Electric vehicle (EV) drivers using public chargers in private car parks are being hit with unexpected parking fines, as signs fail to warn of additional parking fees or restrictions, according to reports. Motorists say they have received hefty penalty charge notices (PCNs) after charging their cars, claiming that signage in private car parks does not adequately inform them of parking rules.
Misleading Directions and Fines
One driver, identified as Laban, was directed by charge point operator Pod Point to a bay in a Weymouth Aldi car park. He was stunned to receive a fine after discovering that parking is not permitted outside store opening hours, and that EV charging is considered parking by the landowner. “Pod Point advertises the charger as open to the public, while the car park’s cameras are set to immediately fine anyone who enters to use it,” Laban told the Guardian. “If the landowner does not want people charging outside store hours, the chargers must be deactivated, or the EV apps must sync with the parking restrictions.”
Charging Fee vs Parking Fee Confusion
Another driver, using an EV in a Devon car park, received a £100 PCN from parking operator Smart Parking because he had only paid for charging. “There was no indication on the InstaVolt charger that I needed to pay the parking tariff as well as the charging fee,” he said. “InstaVolt assured me they could get the PCN cancelled and gave me a letter to send to Smart Parking, but it refused to comply.”
An InstaVolt spokesperson explained: “Parking terms vary from site to site and may refer to time limits rather than charges, so to tell drivers that ‘parking charges apply when charging’ would not accurately reflect the range of conditions that exist across our network. That said, we do recognise that for drivers who are newer to public charging, the distinction between charging fees and site-specific parking terms may not always be immediately obvious.”
Operators Defend Fines
A Smart Parking spokesperson defended the fine, stating: “There is no free parking and motorists must pay for the duration they stay. In this case, the driver stayed for nearly an hour without paying for his parking, so was he correctly issued a charge.”
Calls for Clearer Signage
The RAC’s Simon Williams called for improvements: “Signage needs to be clearer, so drivers realise straight away whether they need to pay for parking, how long they can stay to charge and the hours of operation. Equally, charge point operators should add a warning to their devices and apps to make drivers aware.”
