charging is complete, and that some stations may charge an idle fee if the vehicle remains plugged in after charging. Read the on-screen tariff and the app terms for that site — idle policy is not identical nationwide. Remote stop via the app is available on many online units; use it, then physically clear the bay.

App hygiene (GridCars and peers)

• Confirm the charger is online before you divert 20 minutes off-route.
• Authorise with RFID, app remote start, QR/PIN, or AutoCharge where registered — GridCars documents all four patterns on newer DC.
• On AC destination chargers, bring your own Mode 3 cable if the post is untethered.
• Report broken units in-app; silent failures waste everyone’s time.

Network map context: public networks. Connector reality: CCS2 / Type 2 / CHAdeMO.

Queue manners

If two bays share a power cabinet, two cars may already be splitting power — ask before assuming a free cable means full kW. Communicate with the driver ahead; do not nose into a bay the moment their session hits 100% if they are still shutting hatches. On road trips, a polite “I only need 15 minutes to the next site” often unlocks a swap that rigid queue-jumping would poison.

Safety and emergency stops

Emergency stop buttons are for emergencies, not for ending a normal session. Use the app or the unit’s stop + card swipe. DC cables are heavy — GridCars reminds drivers to handle them with care. Keep children clear of dangling connectors at busy Ultra City forecourts.

Home first, public second

The cheapest and most courteous public-network behaviour is needing public DC less often. A ~7.4 kW home wallbox on a night tariff or daytime PV surplus covers most commuting — home charger cost, charge cost, TOU / prepaid. Public DC evidence points (DriveElectric): SAEV Charge Richmond DC cited around R3.49/kWh versus GridCars examples around R7.35/kWh — always verify the live tariff on the unit before you plug in.

Estates, workplaces and hotels

Private destination chargers at City Lodge × Chargify sites, offices and estates often have house rules on top of public etiquette — time limits, RFID allocation, visitor bays. Read the signage. Workplace fringe-benefit questions sit with SARS rules — workplace fringe.

SA caveats

Networks, tariffs and idle policies change. This page is courtesy guidance, not a by-law. If a site publishes different rules on the pillar, those rules win.

Road-trip specifics on N-routes

Corridor sites (Beaufort West, Laingsburg, Ultra City-class stops) often have one or two working high-power posts. Arrive with a Plan B charger 40–80 km either side, and do not wait for 100% if the next site is online. Share bay timing with the next driver: a 10-minute courtesy swap beats a 40-minute stare-down. Photograph out-of-order screens and report them — silent broken units are how maps go stale.

Night arrivals: keep headlamps courtesy-dipped while plugging, and do not block the truck lane with a passenger EV waiting for a free CCS2 handle. If both CCS2 and a legacy CHAdeMO are free, leave CHAdeMO for the older Leaf/Outlander drivers who have no alternative — connector guide.

Payment and session hygiene

Start the session before you walk into the shop. If RFID fails, try app remote start while the cable is seated. Ending the session and walking away still plugged in is how idle fees and angry queues start. Keep the ChargePocket (or peer app) notification on so you return as taper slows. Tariff screens differ — DriveElectric’s Richmond DC ~R3.49/kWh example versus higher GridCars examples shows why you read the pillar every time.

Accessibility and shared spaces

Do not use a disability-marked EV bay unless you qualify. Keep cable loops out of pedestrian desire-lines at mall entrances. Parents with prams and trolley users already fight for pavement — treat the connector like a petrol pump hose you would never leave on the ground.

Quick questions

Can I leave my EV plugged in after it is full?

Move it. GridCars says it is best to free the station; some sites may apply idle fees.

Is it OK to unplug another EV if they are at 100%?

Not without the owner’s consent. Message them first; never cut someone else’s session cold.

Should I charge to 100% on public DC?

Only if you need the range. Otherwise stop around 80% and free the bay — taper is slow and queues form.

Sources

• GridCars — Can I leave my car plugged in after it’s fully charged?
• GridCars — EV drivers / how to charge
• MyPE / Jaguar Powerway-era etiquette tips (still relevant)
• AutoTrader SA — don’t unplug others
• DriveElectric — SAEV Charge Richmond DC tariff comparison