How to Use a Public EV Charger, Step by Step
Using a public charger takes about a minute once you know the sequence: check the connector and power before you set off, park and plug in, start the session by card or app, wait for the station to confirm it has started, then stop the session before unplugging. The two mistakes new drivers make are arriving at a charger their car cannot use, and walking away without confirming the session actually began.
Before you leave
- Check the connector. Confirm the station has the plug your car takes — CCS, CHAdeMO, Type 2. See connector types explained if you are unsure which you have.
- Check the power. A 22 kW AC post is useless if you need 30 minutes, not three hours.
- Check availability if it is published. Live status saves the wasted trip.
- Have a backup. Note a second site nearby.
Voltika does all four in one view across more than 28,000 locations — see the city directory.
At the charger
- Park so the cable reaches. Charging ports are in different places on different cars — front wing, rear wing, nose. Cables are short; reversing in is often necessary.
- Wake the station. Most screens sleep. Touch the screen or press a button.
- Plug in. For DC, take the tethered cable from the station. For AC, you usually use your own Type 2 cable: one end to the post, one to the car. Push firmly until it seats — a loose plug is the most common cause of a failed start.
- Authorise. Depending on the site this is a contactless bank card, the operator's app, an RFID card, or nothing at all if the car supports Plug & Charge.
- Confirm it started. Look for the station screen showing power flowing and your car's charge light. Do not walk away until you see both — this is the step people skip.
While it charges
Fast charging slows sharply above about 80%, so for a journey stop, leaving at 80% is usually the fastest overall strategy. Many networks also apply idle fees once charging finishes, so plan to move the car promptly.
Finishing
- Stop the session first — on the app, the card, or the station screen. The connector is locked while charging and will not release otherwise.
- Unplug from the car first, then the post if it is your own cable.
- Coil the cable back on the station — leaving it on the ground damages it and blocks the bay.
- Move the car once you are done.
If it does not work
In order, the things worth trying:
- Unplug fully, wait ten seconds, plug back in firmly.
- Try a different bay on the same site.
- Try a different payment method — a card that fails often works in the operator's app.
- Call the operator's number, printed on the unit. They can frequently restart a bay remotely.
- Report the fault so the next driver knows, then move to your backup site.
What to keep in the car
- Your own Type 2 cable — many AC posts are untethered.
- A contactless bank card.
- One or two network RFID cards for your region, as a fallback when mobile signal is poor.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own cable for public charging?
For AC charging, usually yes. Many AC posts are untethered, meaning they have only a socket and you supply the Type 2 cable — most EVs come with one, and it is worth keeping it in the boot permanently. For DC fast charging you never need your own cable, because the heavy CCS or CHAdeMO cable is permanently tethered to the station for safety and cooling reasons.
How do I pay at a public charging station?
It depends on the operator and the age of the site. Newer installations in most of Europe are required to accept contactless bank cards. Older sites may require the operator's app or an RFID card issued by that network or by a roaming provider. Some cars and networks support Plug and Charge, where the vehicle identifies itself over the cable and the session starts and bills automatically with no card or app. Carrying a contactless card plus one or two regional RFID cards covers nearly every situation, including places with poor mobile signal.
What happens if I leave my car plugged in after it finishes?
Many networks charge an idle fee — a per-minute penalty that starts once charging completes, designed to free up bays. Rates and grace periods vary by operator, and some sites apply it only during busy hours. On rapid chargers in particular, plan to move the car promptly: the bay is a shared resource and idle fees can quickly exceed the cost of the electricity you took.
Can I unplug someone else's car?
No. Charging connectors lock to the vehicle during a session and cannot normally be removed by anyone but the owner. Even where a completed session leaves an unlocked connector, unplugging another driver's car is considered unacceptable — you cannot know whether their charge is finished or whether they will be billed for a failed session. If a site is full, wait, use another site, or contact the driver if a contact card is displayed.