Using electric vehicle charge points
Overstay charges for electric vehicle charging
Journey chargers are designed for quick top-ups, not full charges. To help ensure availability for all users, time limits and overstay charges apply:
- you can stay for up to 45 minutes, with a 15-minute grace period
- after 60 minutes, an overstay charge of £1 per minute applies
- overstay charges apply to all sockets, including 22kW and 50kW
If the charger output is lower than expected, you will still be charged for the energy used. Overstay charges will still apply after 60 minutes and are non-refundable.
You cannot extend your stay on a Journey charger, even if a Destination charger is broken.
Destination chargers are suitable for longer charging sessions:
- there is no maximum stay
- we ask that you vacate the bay once charging is complete to allow others to use it
Why overstay charges are applied
Overstay charges help make sure chargers are available for everyone. Long stays are one of the most frequent complaints received by the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland (EVAS).
Journey chargers are not intended for full charges. If your vehicle takes longer than 45 minutes to charge, use a Destination charger instead.
Refunds and signage
We are unable to refund overstay charges, even in exceptional circumstances.
Overstay charges will still apply if:
- signage is damaged and you did not see the overstay information
- you stayed longer due to unforeseen circumstances
It is your responsibility to check tariffs before using a charger. You can find this information on:
- the Highland Council tariff page
- the ChargePlace Scotland website
Report damaged signage or faults by emailing EVManagement@highland.gov.uk. Include the charger ID number and location.
Payment
You can use contactless debit or credit cards at Journey chargers. The terminal is located below the screen.
Destination chargers do not currently support contactless payment.
How contactless payment works:
- a pre-authorisation amount is reserved on your card
- the actual charge amount replaces this at the end of the session
- depending on your bank, this may take up to 2 working days
- if the charge fails, the pre-authorisation may also take up to 2 working days to disappear
You do not need to pay for a parking ticket while charging. However, you must vacate the bay once charging is complete.
Suggest a new charge point location
If you have checked the ChargePlace Scotland map and believe your area could benefit from another EV charger, email your suggestion to EVManagement@highland.gov.uk.
We will add your suggestion to our list of potential sites. However, we cannot guarantee installation until feasibility studies are complete.
Note:
- previous installations were fully funded externally, but that funding has now ended
- we are exploring alternative funding options, but cannot confirm availability or conditions
- we consider land availability, power supply, and strategic location when selecting sites
- Journey chargers (43kW+) are placed in high-turnover or strategic locations
- Destination chargers (22kW or less) are placed in longer-stay car parks