Plug-In Parking Abuse Hall of Shame: Post Pic's Here

It seems like the Carl's Jr/ Walgreens public chargers don't get much use out of them by plug-in vehicles, and on top of it they're installed right in front of the entrance generally, so it makes sense for them to get ICE'd if no one uses them. The $1/hr prevents PHEV's with 3.3 kW chargers from using them in the first place. If they want more use, they need to say 50 cents/hr for 3.3 kW charging, $1/hr for 6.6 kW charging.

 

It goes both ways. If EVs never use it, then ICE cars start parking there out of convenience, which prevents EVs from using it anyways. And it doesn't clearly show if those spots are marked as EV Only while Charging. The average person won't care or notice what that big screen in front of the parking spot is, unless there's a clear sign saying you'll be towed if not charging. EV spots need to be designated with a similar icon as Handicap spots are if you expect people not to park there.

Also, I believe Blink chargers charge per hour, not per minute. According to the Blink website: "As a reminder, fees are rounded up to the next hour with a two-minute grace period at the beginning of each new hour." Blink - Membership FAQs
Realistically, if you're going to eat fast food you won't be spending an hour (and 2 minutes) there, unless you really need a charge to get home.

Here's something I've been curious about, does Chargepoint charger by minutes instead of full hour? Or do all of the networks charge by hour?

 

Chargepoint chargers bill by the minute, based on personal experience.

 

And that’s why some countries don’t like or want to become Americans!

 

Aria Hotel 2nd level parking lot. Four spaces and three taken up by non-PiP. It was sad to see a Tesla parked few spaces away in a no parking area. Maybe he was waiting for a space to open up. I left after three hours and the same three cars were there.

 

From personal experience- I'd say this is very true.
It took a few months to "train" the regulars who work where I charge every morning. Now I hardly ever get ICE'd.
It seems nobody ever used that particular Chargepoint station on a regular basis so it was viewed as just another ICE parking spot.

Agreed- the current signage is lacking in many ways, but inconsiderate/self-important people still park in handicapped spots every day too, so we can't expect too much better just from improved signage...

 

Inconsiderate/self-important people will park in the handicapped/EV spots regardless (unless they get ticketed on a consistent basis), but better signage will alert those who honestly don't know any better that those spots are reserved for EVs.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Carl's Jr EV chargers are from Blink. They've just announced rate changes that continue to make their chargers uneconomical (as in, more expensive, sometimes DOUBLE, the price of gasoline). Let them go out of business.

 

I think it depends on which Carl's Jr. It seems most (around me at least) are Blink, but some are Chargepoint. Yes, they announced changes to their pricing this morning (I received an email from them in the early hours), but it does not appear they are more affordable to use.

There are definitely way too many Carl's Jr's by me. Don't get me wrong, growing up in SoCal I'm pretty used to fast food and actually like Carl's Jr. It's a shame they price their chargers too high for at least PHEVs to use. It would likely sway my decision on which fast food location to eat at if they were free/affordable. I don't think businesses are taking enough advantage of offering a bit of free electricity to get more business. The chargers were a fixed cost (and I'm pretty sure installed when grants were still available), so sure they would lose a bit of money on offering free electricity, but overall I would expect them to gain more in additional customer purchases (especially considering the amount of time people spend at fast food restaurants is not that long).

 

I should have been more clear: Blink should go out of business.

Off Topic: Carl's Jr.? I used to be a SuperStar fan, but in the early 1980s Carl's started using formed potato powder for their fries. Yuck. Since then, I've tried their "$6 burger" (at their flagship store in Anaheim by corporate HQ) and a couple of times at John Wayne airport. If there was In-n-Out, McDonalds, Burger King, and Carl's Jr on the corners of an intersection, Carl's would be a third choice behind In-n-Out and McDs.

And that's all I have to say about that.

 

I guess it depends on what you get. Obviously In-n-out would be #1 (I'm amazed they haven't raised their prices more compared to the rest), but McD's seems to have really raised their prices last time I went there. I still place Carl's Jr #2, and the other two I consider about the same crap (except for the fact that Burger King is now a Commy company by moving to Canada, so they get #4).

I would compare the Big Mac to the Big Carl (I usually get the Big Carl), and find the Big Carl is significantly better than the Big Mac, and a bit cheaper too. Of course, when it comes down to food it's all a matter of opinions, to each their own Oh and for the fries, I generally just get a side salad instead (at least at Carl's, same price to substitute out fries).

 

Not out of town. Still in a traditional Prius at that time. But there's no question in my mind that Blink has the most usurious chargers in the country.

 

You have to use a credit card at the chargers in my area. Is that normal?

 

Hmm the tires on that h2 look new and expensive...it'd be a shame if they spontaneously deflated....all at once

 

they are probably runflats and would most likely take out the chargers in question even if flattened.

Now the van with trailer looks to me to be a local tesla repair man.

 

Since today is the start of drive electric week I was trying to drive electric this week but that didn't happen. I went to the Beverly Hills public library and all four charging spots were occupied. Two of the cars were connected to the charger although it looked like a Fusion Energi had already completed charged. The other two cars, a Leaf and a Volt were not connected. I think the problem is that the Chargers are Chargepoint and they have the a Level 1 charger and a level 2 but the level 1 outlet is hidden behind a door an people don't know it's there so they just park not knowing they are blocking a charger. There are signs all over saying that if you park and are not charging the car will be ticketed and/or towed but parking enforcement don't appear to enforce this. Sorry I didn't get a chance to get any pictures

The ICE came on just before I got to the lot on Beverly Drive but one of the level 2 chargers was available so I got a nice charge while I went about my business.