EV charging stations in winter: plowing around chargers without breaking them

Why are charging stalls different?

A parking stall only has to be empty. A charging stall has to let a driver stand beside the car, reach the charger and run a cable to an inlet that may be on any side of the vehicle. The natural place to push snow, the head of the stall, is where the charger stands. Pedestals, bollards, wheel stops and cable arms all sit at blade height, and a struck charger can mean a replacement unit, an electrician, sometimes utility work, and downtime until the parts arrive.

What should be cleared, and in what order?

1. The accessible charging space, its access aisle and the clear space in front of the charger.
2. Every charging stall to the face of the pedestal: plow out with the blade, then hand-clear the last few feet around the unit.
3. The approach lane and the walking route from the stalls to the building.
4. The units themselves: brush snow off screens, holsters and connectors with a soft brush.

Timing depends on use. Public fast chargers that serve travelers at all hours need clearing early in the storm; workplace chargers need clearing before staff arrive.

What should be staked before the first storm?

Mark everything before the ground freezes:

• Pedestals and wall units, including the side the cable hangs on.
• Bollards, which protect the charger but are short, solid and easy to bury.
• Wheel stops, which are flat, low and easy for a blade to catch.
• Raised curbs and islands the chargers stand on.
• Signs at the head of each stall, which also need to stay readable so drivers can find the chargers.

Put every unit on the site map with a no-stack zone around it. See where to put snow in a parking lot.

How do you handle cables and connectors in snow and ice?

A cable left on the pavement gets plowed, driven over and frozen into slush. Hang every cable on its holster or cable management arm after each use and check it on each plowing visit. The Access Board notes that cables cannot block accessible routes and that cable management systems must be kept in good condition.

New York's Office of General Services, in its cold-weather charging guidance, advises:

• Clearing units with a soft-bristled brush, and avoiding scrapers, hot water or open flames, which can damage seals and electronics.
• Checking the connector for packed snow if the plug will not latch.
• Using only EV-safe, non-corrosive de-icing sprays on connectors, and only if needed.
• Avoiding sharp bends in cables in freezing weather.

Before any ice melt goes near a pedestal or connector, ask the charger maker what is allowed, and keep spreaders from throwing rock salt onto the units.

What about accessible EV charging spaces?

In 2023 the U.S. Access Board published design recommendations for accessible EV charging. The Board says its recommendations are technical assistance and not legally binding. They call for an accessible charging space at least 11 feet wide and 20 feet long with a 5-foot access aisle along it, and they state plainly that plowed snow should not obstruct access to and use of the charger. The Board published a proposed rule in September 2024; as of this writing, no final rule has been issued.

Where a charging site includes accessible parking, curb ramps or routes, treat them like any accessible feature: clear them first and never stack snow in them. See ADA and snow.

What does federal uptime have to do with snow?

Publicly accessible chargers built with federal highway funds, including the NEVI program, must keep each charging port above 97% average annual uptime, calculated monthly over the previous 12 months (23 CFR 680.116). The rule excuses outages caused by utility interruptions, vehicle faults, scheduled maintenance, vandalism and natural disasters. A plow strike is not on that list. Federally funded stations on designated Alternative Fuel Corridors must also be available 24 hours a day, year-round (23 CFR 680.106), so they need clearing at night, not just before business hours.

If your chargers were federally funded, ask the operator what the snow plan has to cover.

Questions for the contract

1. Are charging stalls, aisles and units marked as no-stack zones on the site map?
2. Who hand-clears around pedestals, and who brushes the units?
3. Which de-icers may be used near the chargers, according to the maker?
4. How is damage to a charger reported, and to whom: the owner, the charging network or both?
5. Are visits recorded with times, so any damage can be traced? See the commercial contract checklist.