Overnight charging at public chargers - Etiquette and fees?

[macgyver60]

I've only charged at hotels/destination chargers a couple of times and never had an issue leaving the car overnight to charge but my brother was in Miami and rented an EV. Apparently the hotels there don't have their own parking so he had to park in a public lot with chargers. The issue is that most public chargers impose a fee if you don't unplug and move the car after charging is complete which could be 2 or 3 am since these are all level 2 chargers. I don't really get it because level 2 chargers really aren't much good for anything except overnight charging in many cases since they are so slow. Obviously no one wants to be getting up in the middle of the night on vacation to deal with the car especially in a strange city. It seems like the idle charge should be turned off during the overnight hours. Has anyone found a way around this issue? Thanks

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[SpaceEVDriver]

In these kinds of questions, I ask what would I want to have someone else do. I would hate to roll in at 2:00 AM in desperate need of a charge only to find all of the stations blocked by fully-charged vehicles.

I've twice parked overnight at a public L2 charging station while traveling. The first time I estimated the amount of time it would take to fully charge, set an alarm, and went out and moved the vehicle when it was time (about 3:00 AM). The second time, I decided I didn't need to be that precise and just moved the vehicle before I went to sleep. In the morning I restarted charging right after getting up.

 

[macgyver60]

In these kinds of questions, I ask what would I want to have someone else do. I would hate to roll in at 2:00 AM in desperate need of a charge only to find all of the stations blocked by fully-charged vehicles.

I've twice parked overnight at a public L2 charging station while traveling. The first time I estimated the amount of time it would take to fully charge, set an alarm, and went out and moved the vehicle when it was time (about 3:00 AM). The second time, I decided I didn't need to be that precise and just moved the vehicle before I went to sleep. In the morning I restarted charging right after getting up.

I hear what you are saying but getting up at 3am on vacation and having to walk a block or two in a strange city in the dark is not a great selling point. If we want more people to drive EVs we need to fix this either by making charger faster or more ubiquitous. Hopefully these are just growing pains

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I hear what you are saying but getting up at 3am on vacation and having to walk a block or two in a strange city in the dark is not a great selling point. If we want more people to drive EVs we need to fix this either by making charger faster or more ubiquitous. Hopefully these are just growing pains

Oh, this is all absolutely just growing pains. It will eventually be an expectation that any hotel that's not a Motel 6 will have charging stations. Preferably we'll eventually have induction charging at each parking space so it doesn't matter at all.

And I wouldn't judge anyone who doesn't get up at 03:00 to move their car. But I'll do it.

 

[CurtW]

Preferably we'll eventually have induction charging at each parking space...

Parking space? Why not just go with in-road induction? Never charge again...

 

[kltye]

I don't really get it because level 2 chargers really aren't much good for anything except overnight charging in many cases since they are so slow. Obviously no one wants to be getting up in the middle of the night on vacation to deal with the car especially in a strange city. It seems like the idle charge should be turned off during the overnight hours. Has anyone found a way around this issue? Thanks

Sigh.
1) L2 chargers can be used to either top off your car while you're doing something (e.g., shopping), or overnight - usually at hotels. It's not so "useless" because they are "so slow".
2) Either move it before going to sleep, or don't charge there overnight, or pony up the fees. Just because you're on "vacation in a strange city" doesn't mean you're better than everyone else.

 

[Deleted member 16048]

I've only charged at hotels/destination chargers a couple of times and never had an issue leaving the car overnight to charge but my brother was in Miami and rented an EV. Apparently the hotels there don't have their own parking so he had to park in a public lot with chargers. The issue is that most public chargers impose a fee if you don't unplug and move the car after charging is complete which could be 2 or 3 am since these are all level 2 chargers. I don't really get it because level 2 chargers really aren't much good for anything except overnight charging in many cases since they are so slow. Obviously no one wants to be getting up in the middle of the night on vacation to deal with the car especially in a strange city. It seems like the idle charge should be turned off during the overnight hours. Has anyone found a way around this issue? Thanks

This is where I don't agree with Idle fees overnight if the station is designed for overnight use like hotels.

The station should be configured to have idle fees enforced during business hours to prevent abuse but overnight they should be disabled. The point of L2s are to let the car sit and charge for long periods so let them when walk up demand is low. (Overnight.)

This is the issue I have with our underground apartment station. They have a 8 hour limit imposed then a parking fee goes into effect. (Note the limit also turns charging off no matter the SOC.) I've been fighting for them to change to an idle fee method instead during business hours. This will let the chargers actually get used overnight. Otherwise they will sit without making money or providing value.

 

[nvabill]

Merry Christmas you charger hoggers!

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