EV drivers fined for parking while charging as car parks classify charging as parking

Several electric vehicle drivers have received parking fines after using public charging points, as car parks treat charging as parking subject to restrictions.

• Kevin Laban received a £70 parking charge notice for using a Pod Point charger in an Aldi car park outside store hours; Aldi cancelled the PCN after his complaint.
• Clive Sanders received a £100 parking charge notice from Smart Parking for only paying for charging, not parking; InstaVolt offered a £50 credit after Guardian Money questioned sign clarity.
• Anthony Stone received a £100 parking charge notice after using an advertised charger at a Holiday Inn car park without registering his number plate; the hotel agreed to cancel the PCN.
• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it plans to publish a new code to raise standards for private parking later this year.