Between Christmas and New Year, millions of Brits stay with friends and family, bringing good cheer, gifts, games, and increasingly electric cars. And whilst every generation has its own festive anxieties, a new one has quietly joined the list: EV charging etiquette.
According to EV charging specialists Simpson & Partners, staying overnight now comes with a modern social dilemma, is it polite to ask to charge your car at someone else’s house?
Holiday hosting has always come with unspoken concerns. Parents worry whether they have enough hot water, if the fridge full enough and teenagers panic if the Wi-Fi password isn’t offered within minutes of arrival.
And now, EV drivers are discreetly eyeing the driveway thinking: “Where can I charge… and how awkward will this conversation be?”
As electric cars become more common, asking where to charge can feel much more awkward than asking for the Wi-Fi, even though the reality is often far less dramatic.
“Most people are surprised to learn that charging an electric car overnight typically costs just a few pounds, often less than running the oven for a holiday lunch or running the dishwasher a few times.” commented Mandy Simpson co-founder of Simpson & Partners, manufacturers of electric car chargers.
Charging an electric vehicle to approx. 150 miles on a home charger would typically cost between £2.50 – £4.00 to charge to approx. depending on the tariff.”
The Unspoken Rules of EV Charging Etiquette
Mandy Simpson, founder of Simpson & Partners, says holiday charging anxiety can usually be avoided by following a few simple rules:
• Always ask first – charging without asking is the modern equivalent of helping yourself to the fridge.
• Offer to contribute – even if the host declines, it’s good manners.
• Charge overnight – off-peak hours are cheaper and avoid household power spikes.
• Keep cables tidy – no one wants a holiday hazard.
• Move your car once you’ve charged.
• Say thank you – still surprisingly effective.
“Once people understand how little energy an electric car actually uses, charging at home quickly becomes as normal as sharing the Wi-Fi password or putting the kettle on,” Simpson & Partners adds.
Different generations worry about different things during the holiday period, but nobody wants to be remembered as the most inconsiderate guest during the holidays.
