What is charger hogging? The impact for site operators and EV drivers
An electric vehicle that stays connected to a charging point for too long can have consequences for both the site operator and the driver.
- For the site operator, it means a charging point remains occupied and unavailable to the next driver. This can result in lost charging sessions — and lost revenue.
- For the EV driver, the same situation can lead to extra costs on top of the price of the electricity charged.
Charger hogging means an electric vehicle occupies a charging point for longer than necessary, preventing another driver from using it.
To keep charging points available, operators can apply an idle fee, sometimes called a blocking fee. When this fee kicks in depends on the conditions set by the charging point operator.
Why is charger hogging a problem for operators?
A charging point generates revenue when it's actually used to charge vehicles. When a car stays parked at the same charging point for a long time, the next driver can't use it.
How long charging takes depends partly on the vehicle's battery capacity and the charging power of both the vehicle and the charging point. Some vehicles charge faster than others.
Fewer available charging points, less revenue
The longer a charging point stays occupied, the fewer other charging sessions can take place there.
For an operator, it's therefore important to look not just at how many charging points are available at a location, but also at how efficiently they're used. Especially at locations with high demand, prolonged occupation of a single charging point can directly affect the availability and profitability of the charging infrastructure.
Limiting charger hogging helps charging points become available again more quickly, allows more drivers to use the same infrastructure, and improves the return on the investment in charging infrastructure.
How can you prevent charger hogging?
One way to discourage charger hogging is by setting an idle fee, also known as a blocking fee.
This is an additional time-based fee, charged under predefined conditions, when a vehicle stays connected to a charging point too long. Idle fees can apply to both AC and DC charging points. At DC fast chargers, such fees are often used to encourage turnover, since a fast charger is designed for relatively short charging sessions, and a long occupied session can prevent the next driver from charging.
An operator might, for example, set the idle fee to start after a vehicle has been connected for a certain amount of time. At DC fast chargers, this can be as little as half an hour; at AC charging points, it's usually a few hours. The operator can also decide when the fee applies — for instance, during the day but not after 10 PM.
The goal is simple: encourage drivers to move their vehicle in time, so the charging point becomes available for someone else again.
The fee and conditions are set by the charging point operator. Through Powerland's own charging service, these fees and conditions can be configured and managed technically.
What does charger hogging mean for EV drivers?
For the person using the charging point, the same situation looks quite different.
You plug in your electric vehicle, start the charging session, and pick up your car a few hours later. When you later check the cost, the amount turns out to be higher than expected.
In addition to the price of the electricity charged and a start-up fee, an idle fee may also have been charged.
This can come as an unwelcome surprise, especially if you assumed you'd only pay for the kWh charged and the start-up fee.
When do you pay an idle fee?
Whether and when an idle fee applies depends on the conditions set by the charging point operator.
An idle fee doesn't necessarily only start once your battery is fully charged. The fee can also start after your vehicle has been connected for a certain amount of time — at a DC fast charger, this can be after half an hour; at an AC charging point, usually after a few hours. Your vehicle may therefore still be charging at that point.
The hours during which the blocking fee applies can also vary. An operator might, for example, choose not to charge an idle fee after 10 PM.
Conditions can therefore differ from one charging point to another. Don't assume a charging point applies the same fees as a location where you've charged before.
Where do you find a charging point's idle fee?
Before you start charging, always check the charging point's rates in your charging card provider's app.
Look not only at the price per kWh, but also at:
- any time-based or blocking fees;
- when these fees start being charged;
- the hours during which they apply.
In this context, people sometimes also refer to parking fees. These aren't necessarily the same as an idle fee: parking fees can also apply independently of the charging session.
Driving electric also comes with a new habit to build. With conventional refuelling, we mainly look at the price of fuel. With EV charging, it's worth checking a charging point's additional conditions before every session.
Making this a habit means you know in advance what costs may apply, avoiding unpleasant surprises on your charging invoice.
Who determines the charging fee and the idle fee?
The charging point operator determines the charging fee and the conditions of any idle fee.
The different parties each have their own role:
- The operator sets the fees and conditions for the charging point.
- The CPO (Charge Point Operator) manages the charging point and ensures the set fees are technically applied.
- The MSP (Mobility Service Provider) provides the service to the charging card user, including the card itself and the processing of the charging session.
Your charging card provider is therefore not necessarily the same party as the CPO of the charging point.
Do you have questions afterwards about an amount charged on your invoice? Contact your charging card provider first. They can explain your statement and check which fees were applied to that particular session.
How does Powerland help as both CPO and MSP?
Powerland operates as both a CPO (Charge Point Operator) and an MSP (Mobility Service Provider).
As a CPO, Powerland manages charging points on behalf of site operators. The operator decides which fees and conditions to apply to their charging points. Through Powerland's own charging service, these can be configured and managed technically.
If an operator wants to limit charger hogging with an idle fee, this can be set up within the charging service, giving them greater control over the availability and use of their charging points.
As an MSP, Powerland also offers services to EV drivers, including charging cards. These give drivers access to charging points and enable the processing of their charging sessions.
If a driver uses a charging card from another provider, that provider is their charging card provider and the first point of contact for any billing questions.
Depending on the charging session, Powerland can therefore act as the CPO on the charging point side, as the MSP on the charging card user's side, or as both when both the charging point and the charging card are managed through Powerland.
Ultimately, preventing charger hogging requires clarity on both sides. The operator determines how and when a blocking fee is applied. The EV driver, in turn, is well advised to check a charging point's fees and conditions before charging.
This keeps charging points more available, and gives drivers clarity on what to expect.
- Are you a site operator? With Powerland's charging service, you manage your charging points, fees and conditions, and set up a fee structure that fits your location and users.
Discover Powerland's charging service
- Are you an EV driver? Request your charging card from Powerland and get access to an extensive network of charging points. Through the app, you can check fees and conditions in advance, so you're never caught off guard.