It might be tempting to park in a space reserved for electric vehicle charging when you can’t find anywhere to park. They are sometimes empty and we tell ourselves that for just a few minutes, it’s not a big deal. In reality, yes, it is and it is punishable by law. When a person owns an electric vehicle and their charging is at 0%, they must be able to access a charging voucher. In the opposite direction, it is as if a vehicle was parking in front of a pump at the gas station when a thermal vehicle reaches the end of its reserve. Parking inconveniently in front of a charging station is punishable by a fine or worse.
What is the fine for parking in front of an electric charging station without charging?
According to article R417-10 of the Highway Code“Parking a vehicle in front of devices intended for vehicle energy recharging is considered to be disruptive to public traffic. electric“. Thus, if you park in front of a charging station, then you are not respecting the law. This offense is punishable by a second class fine, i.e. a fixed fine of €35 (€22 if reduced, €75 € if it is increased). Worse still, if the driver of the vehicle is absent or if he refuses to move his car.despite the injunction of the agents“, SO “immobilization and impoundment may be prescribed“. Clearly, it is better to go around the parking lot several times in search of a free space, rather than parking in a space reserved for recharging electric vehicles.
Can an electric vehicle that is not charging park in front of a charging station?
The situation is exactly the same if you have a thermal vehicle or an electric vehicle but which is not charging. The penalties provided for are the same. Similarly, once an electric vehicle has finished being charged, then it must be moved, otherwise it is considered inconvenient parking. Indeed, some operators do not hesitate to bill the user after reaching 100% load, for the additional time spent on the site. For example, if a Tesla vehicle is fully charged but has one more hour left, then it will pay “charges for unjustified occupancy of a Supercharger“. They amount to €0.50 per minute when the station is 50% or more occupied and €1 when the station is 100% full.
At TotalEnergies stations, fees are lower. It costs €0.20 per minute from 45 minutes of consecutive occupation at a terminal.