Guide for the Eco-Friendly Electric Car User: civic rules on the road and at the recharging station

Whether you drive a gasoline-powered vehicle or an electric one, civility is always a must. But to refresh your memory or learn more, here’s a quick 101 guide for the good electromobilist!

Recharging

CHARGING POINTS :

The recharging points found in shopping mall and restaurant parking lots are not parking lots. It may seem silly to mention it, but many electromobilists think they can park there without recharging their car. These spaces are reserved for recharging electric cars, not for privileged parking. We therefore recommend that you respect this so that electromobilists who really need to charge their cars can do so. By the way, you could be fined!

VEHICLE CHARGING:

When an electric vehicle is charging, please don’t disconnect it. The electric motorist whose car is charging needs his or her battery just as much as you do, and we’re willing to bet you wouldn’t want anyone doing that to you!

To ensure maximum civility and respect, the AVEQ has drawn up a «courtesy protocol«. This is a document you can print out and place on your vehicle’s windshield to let other electric motorists know when your vehicle is ready to be unplugged.

RESPECT FOR CHARGING EQUIPMENT :

When you charge your car in a public place, it’s common courtesy to be careful about the equipment you use. We’re thinking in particular of the gun and cable, as well as the charging station screen, for example. Hooking up the cable properly so that it doesn’t drag too much on the ground when the ground is muddy or «slushy», for example, is always a welcome gesture, preventing users from getting dirty in the process. The same goes for the pistol; by putting it back in place properly, it prevents equipment breakage, and equipment breakage means repair times, which causes complications when a charging station breaks down. And you’ll agree with us on this point, it’s preferable to have as many public charging stations up and running as possible to speed up the recharging process.

RESPECTING RECHARGING TIME:

There are plenty of places reserved for recharging bikes, but not enough. One of the consequences of this is long waiting times at public charging stations, as electric motorists have to wait for a space to become available so that they too can recharge their batteries. This can lead to discontent, especially when the same vehicle occupies the reserved space for hours on end, but has already been charged. This needlessly deprives other electric motorists, so please, when your car is charged, park it elsewhere. It’s also a good idea to unplug your car when the battery has reached 80 or 85% of its charge. At 90% or more of charge, recharging costs are much higher; in fact, they double! So you’re paying far too much for nothing, because the ideal is to charge more often, but for less time. That’s why it’s so important to know your car’s recharging capacity, to help you choose the right station to fill up on energy at a reasonable price.

On the road

EXTRA VIGILANCE :

While electromobilists must obviously respect the same highway code as gasoline-powered car drivers, we recommend that you be even more vigilant than the latter. Why, you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple: because we electromobilists are much quieter than our gasoline-powered counterparts. A pedestrian walking at 9pm with headphones in his ears won’t necessarily hear your car backing out of your yard. The same goes for mall parking lots or any other public place. Obviously, this is a situation where both parties have a share of responsibility, but to avoid incidents as much as possible, we recommend that you always be more vigilant than necessary.

PLAN YOUR ROUTES:

If you have a lot of driving to do, we strongly advise you to plan your journey in advance. This will enable you to locate charging stations quickly and plan your stops accordingly. This will save you time and money, since, as we mentioned earlier, it’s advisable to make more frequent stops than to fill up completely. And when you’re on a long journey, it’s a good idea to take a break every 3 hours or so to stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, grab a bite to eat and so on. This applies to all motorists, but dear electromobilists, this is a great opportunity to recharge your EV! You’ll gain in efficiency and concentration, while reducing fatigue.

You should also know that small secondary roads (~90km/h) are also much less energy-consuming and more pleasant to look at than freeways. In fact, there are several websites and mobile applications that can help you plan your journeys, such as Circuit Électrique or A Better Routeplanner, for example. What’s more, planning ahead will also give you greater peace of mind, as you’ll know where and when to stop. In the end, it’s a win-win situation!

In short, it’s often small, simple gestures that contribute to making you a good electromobilist, and whether on the road or at the recharging station, courtesy always has its place. Happy driving and happy recharging!