Disgruntled Real Electric Car Owner

Sounds like he had a case of the PIPs.

 

How long did you occupy the spot?

 

Someone is holier than thou? There isn't a EV charging protocol or pecking order in real life. This individual would have been pissed regardless of what was being charged. Hold your head high, fellow PIP owner.

 

^^^
Part of the issue is that that pure BEV owners might actually need to charge in order to get home or to their destination. PHEVs, esp. w/short EV range don't.

There's been a lot of discussion of EV charging etiquette at MyNissanLeaf.com but much of the protocol far predates the Leaf.

 

I have a one word solution. Hybrid.

 

There are folks who would like to eliminate their burning of oil (and refined products from it) in their vehicles. Pure BEVs do that. Hybrids don't.

There are numerous reasons (e.g. not sending $ to Big Oil, foreign countries and dictators, using only domestic energy sources, using renewable energy, environmental, etc.) One person at MNL puts in his sig "No American soldier has ever served on foreign soil to bring electricity to this country".

You can't run your hybrid from solar panels. You also can't run your hybrid from hydroelectric power or wind power.

My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - Most miles on a Leaf passed 70K miles on his Leaf in ~2 years, all w/o burning any gasoline.

Perhaps articles like Electric Charging Station Etiquette for Plug-In Cars should give you some insight. Some EV drivers use the protocol/etiquette cards or something similar.

(FWIW, I do plan to lease a Leaf. Long story why I don't have one yet.)

 

Now, that's what I would call pipping a person off.

 

i haven't read the protocol, does it say pips shouldn't use public chargers?

 

Some EV drivers think that charging stations should be for their exclusive use. Reality is that PIP owners have just as much right to use public charging as anyone else. If they are worried about lack of chargers they should either live within their range or use their energy to campaign for more infrastructure.

 

thanks!

 

This is why public chargers shouldn't be free. Free is always cheaper than plugging in at home. With free (or subscription-based) public charging the only result to expect is inefficient charging (both economically and in terms of energy). Charging is relatively slow and low cost which means that it should be easy to have a nationwide charging network with ID cards since even if everybody in the country drove an electric car the number of transactions per day would be low and fraud would be low. The only thing getting in the way is people insisting that charging networks have to make a profit.

Once you have public charging at electricity+small fee then opportunity charging will be reduced and you can be more confident that people charging will benefit in a way that either reduces gasoline consumption or provides enabling range.

Then it's a matter of altruism. If I drove a PiP I would avoid taking a charger in a busy spot since my charging would have the least benefit. I'd do it even at free charging spots too, but I wouldn't feel as confident in my decision.

 

I'm not going to get into the politics or political correctness of using public charging stations. They're not a issue with me. I have a Level 2 charger at home and at work. Can't imagine I'd be any where else that I'd require a charge or have the time. I like the idea of the Prius Plug-In, as the best of both worlds. But, extended EV range in the future will be welcomed. I wouldn't consider a all electric vehicle at this time as too confining. I have very little experience running out of gas. I can only imagine, running out of battery power would be worse.

 

Plugin Hybrids PHVs have their own legitimate issue for charging which is to maximize MPG and therefore minimize fuel and emissions. In that regard, all alternative vehicles have the same mission and should accommodate each other. It also seems like in the majority of cases at a charging station at local markets and stores, the EVs are themselves just topping off as they most likely do not even need the charge with their extended range.

 

Do you know if the charging station was a Coulomb model CT2101? This station has dual level 1 and level 2- Power: 120 VAC 16 A and 208/240 VAC 30 A. The level 1 can be accessed by opening the door on the front which conceals the level 1 outlet. If you are not aware of this feature you may miss an oppourtunity to charge thinking the charging station is occupied with the 208/240 VAC and not available to others. You do need your cord/brick to plug into the level 1.

Cacti

 

and a parking space adjacent to the chargeing space.


Here is my etique... I see a vacent spot, I pull in and plug in. End of discussion.

 

You should read it Bisco, it is quite interesting and well written.

 

. The etiquette says, that is appropriate .

 

According to some of the very latest technologies, a range of 1000 miles is now feasIble.