EV charging etiquette and safety in Armenia

Etiquette at a public station

• Park to charge. A charging bay is for a car that is charging. Do not use it as an ordinary parking space; in Tbilisi, for example, blocking a bay without a plugged-in cable is fined (Georgia, not Armenia).
• Move when you are done. If the station has an idle fee, it starts after a grace period. The app tells you when charging is complete.
• Do not unplug other people’s cars. If a car looks finished but is still plugged in, leave a note or contact the station operator.
• On DC fast chargers, leave at about 80%. Charging slows down above that, and the next driver is waiting. This is general practice, not an Armenian rule.
• Keep the cable tidy. Coil it so no one trips and nothing is driven over.
• Report faults. A broken connector helps nobody; tell the operator. For our network write to info@ev-armenia.net with the station name.

Safety when you charge

• Use the cable and adapter made for your car and rated for the current.
• Look at the plug and cable before each session. Do not use damaged, scorched or discoloured parts.
• Do not use domestic multi-socket or daisy-chained extension leads to charge. Where you charge at home, a dedicated wall box fitted by a qualified electrician is the safest option. See home charging.
• Have the wiring checked before you charge overnight from an ordinary socket.
• Do not run a cable from a window or balcony across a pavement. See charging in an apartment building.
• Stop the session at once if you see smoke, smell burning or notice a cracked connector. In the EV Armenia app you can stop remotely; then move away from the car.

In bad weather

Charging equipment is designed for rain, but do not connect a plug that is wet or standing in water, and do not charge if the cable is submerged. In snow, clear the connector before you plug in. Cold lowers range and slows charging, so allow extra time in winter.

If something goes wrong

1. The charger does not start. Check that the plug is fully pushed in on both ends, that the connector shows as free in the app, and try another connector.
2. The session stops early. The car or the charger may have reached a limit, for example a charge limit you set or a heat protection. Wait a minute, then restart once.
3. A payment looks wrong. Do not pay twice. Check the history in the app and write to the operator with the station, time and payment method.
4. Equipment looks damaged. Do not use it. Tell the operator and park elsewhere.

Know your limits

Most trouble comes from the wrong connector or a rushed first session. Read how to charge before your first time and connector types before you buy a cable. If something seems wrong, stop and ask the operator.