Motorist is fined nearly £270 after his electric car takes 11 minutes too long to charge

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 09:24 EDT, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 09:29 EDT, 27 August 2026 A motorist has been fined almost £270 because his electric vehicle (EV) took 11 minutes too long to charge.Dilip Singh paid £44.99 to fully charge his KIA SUV in a KFC car park in Weymouth, Dorset, but received a £100 fine for exceeding the maximum stay for parking. He claimed this represents an effective trap for EV drivers, because once a charging session starts, the plug is locked and the car cannot leave until it is completed. In his case, he began charging at 10.47am and could not leave until 71 minutes later at 11.58am, by which time his vehicle was fully charged with 51.71kWh of electricity.Mr Singh said his case raised concerns about how charge points operate alongside traditional car park restrictions. The issue is likely to become increasingly prevalent as the Government is planning to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. Mr Singh refused to pay and the case has now progressed to a county court claim totalling £268, which remains unresolved.He accepted that signs displayed a one-hour limit, but claimed the charging-point information made clear how this applied to drivers actively charging for longer.Mr Singh said: 'I am not denying there were signs saying there was a 60-minute maximum stay.'My concern is that it was not clear whether that applied to someone actively using the EV charger.'There was nothing on the charger saying that you had to disconnect within an hour, even if the charge was not complete.'The problem is the disconnect between the parking signs and the charging-point information. Dilip Singh paid £44.99 to fully charge his KIA SUV in a KFC car park in Weymouth, Dorset, but received a £100 fine for exceeding the maximum stay for parking Mr Singh said his case raised concerns about how charge points operate alongside traditional car park restrictions In his case, he began charging at 10.47am and could not leave until 71 minutes later at 11.58am, by which time his vehicle was fully charged with 51.71kWh of electricity 'They do not appear to explain how the two are meant to work together.'I am not trying to avoid a legitimate parking restriction.'I think EV users should be clearly told, before they start charging, what they are expected to do if the session takes longer than the parking limit.'Mr Singh had travelled about 150 miles from his home near Gatwick Airport in West Sussex to visit a friend and used an EV charging app to find a charging point. The charger outside KFC Weymouth is part of the InstaVolt network and listed as capable of providing up to 120kW.The car park is operated by Civil Enforcement Ltd (CEL).KFC said it had asked InstaVolt to amend the rules affecting the EV charge points so drivers could complete a charge without fear of receiving a parking charge.But the British Parking Association (BPA), of which CEL is a member, said it was the motorist's responsibility to 'read the signage and understand any conditions that may apply'.Isaac Occhipinti, of the BPA, said: 'It is important that drivers check for any parking restrictions before leaving their vehicle to charge, particularly outside normal operating hours.'Motorists should always take a moment to read the signage and understand any conditions that may apply.'All BPA members are required to comply with our Code of Practice, which sets standards around signage and transparency, ensuring motorists are provided with clear information to help them make informed decisions.'If a driver believes a Parking Charge Notice has been issued incorrectly, they should use the appeals process to explain the circumstances and provide any relevant evidence.'This gives the operator the opportunity to review the case fully and, where appropriate, exercise discretion.'CEL and InstaVolt have been approached for comment.