Tensions concerning charging stations.

The dangerous thing is that someone else can dump all anger and frustration that he/she had at charging stations in the past on you.

 

It literally costs me less than $1.50 at home for the 40 some odd miles worth of battery range.

I guess it comes down to the principle of the thing.

 

Interesting discussion here. Didn’t expect this to be as impassioned.

Hopefully everyone is respectful and kind when it comes to public charging stations. The last 1-2 threads on this showed how heated this issue can get. So its always good starting with a presumption of good intentions, trying to avoid conflict/escalation, assuming the benefit of the doubt, etc.

It looks like a lot of members here view the PiP as a super hybrid. It is, and that’s great. When it comes down to it, we don’t ever need to plug-in, nor do Volt and other non pure EV owners. But that is not reason to overlook real charging station abuse by pure EV vehicles. That was the major point I made. Of course the same holds for us.

I speak only for the occasions I described, and stand by my argument that this is not something that should be condoned. There is only one functioning 220V charger there, only two when both are working, and the City has absolutely no plans to add more. Meanwhile, PiPs, Volts, Leafs, etc on the street grow by the day.

css28, you are very kind. I mean that without sarcasm. But sharing is a two way street and in this case there are at least 3 vehicles I mentioned who use the spot as a personal charging station at the detriment of others, including, it seems, the Leaf owner at the beginning of this thread. There is very little time for other patrons to use these spots, and that is absolutely not what the city wanted when giving away free electricity.

I would give a charging spot away in a heartbeat to pure-EV driver who needed it in a pinch. But you are right, it not worth arguing over at the charging spot.

 

This thread illustrates that even the "enlightened" are still primates, with all of the nasty little primate behaviors waiting to be unleashed. I drive a Leaf, but still have to fight "road rage" at all the other monkeys with cars out there...it's pretty sad.

 

The only ChargePoint station we have familiarity with is the one at Bishop Ranch (San Ramon). It charges my wife's account .15¢ per minute (usually .42¢ for a full charge). I had assumed (no knowledge, just assumed) that the installation and operation of these stations were subsidized by the federal and state governments. From what is being said here, maybe the business park (like the Galleria shopping center would need to if it 'charged' for use??) is subsidizing the costs?

There may be different models of subsidy for private commercial business parks, city, retail business parks and other models.

 

Shouldn't they also move out of those spots when they're charged up? Or maybe they do and you didn't say so. I've seen Leaf's plugged into chargers that display they're fully charged. And the owners don't seem to care about moving them to allow others to get a charge. Just seems so inconsiderate.

 

My wife gets a text from Charge when her charge is complete, so she can go move it. But I bet these public free stations do not have that capability. Not that each car owner could not (and should to be considerate) set themselves an alarm on their phone to go remove it after 'X.x' hours, to make roof for 'their fellow greenies'. I too believe in doing what I can for others. It is hard (for me) to understand someone being selfish with a 'free service' supplied by any organization. Sometimes circumstances happen and sometimes some people just have less concern for anyone but themselves.

 

Roseville's charging stations are on the ChargePoint network. If you have a ChargePoint account (required, even though free) you can set your notifications.

 

Knowing the limits of one's vehicle is the responsibility of the owner. If I set out on a trip knowing I will not have enough fuel and no guarantee of usable gas stations in route, I would be a dumb a--. If someone leaves the house with a EV knowing they do not have the range and no guarantee of usable charging stations in route, they are a dumb a--.

Fighting over free electricity? Free is free whether it be a Volt, PIP, Insight, I-MiEV, Tesla, Leaf or an electric skate board...if the plug fits. First come first serve. If the laws prevent some of these vehicles from using the free electricity and parking spot, then it is the job of Law Enforcement to handle it, not self-entitled owners. For EVs to become truly practical, local and national infrastructure needs to exist. Providing a free charger to an isolated few is a definitive formula for trouble. Can you imagine what a free gas pump (or two) in the city would do to society as we know it.

The solution is to stop coddling those that think they are special and just charge everyone who uses it, the electricity, parking fees, tolls or whatever everyone else has to pay. Then we will see who is cheap.

Electric is supposed to be cheaper anyways...so I hear.

 

Over in the Leaf forum we've discussed making placards that say 'You can take the EVSE/charge cord after X hours' or with a changeable clock hand on the front. The 2013 leafs have the option to lock the EVSE in place (and most J-1772 plugs let you use a padlock as well) but most of us don't use the lock. It makes more sense to leave a note telling people they can unplug your car than to try to physically get back there, especially if you are at work.

To the OP: since your Prius has no EVSE lock, you should give the Leafer some credit for not just taking the EVSE after you left.

 

And this is why public charging, free or otherwise will never work.

 

I'm not saying it is true in this case...but you never know if the BEV that is charging is just 10 miles from home and they are just topping off their battery to full, either.

Mike

 

Certainly if you are paying anywhere close to the national average of 10-12 cents per kwh, then electricity is cheaper than gas. But when you pay $1 or $2 per hour at a fee-based public charger you might be paying 5x to 10x per kwh. Gas is cheaper in most cases at these prices.

Mike

 

What's REALLY bad is when cheap & inconsiderate join together. There is one particular gal in our county who not only refuses to charge at home ... she brings her bike with her to the EVSE so she can bike home - then uses the charge stall as her own personal parking garage ... staying in the stall for HOURS after charge is completed. I'm tempted to give her a buck or two when I see her, just so I don't have to watch in disgust.
.

 

Listed as a home station. No other home stations in my area have stipulations about paying for the electricity.. but after that volt driver, I've decided to remove my station from the database. If it was a leaf driver, I would help him/her out.

 

At work we have 3 charging stations. I teach a class in the afternoons on Wednesday, so I came in around 12 to do some work before class. All 3 stations were taken. 1 by a volt, 1 by a Toyota Rav4 EV (not plugged in) and 1 was ICEd by someone who was in a hurry.

I was LIVID by the ICEd station and complained to the parking security. He ticketed the ICE vehicle for taking the space.

I ended up parking in 30 minute parking which is on the other side of barrier poles from the EV stations. I used my extension cord and was able to get a charge that day. I told security that if they want to write me a ticket, they could put it on the ICE vehicles windshield as well. ( I didn't get a ticket for parking 5 hours in a 30 minute zone -- lol )

I also sent an email to the woman who is charge of environmental initiatives at the school complaining that we have more EVs and PHEVs than we did 2 years ago when I bought my car. I also said we need more charging stations and updated ones at that. We currently have paddle charging stations, but the facilities guys added 120v plugs to the sides of the paddle stations so that we could use our trickle chargers.

 

The BEV will get the plug if we arrive at the same time. I'm not going to make assumptions on whether they need it or not to get home. They can put much more use out of it than my 11 EV miles. It means very little to me but could be a great deal to them.

It's like letting someone cut in at the last minute at the freeway exit. I can either think they are a jerk who refused to wait in line or be courteous and let in a fellow lost traveler whom didn't know the area well.

Similarly, there are only 3 parking spots at work near enough to an outlet. They are of course the most coveted spots closest to the main doors. I don't feel I have the right to one of those spots just because I happen to own a PHEV. Sounds very elitist to me. I take the spot when it is available and I never ask anyone to move. This is one of the reasons why I bought a PiP and not a Leaf. 11 EV miles isn't worth arguing about.


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