Blocking fees are applied for the following reasons:
- Encouraging fair use of charging stations
- Blocking fees are time based and discourage drivers from leaving vehicles at the station longer than required. This ensures other drivers have access to charging facilities.
- Avoiding misuse of parking spaces
- Some stations are located in car parks where fees apply to petrol cars but not to BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) during charging. To prevent BEV drivers from using these spots as free parking after charging is complete, blocking fees may be introduced.
- There could also be car parks, such as shopping centres, where you need to pay parking fee upon entrance of their premises, as well as blocking fee if your vehicle occupies the charge point for longer than 90 / 120 / 180 minutes, depending on the station's conditions.
- Maximising efficiency at High Power Charging (HPC) stations
- HPC stations are designed to charge vehicles quickly, one after another. Blocking a fully charged car at such stations undermines their purpose and limits accessibility for other drivers.
Additional notes:
- Blocking fees vary depending on the charge point operator and local regulations.
- Always check station-specific policies in your Mercedes-Benz app or charging card terms before starting a session.