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Public Charging Etiquette

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Hans Unrat, Jun 9, 2024.

  1. Hans Unrat

    Hans Unrat Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
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    Hi all, for the three years I have owned her, I have charged my ’17 Prime exclusively (with one exception) at home. On a recent trip, I was pleased to find two free unsupervised Rivian chargers at our accommodations (the exception was a hotel which required the staff to turn the charger on remotely).

    On the first day, the charger was idle, I noted the time to a full charge and returned to disconnect the cable to find a Chevrolet Volt parked next to my car with the charging port door open and the plug cover removed. I felt a little uncomfortable about plugging the cable into a stranger’s car, but I did it anyway, and found a note “Thank you for plugging me in!” on my car the next morning.

    On day two, parked my car next to an Audi plug-in Hybrid which was plugged in, however, the charger was idle, which meant that charging was complete. I felt even more uncomfortable disconnecting the plug from a stranger’s car, but, again, I did it anyway.

    Is there a generally accepted code of conduct about taking over a charger once the car using it is fully charged, whether it is a free or pay charger?
     
    #1 Hans Unrat, Jun 9, 2024
    Robert van Nostrand likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    2012 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Base
    who would get to decide? while you can find rules on the internet, someone who doesn't know them might shoot you.'
    in the case of the note, i would be more comfortable.
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 10, 2024
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Base
    take your pick:

    search

    imo, this is one of the reasons that ev's are not ready for prime time
     
    #3 bisco, Jun 10, 2024
  4. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
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    Limited
    Usually the handle is locked on most models now. That took a lot of the its all about me thinking out of the equation. The Audi must have set theirs to unlock after charging.
    Pay charging, don’t know enough about the way it works. On one in town, you have five minutes to unplug after charging, as then the idle fee is 50 cents per minute. I love that nice big fee for the space takers. I think with pay charging you don’t mess with their session?
     
    #4 Mr.Vanvandenburg, Jun 10, 2024
    bisco likes this.
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