Paua - an overstay fee guide

The topic of overstay fees is causing a division in the EV community and even among charging networks. Some view these fees as a necessary infrastructure update to prompt drivers to vacate charging spots once their EV is fully charged, while others see them as a cash grab.

An overstay fee, also known as an idle fee, is a penalty charge levied when a vehicle remains connected to a EV charging station. A driver occupying a charger can prevent other drivers from accessing the charger and in some cases, charging networks have started penalizing drivers with overstay fees, either as a fixed penalty or per minute charge.

While EV drivers understand the need for more charging infrastructure, nothing is more frustrating than arriving at a charging station and finding a fully charged vehicle still occupying the spot. Overstay fees are meant to deter drivers from overstaying their welcome, but they also serve as a way for charging networks to recover potential revenue losses.

In areas like London, charging locations occupy expensive prime areas, so when vehicles remain connected to chargers without charging, the network loses potential revenue.

Although educating drivers may ease the issue in some cases, the widespread adoption of EVs means that overstaying could become a more significant problem.

We have thoroughly examined both our current partners and non-partners (we welcome you to join!) to compile a table that shows the overstay fees of various charging networks

Overstay fees follow one of these patterns

• A fixed fee after a certain time limit has passed. 
• A fee per minute after a certain time has passed. 
• A fee per minute after a car is fully charged.

What are Paua doing about this?

It is evident that each charging network has its own unique rules and costs when it comes to overstay fees. There are also the networks, such as Instavolt, Osprey and MFG who have publicly stated that they won’t add additional costs of overstay fees to anyone using their chargers.

Some networks differentiate between AC and DC charging, which can be quite confusing for the average EV driver and may lead to unforeseen spiralling expenses for fleet managers. Recognising this issue, the Paua Rangers have taken action to assist and alleviate this problem.

As a result, all Paua transactions can provide our fleet managers with a detailed breakdown of any overstay fees incurred during each charging session, separating the costs of energy usage and overstays. Our dashboard also alerts fleet managers to any significant overstay fees that they should be aware of. This ensures complete transparency regarding the costs incurred by drivers on the Paua network. Furthermore, our team is always available to assist fleet managers in educating their drivers on better EV charging etiquette. 

Showing once again, that fleets that have the Paua not only save time, but we constantly help them save money too! Why not find out how we can help your fleet transition to the EV Revolution by signing up today!  

Additional fines to be aware of

EV drivers need to be aware of additional parking fines when charging their vehicles.

When using a charger in a private car park, drivers must check all signage to avoid receiving a £60-£100 parking fine posted to them weeks later. These systems are driven by cameras and are separate to the EV charger. Some car parks require you to register your vehicle at the business premises.

A common issue is that while the charger may be advertised as available 24/7, the business hosting it might only operate during specific hours, such as 9 am to 5 pm. This discrepancy can lead to unexpected fines if drivers are unaware. 

Paua would question whether Chargepoint operators should ensure that either the charger operates only during business hours with clear advertisement. Or provide a way for drivers to charge outside of these hours witout a fine, such as through vehicle registration on a website or app. In our view this appears to be an obligation currently overlooked?

At all times improved communication and clear guidelines from both car park operators and chargepoint providers can help mitigate these issues and enhance the overall charging experience for EV drivers.

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