What makes plug-in more efficient...

i also have a couple favorite trees stopping me.

 

Look at it as eliminating carpenter ant condos.

 

I've sometimes wondered if the cure for this is to replace the "Hybrid Parking" signs with ones that read "Reserved for Hybrids/EVs and Illiterate Jerks." Probably not - but at least everyone would know where they stood.

 

I'm against any special parking priviedges. They waste prime parking spots because they go unused most of the time. Besides that, there are way too many people that should be honored, but aren't. Seems stupid to have spots reserved only for veterans, or for teachers. What about people that donated a kidney? What about soup kitchen volunteers? How about very generous people?

Parking spaces should only be reserved if it serves a practical purpose, such as charging an EV, or giving extra space for wheel chairs to load and unload.

All that said, private businesses have the right to label their spots however they like.

 

One could make arguments one way or the other, though I'd point out there are serious problems with trying to reserve space for categories of people that, unlike drivers with personal mobility problems, don't have legally designated status with associated vehicle identification tags. Though they don't have legal "tagged" status in that sense, it's generally pretty easy for hybrids or EVs to be distinguished, being either unique models or clearly badged by their manufacturers (though have you ever wondered how many Subarus with flashy "PZEV" badges sneak into hybrid spots? Check What is PZEV anyway? - Torque News for a skeptical take on PZEV).

The real problem I have with the whole business, as my little joke might have suggested, is the utter lack of enforcement for any of this. Unless there are going to be real penalties for violating these set-asides, I don't think they should be designated at all. After all, why do we need to provide special parking for aggressive a$$holes? It's just another opportunity to make rule-conformant or courteous people feel like saps.

While we're on this little side issue, I'd add that I'm actually more miffed about commercial establishments that have sections of "compact car only" parking spots. These tend to be slightly smaller, and unless they're situated in some out of the way location, are routinely abused by Lexus LS sedans and GMC Yukons. Beyond the "reserved a$$hole parking" problem noted above, these create real fist-fight opportunities when oversize vehicles block in others or incur into what should be open adjacent spots, and there is probably even some increased low-speed collision risk from sticking too far out of the space. As far as I'm concerned, establishments should be banned by ordinance from creating compact spots unless the authorities punish violators (e.g., exceeding length/width limits), just as they would parking too close to an intersection or in front of a fire hydrant.

Of course, I park my i-MiEV every day in a designated hybrid/EV spot (in a whole row of Toyota/Lexus hybrids and the occasional Ford Energi) in the tenant-only garage of a commercial building where violators are handled by facility security, so it all seems good to me for now. But I'm well aware that's the exception to a depressing norm.

 

We don't even have Whole Foods with plugs around here.

 

i only know of one, not sure if their websites show them or not.

 

If I want to for sure remember something I need to take when going out, I lean it against the door. Similarly with public chargers: just make em all pay, not a token either, a reasonable amount.

 

The websites for the ones around here don't show it. The closest one to me (6-7 miles) doesn't have charging stations.

 

In less than 3 weeks, a giant new grocery store just 0.6 mile from my house will be opening. It already has 4 chargers available.

I'll be taking full advantage of that, stopping on the way to work for a quick top-off of the battery-pack while picking up something fresh for lunch.

That opportunity to plug in for free while shopping is a nice draw for people like me. Others will see there are plug-in vehicles in their own neighborhood.

That sounds like a great way to promote the technology and attract business.

 

why is minnersoter such an ev leader, governor jesse?

 

Going by comments I've seen, the issue is that they are free, or they cost more than the electricity and parking combined, with nothing in between.

 

The harsh winters are a good proving ground. Doubt about how worthy a technology is gets squashed quickly.

That first winter with the Prius included a record-pushing month... December 2000 was the second coldest & second snowiest ever in Minnesota history.

My Prius got through it without any trouble at all,.

 

I disagree, maybe. Not sure what exactly you mean by public chargers. For the free ones around here they are usually hosted by colleges or institutes. For those EVSEs it would cost more to meter them along with the incumbent paperwork and inspections that says their charging is in line with what is being measured. I'm already paying for them by taking classes or attending seminars.

 

Just be careful about the prices. I was charged $2.50 for a glass of club soda.

Bob Wilson

 

Downtown parking fees are licensed robbery around here.

 

We have a very active plugin vehicle organization. It certainly isn't the largest group in the nation, but it is a very dedicated group with some great leadership and networking with other organizations.
Many clean energy organizations and the American Lung Association in Minnesota are also big proponents and help promote plugins.