A common frustration among many EV drivers is the issue of charger hogging—when drivers leave their cars plugged in long after they’ve finished charging, unnecessarily occupying a charging spot. This problem affects both workplace and public charging stations, causing frustration and inefficiency. Fortunately, as an employer, you can use smart charging solutions to discourage charger hogging and optimise your EV charging facilities.
The Growing Problem of Charger Hogging at the Workplace
Charger hogging is becoming an increasing annoyance in office car parks. When charging points remain occupied without active use, it leads to long waiting times, frustration, and inefficient utilisation of the charging network.
Left unaddressed, this issue could even discourage employees from making the switch to electric vehicles. And that’s a problem, as EVs are the future—especially with the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales fast approaching.
It’s time to discourage long-duration charging and make workplace EV charging more efficient. The solution? Smart charging technology.
What is Smart Charging?
Smart charging is the efficient management of charging points using intelligent software. This system allows drivers to reserve a charging spot and be placed in a queue if no chargers are available. As a result, charging sessions are better regulated, preventing unnecessary occupation of charging stations.
Smarter Charging with Toogethr Smart Charging
Toogethr Smart Charging is a software solution that integrates with existing charging points on any car park. Through the app, employees or tenants can reserve a charging spot in advance. Here’s how it works:
- Select the date of the booking
- Choose a time slot
- Enter the charging point number upon arrival
- Start charging—hassle-free
Waitlist System: Maximising Charger Efficiency
If all charging points are fully booked, drivers are placed in a waitlist queue. This ensures that cancellations are quickly reallocated, making the best use of available charging stations.
With real-time notifications and app updates, users are kept informed about the status of their charging session and reservations, ensuring a smoother, more transparent process.
Data Insights: Driving Efficiency and Accountability
The Toogethr Smart Charging software also provides valuable insights into charging behaviour, including:
- Monitoring usage patterns: How often do users fail to show up for a booking? How long are charging points typically occupied?
- Improving efficiency: These insights allow businesses to optimise charging policies and address repeat charger hoggers directly.
By creating a culture of responsible charger usage, businesses can prevent over-occupancy and increase efficiency without needing additional charging stations.
Behavioural Change & Sustainable Impact
While completely eliminating charger hogging is unlikely—after all, human behaviour isn’t always predictable—smart charging solutions can significantly encourage positive change.
By making EV charging more accessible, efficient, and transparent, employees are more likely to free up chargers on time, improving availability for everyone.
- Cost Savings – Optimising existing charging stations reduces the need for additional infrastructure.
- Sustainability – Smarter charging reduces unnecessary energy consumption and encourages full EV adoption.
The Future of Smart Charging
Discouraging charger hogging isn’t just a matter of policy—it’s about leveraging technology and effective communication.
Smart charging offers a sustainable, scalable solution that benefits both employers and employees, ensuring a fairer, more efficient, and eco-friendly EV charging experience.
Curious about how your organisation can implement smart charging? Book a consultation with one of our specialists and discover how to optimise your charging infrastructure and eliminate charger hogging once and for all.
