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EV charging: our solutions to stop waiting at charging stations
Feb 9, 2026
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Waiting times at charging stations
Europe’s automotive landscape has been transformed. With more than 11 million electric vehicles on the road and a network that has passed the symbolic milestone of one million public charging points, the infrastructure is scaling up fast.
Yet despite this unprecedented density, the user experience still runs into a frustrating reality: local saturation. At peak times, on major routes or in dense urban areas, bottlenecks form. The challenge is no longer just to install chargers, but to manage the ones that already exist better. For operators, even a low saturation rate over the course of a day can be enough to degrade the experience and create visible frustration among drivers.
To address this friction, Electra is evolving its access rules across the entire network. The goal? Optimize turnover so that waiting becomes the exception. Here are the solutions being rolled out to make your journeys easier.
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1. Ending reservations: back to simplicity
This is a major shift in philosophy. The charger reservation feature, which was previously available, has been removed.
The reasoning is practical: a reserved spot is a “frozen” spot, unavailable to drivers on site, even if it’s physically empty while waiting for the person who booked it. By returning to a “first come, first served” approach, Electra aims to guarantee fairer access and maximize the actual usage time of each connector.
2. The 80% rule
On a fast charger, charging isn’t linear. After 80%, the charging speed drops sharply to protect the battery. Staying plugged in to reach 100% can occupy the charger twice as long for a minimal range gain, blocking access for other users.
To encourage good behavior and improve turnover:
Active notifications: the app alerts you as soon as your vehicle reaches 80%, prompting you to free up the spot and save time.
Overstay fees: if a vehicle remains connected unnecessarily after charging, occupancy fees apply. This discourages “charger squatters” and ensures chargers are used for charging only.
3. Pay less and charge when it’s quieter
To smooth demand peaks and avoid congestion at stations, Electra has started introducing off-peak pricing.
This approach gives drivers financial flexibility:
If you’re flexible: you can charge for less during quieter time slots.
If you’re not: you benefit from a potentially less crowded station, as some demand shifts to discounted periods.
4. An app designed to guide you
Finally, to avoid going in blind, technology takes over. With the app, you can already see in real time which stations are available and reliable. Better still: if the station you’re heading to is saturated, the app will automatically suggest nearby alternatives to help you avoid waiting. You regain control of your trip.
5. A network that keeps expanding
Because managing traffic also depends on supply, we’re accelerating the rollout of our infrastructure. We’re constantly opening new sites and expanding existing stations. More chargers available means less waiting and more flexibility day to day. Our network is growing with your needs, with a clear ambition: we plan to expand our network by 50% in 2026.
Toward smoother electric mobility
These changes mark an important step in the maturity of electric mobility and encourage smarter use of infrastructure. By adopting new habits, like unplugging on time or shifting your charging schedule, each user actively helps improve the service for everyone. With these tools, Electra is committed to making your charging experience ever simpler and more stress-free.
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