Charging Station Etiquette - Sharing :)

At my workplace, several charger stations are converted to the new adapters (J). The parking enforcement put up a big sign - "EV Only" to get ride of non-EV squatters, and there are already couple Leafs and Volts using the parking space. I can imaging that we are going to run out of EV space.

To preempt the problem, I made a sign to be placed in my rear windshield wiper to have other eV employees call/email me if they need the space. Maybe this way others will follow the good etiquette of sharing ev space.

Worth a try...

 

I just can't picture this working in a place like NYC and suburbs. Just the other day, I was standing, waiting outside a ShopRite near the entrance for my son who was inside. There are no EV accommodations there, and the lot is always very crowded, and no fewer than three people got into shouting matches about getting out of the way. And this was just to get out of the parking lot or maneuver into a space. Can you imagine a few desperate people trying to charge up so they can go home? No way.

This is one time I will admit that living in NYC may have some disadvantages.

 

Give it 6 months, someone will sell a spider box or splitter lol. unplug the charging station plug, plug it into the splitter, plug the 2 splitters into the 2 cars... I'm sure those charging stations are on like 30amp+ breakers.

the light goes out when it's done charging, I would fully expect a prius owner to park next to mine, see my light is out, unplug mine, close the door and plug his in.

 

great idea, but the J-1772 male & female connectors are still very pricey, so this won't happen until the J-1772 connectors are under $15-$20, Leaf owners have been thinking this for 2 years or more at this point, it hasn't happened.

 

EVSEs, cables, etc. are still a bit pricey, even on ebay.

 

The problem with this is the law is written in a way that makes it only legal for a EV/PHEV to occupy an "EV only" spot if it is actually charging. If the parking patrol comes by, sees you're parking in an EV space but not charging, you're subject to being towed.

http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0451-0500/ab_475_bill_20110621_amended_sen_v95.pdf

 

Read the law carefully. It does not say that the car has to be actually charging -- it says it must be connected for charging purposes, and the act was amended in committee to delete the word currently. I believe that if connect the car and start charging when I first park the car I complied with the intent of the law. If the charger stops charging -- the car is still connected for charging purposes, and my car is still in compliance. I intend to take a photo whenever I park showing that when I parked that I plugged the car into the charger. I don't intend to stay all day in a space when I only need two hours to charge my car.

 

I didnt mean to imply the charger needs to actually be operational. I was responding to Totmacher's post saying that he expects other EV/PHV/PiP owners to unplug him if they needed to use the charger. In which case, it would make his car towable because it is in the parking space and not connected.

Taking a picture would be an idea. However, that wouldnt serve to prevent your car from being towed. It would only serve as proof you were connected at one time and someone disconnected it.

You would still need to get a ride to the tow yard, talk to the tow guy, which will tell you that your issue is not with the tow yard, your issue is with the parking lot owners or parking authority who called them to tow your car. You'll still need to pay the tow and impound charge, but you may be able to get a refund from the people who had your car towed in the first place.

This may limit your exposure to such risks. But it only takes a few seconds to have your car towed.

 

And if the towing company wrecks your transaxle due to improper towing (which means not using a flatbed for the Prius), they just say "tough, we did a legal tow, your problem." At least around here, there are sweet deals between the towing companies that get exclusive towing franchises, and the cities. Big $$ for the cities and the towing companies.

 

Read the law more carefully. It says there must be a sign posted staying that non-compliant vehicles will be towed. If the towing sign is not posted, then cars cannot be towed.

 

I wonder if it would be necessary to lock the charging cable of the charger to the wheel, like others have posted for locking the portable charger to the car. This would discourage people from unplugging the car, and the subsequent towing of the car.

 

I love this thread's intent!: Ways that EV car owners can help each other in getting along when they need to share charging stations.

(A much better feel than the usual Volt vs Leaf vs PiP arguments that are far more prevalent here..)

I've never seen another EV capable vehicle at a charge station. When I have plugged in, other people ('ICE car people') are always asking questions as if they've never seen anyone else plug in before. So, I guess there just isn't much competition yet...

 

Yup - I agree. No more talk of vandalizing, tire slashing or air letting, or other bad juju nonsense. We are Prius owners! We are, by nature, above this! And if someone else is behaving badly at the charger, karma will eventually get them.:grouphug:

 

A couple weeks ago I was shopping at Walmart / Kohls & home depot. I pulled into single L2 spot and hooked up. Just as I did, I saw a disapointed Volt driver driving by. After being ICED by so many of them ... I must admit feeling a bit of evil glee.

:madgrin:

.

 

Yeah that law seams to be a catch 22 to charging respectably.

I'm a bit confused on the ICED term.... I'm seeing it referenced 2 ways.

1) ICED - (a non plug in (Internal Combustion Engine) car hogging the spot...
2) ICED - a 4+ hour charge car hogging it for a prolonged period of time...

To me the first sounds more proper.

 

You have to be careful, the sign must be posted but it need not necessarily be posted at the charging station, it can be posted at the entrance to the parking lot. If the sign is there an you don't notice it when entering the lot you could be in for a big suprise.

 

California is ahead of New York in electric vehicles. I've never seen a Volt, Leaf or workplace charging station.

 

At where I work we have 4 EV spots, and at least are taken up by non EV vehicles. So I've started placing the following signs on their windshields as our workplace did absolutely nothing after emailing them to stencile the spots.

youparklikeanasshole.com

 

The parking garage in the building next to where I work has 4 ChargePoint stations, as long as you park their, you can use them... My building doesn't have specific EV charging spots, but there are 8 different parking places between the 2 basement underground garage levels that have 120V outlets reachable, and building management has given the ok to use them, as long as your EV charging cord isn't a tripping hazard. The garage at 1 Post Office square also has 2 dedicated EV spaces with dedicated 120V and 240V outlets, but no J-1772 EVSE's yet. I can't believe Boston is so far ahead of NY, in something (sure isn't baseball, this year)