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Free Charging Station Hogs

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Witness, Jul 20, 2017.

  1. Witness

    Witness Active Member

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    Now that we've got free charging at my work's parking lot, it's getting crowded. Turns out a parking permit isn't required, so there's quite a few non-employees charging there. There is a 4hr parking limit for charging which is sometimes honored. My beef are the Leafs and VWs that have the charge port locked.

    Oh, the car has finished charging a while ago, but they've locked it so no one else can use it until they come back. One particular VW (because it's hard to distinguish those ugly Leafs) plugged in for over 6hrs and had been finished charging after 3hrs.

    I've already left the guy a note to either move his car as soon as it's done charging or turn off the lock function when it has completed. Have any suggestions for escalation?

    On a side note, the VW isn't the only one that just sits there. There are many others. Free charging is awesome and I do my part to move my car within 15min of the notification, but these other guys... I disconnect and reconnect just so it'll send a disconnect notification to remind them to move so others can use it.
     
    #1 Witness, Jul 20, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i suggest a get together with the people who implemented the program to create some ground rules and enforcement procedures.
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 20, 2017
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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    One option is to discuss with your boss (or whoever can help you escalate up the chain) that the charging stations are for employees only or reduce the parking time down to 2 or 3 hours. Alternatively, charge for the parking spot (But still free charging) and employees can get their reimbursement through HR/Compensation or through petty cash.
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, Jul 20, 2017
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  4. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

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    Are they Chargepoint chargers? Is this a shared parking lot or is it a private parking lot for your workplace?

    My work has Chargepoints. We're required to swipe our Chargepoint card, but only authorized CP cards work on our "private" chargers. We have an "admin" that allows specific CP cards/accounts to utilize the chargers. So we dont get random people coming into our parking to use the chargers.

    Every once and a while (maybe once a quarter), the admin will send out an email to everyone to remind us to move when our cars are done charging. It'll get better for a few weeks and then the regular offenders are back to their routine. But as we get more and more plug-capable cars, I think we'll end up implementing some of the "features" that Chargepoint has such as allowing free charging for 2 hours, then charging something ridiculous like $10 an hour after. This would pretty much just give everyone 2 hours of juice so everyone can get a "turn".
     
    #4 Tracksyde, Jul 20, 2017
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  5. Witness

    Witness Active Member

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    Yep - Chargepoint. It's a private lot without any gates and no permit is required in those spaces. I suppose with the influx of new EVs, there's a bunch of folks that haven't figured out the etiquette yet perhaps. Whenever I see someone parked next to me waiting for a charge, I'll just plug them in. At least that guy might take the hint that we should all help each other.

    So an update, I was rolling up in the morning and they were all occupied - I just went to park. Came back out and noticed an open spot, so I roll around with my car and noticed the parking enforcement folks there ticketing a few people. They're chalking tires, so someone must've complained. Was fairly vacant this afternoon, which was nice.
     
    #5 Witness, Jul 21, 2017
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  6. se-riously

    se-riously Active Member

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    If it's a private lot:

    1) Have a sign at all entrances requiring a permit to park. This way, all non-employee vehicles within the lot can be cited / towed and you don't need to have a sign at the charging spaces and you don't have to chalk tires.
    2) Authorizing specific Chargepoint accounts requires administrative work. Thus, it's easier for your employer to implement a fee for everyone after the first 2 hours.
     
    #6 se-riously, Jul 25, 2017
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't doubt it.
    And of course you could talk to your employer and try to get some enforcement of policy.
    BUT...
    My guess is that not much can be done.

    It's just a poor side of human nature.
    I have to use coin operated laundry at my apartment.
    How often do I go in, with a limited number of machines available and people have put their laundry in, let it run, and now it just sits?

    It's too bad, but a lot of times peoples courtesy and responsibility ends with them simply getting what THEY want.

    The only real hope, is that someday we reach a point where charging stations are so plentiful that "hogs" aren't an issue.
     
    #7 The Electric Me, Jul 25, 2017
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