Shanghai EV Owner Charged ¥10 Parking Fee While Charging; Park Cites "Rules," Sparking Outrage

On February 25, an electric vehicle (EV) owner charging at a public charging station in Changxing Island Suburban Park, Chongming District, Shanghai, was charged an additional 10 yuan parking fee after a 20-minute session—on top of 6.3 yuan for electricity and 7.9 yuan for service fees. The driver stated that there was no clear on-site notice indicating that parking fees had to be paid separately, and no invoice could be issued, raising concerns about the lack of transparency in the charges. According to the owner, free parking for one to two hours is typically offered when charging in urban areas or other scenic spots, whereas here the fees were bundled together without prior clarification. After lodging a complaint with the park management, the only response received was, “This is the rule,” with no avenue provided for further discussion. The park explained that all vehicles parked in designated spots must pay the parking fee, while electricity and service fees are collected by State Grid Corporation. The incident has sparked public concern over the transparency of charging station fees.