Respecting the queue, good timekeeping, and helping fellow drivers, are among the top etiquette tips – when it comes to owning an electric vehicle, a study has found.

Other top do's and don'ts of EV ownership include knowing your rights, planning ahead for your journey – and leaving charging points in the same condition you'd hope to find them in.

And it is also considered common courtesy to leave enough room at public charging bays for larger vehicles to fit in beside you.

The tips are part of the new EV Etiquette Guide from Vauxhall, in partnership with leading manners and protocol experts, Debrett's.

And it comes as nearly half of motorists (49%) say they are “not clear at all” on the general manners and rules around owning an electric vehicle.

The biggest grey area when it comes to do's and dont's is around the best way to use EV chargers, according to seven in ten of the 2,000 drivers polled, in the Vauxhall research.

And it also emerged that these charging uncertainties are one of the top reasons why petrol or diesel drivers are reluctant to make the switch to electric.

But Vauxhall has partnered with manners experts, Debrett's, to produce The EV Etiquette Guide
But Vauxhall has partnered with manners experts, Debrett's, to produce The EV Etiquette Guide

However, the study comes as Vauxhall has pledged to offer fully electric versions of all of the models in its vehicle line up by 2024.

The guide also includes tips on the polite way to charge your car when visiting friends, advice on how to queue when waiting for a public charging bay – and whether it's okay to unplug other vehicles at charge points.

Liz Wyse, for Debrett’s, said: “As the electric vehicle revolution transforms our roads, our behaviour and etiquette must accommodate these changes. It is clear that many drivers are uncertain about the etiquette relating to owning an EV.

“The new Electric Vehicle Etiquette Guide aims to address these uncertainties, providing clear guidance on charging and parking protocols, as well as some recommendations about good etiquette, that will contribute to a civilised and agreeable EV experience.”

The EV Etiquette Guide also advises those using rapid-charge points, to ensure they don’t stay longer than necessary and cause others to miss out.

And those with bigger vehicles should be careful not cross over into the space next to them – and obstruct other drivers needing to use the bays.

Being aware of good timekeeping when charging an electric vehicle is one of the top tips in the Etiquette Guide
Being aware of good timekeeping when charging an electric vehicle is one of the top tips in the Etiquette Guide

Vauxhall’s research also found that, when it comes to making the switch to electric vehicles, two-thirds of drivers have concerns about how far they can get on a single charge, while six in ten are unsure about charging times.

And 63% worry about a lack of charge points, with recent reports suggesting Britain’s network of EV chargers is struggling under the load.

But 37% of all the motorists polled believe the top benefit of driving an EV is the reduced impact on the environment.

And 43% would enjoy the lower running costs, while the same amount would benefit from no emission or congestion zone charges.

Nearly half (46%) of the EV owners polled, as part of the OnePoll research, also found they have been unable to park in a charging bay, because a non-electric vehicle was using it.

James Taylor, managing director at Vauxhall, said: “As part of our mission to electrify Britain and to become an electric-only brand from 2028, we are committed to making owning an electric vehicle as easy as possible.

“With over three-quarters of drivers unsure on electric vehicle etiquette, this very British guide is designed to answer any of the day-to-day questions that prospective EV owners might have.”