There are now more than 1 million EVs on our roads accounting for 2-3% of cars in the UK and as this increases millions of EV drivers should beware of five driving offences that could result in big fines and possible penalty points.
Motoring experts at ATS Euromaster researched the most bizarre, and potentially unheard of, electric vehicle fines, that you need to be aware of and how much they might cost you.
- Overstaying maximum free parking time – £50 in fines
If you enter a site with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to charge your EV be aware if there is a maximum free stay. If, for example, there is a one-hour free time limit, but the driver has to queue for 30 minutes to charge and then connect to the charger for 40 minutes, they have overstayed the one-hour free limit, and they will receive a fine.
Always make a note of any car park restrictions, and if in doubt, pay for a parking ticket that will cover the duration of a charge.
- Running out of charge – £100 in fines
While running out of battery is not an offence in itself, the police can fine drivers if they cause a traffic obstruction because of it.
Modern electric cars are designed to keep you safe, giving you plenty of advanced warning if your batteries are nearly out of charge. If your electric car does run out of charge, it will switch into failsafe mode, giving you enough time to pull over safely, avoiding causing a traffic obstruction. In this instance you call roadside assistance, and they would tow you to the nearest charging point.
There are over 50,000 public electric vehicle charging devices across the UK, if you are getting low on battery you can view charging stations on Google Maps. Do not however use your phone while driving.
- Overstaying a tariff – £40 in fines
Public charging stations have overstay tariffs – depending on the car park, EVs can stay anywhere from one to four hours, after then they will incur a fee. Also be aware of connection fees, these typically start at £1.
Some charging points are for customers only (for example in a supermarket) so be sure to read the signs, and if necessary, let the business know you are using the charger. This can be as simple as giving your registration at reception/customer services.
- Towing using an EV that isn’t approved – £2500
Before any new car is launched it has to pass through homologation. Manufacturers of most electric cars haven’t sought type approval from the European authorities to declare them fit for towing as it’s something they’re not typically designed to do.
It’s worth being aware that towing caravans could have an impact on some electric vehicles braking systems. Never use your EV if for towing if it hasn’t been approved as it may be dangerous.
Doing so is likely to invalidate both your warranty and insurance, meaning you could be hit with a heavy penalty if you’re pulled over by the police or involved in a collision.
- Trip hazards and trailing cables when charging – £130 in fines
Four out of five EV owners charge their car at home, and with data showing that a third of English households have no dedicated off-street parking provisions available, EV owners have had to adapt and become creative when it comes time to charge their vehicle.
The Highway code states when charging at home or at a designated charging point, you should park close to the charge point as possible and avoid creating a trip hazard for pedestrians from trailing cables. They also suggest displaying a warning sign if you can, especially if the cable is running across a footpath and into your home.