The Biggest Problem Indian EV Owners Face Even After Finding A Working Charger [Video]
We have come across several instances on the internet where EV owners are seen complaining about the charging infrastructure in different parts of the country. In most cases, we have heard people complain about how they face difficulty locating a functional EV charging station. Even if they find an operational charging station, it seems their problems do not end there. The next issue has more to do with people than with the authorities. We have often seen videos where EV owners park their vehicles in front of chargers and block access for users who need them.
The first image seen here was posted by a user on X. In the image, we see a BYD and a Tata Curvv EV parked in front of a fast charger. It looks like the image was clicked somewhere in Gurgaon. Initially, it appeared that both cars were parked to get charged. However, the user who posted the image checked the status of the station and was surprised to know that one of the chargers was actually available.
The user checked the cars again and found that the BYD was connected to the charger, but the Tata Curvv was simply parked. The owner of the Tata Curvv likely thought that parking his car in front of an operational charger would save him on parking charges.
However, what he didn’t realise is that he was creating inconvenience for others who wanted to use the same charger. Because of the Curvv EV owner’s mistake, the other user would either have to wait for the BYD to move or look for another charging station nearby.
This is not the first time we have come across such an instance. Bunny Punia has also posted videos on X where he shows an MG Windsor parked in front of a fast charger, blocking access. He was forced to use an adjacent parking slot and block another person’s space as he had no other choice. Similarly, the video shows how people park their vehicles in front of EV charging stations when no one is using them.
This is not the right mentality. We have a limited number of charging stations in the country. The network is expanding slowly, but this issue still needs to be addressed.
The other elephant in the room!
EV owners trying to charge electric cars up to 100 %. Now, this is a big problem because typically, the time taken to charge to 100 % is much longer than say upto 80 %.
The last few percent of charge take an inordinate amount of time, leading to delays for others who want to charge their electric cars.
So, it's best to stop charging at 80-85 % and allow fellow owners to access the charger rather than waiting to charge up to 100 %.
People should be considerate of other road users and EV owners. The space in front of EV charging stations is generally meant for cars that are actively charging. It is an EV charging station, not an EV-only parking spot.
Many people mistake it for a parking area and leave their vehicles there. This is not the right mindset to have. This is a public charging facility, and EV owners should be considerate towards others. If you are not charging your vehicle, never use the vacant spot in the charging area to park your car. By doing so, you are indirectly discouraging people from buying EVs.