Charging etiquette

[Mach-Lee]

My view is that the car has stopped charging, it can be unplugged. And unplugging the cable is not touching somebody’s car. If you don’t like somebody unplugging you, then you better be back before your charge stops.

Most EVs unlock the plug when they have stopped charging for this reason. Just don’t force it if the latch won’t release and you’ll be fine. It’s pretty hard to break somebody’s charge port, they’re pretty robust.

If there’s a large line I’m unplugging you at 90% unless you’re sitting in the car.

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[markw314]

I've seen chargers that are free only for a period of time, 4 hours in this case, then charge quite a bit beyond the free mark. It works well to encourage good etiquette. I've used these chargers and like clockwork, everyone moves when their 4 hours are up.

My office does this. Employees can charge up to 4 hours. Then it goes to $10/hour starting at the first minute over 4 hours or fully charged.

 

[RickMachE]

You have to be careful with old people. A lot of them simply don’t understand the concept of sharing public resources. It’s totally foreign to them. You’ll just confuse the poor person and they’ll get agitated.

Life's tough. I say that with a smile. I had a long discussion 2 years ago with an "old guy" who was occupying an EA charger, at a location that had broken chargers, with a line of cars waiting (and chargers that ran slow), about how he was retired and he had the time to sit there and the fact that people on a trip were waiting to charge.... He didn't care. He understood, he didn't care.
In the example given, this is what's referred to as a cheap F. There are a lot of them around, including rich ones. I helped a woman and her Mom get her high end something or other charging (I don't remember now what it was) a year or so ago, she couldn't turn on her hair dryer. Car was one day old. "My husband is getting a charger for us". I had the same discussion with her that I did with the old guy, and she understood totally and said "the only reason I'm here is until I get a home charger, I totally get it".

Some people don't give a rat's ass about their impact on others.

Funny story - a Chevy pickup pulled into a location where EA is next to Tesla chargers. I was charging at EA, he pulled into Tesla. I walked over and as he got out said "it won't work" or similar. He said "that's what you think" or some other comment, so I walked away. As he tried to charge he realized it wasn't working and came over and said "I have to apologize, I didn't realize you were trying to tell me that this is a non-compatible Tesla location". I smiled and said "do you think I'd be using EA if I could charge over there"? We had a nice conversation about his charging speed after he got it going.

It would be great if one could, upon arriving at a fully occupied charging location, claim their place in line electronically. It could be geofenced so you can't claim your place in line until you're actually on site, and then the first available charger would only work for that vehicle/person/account. Have the system give the next person in line 5 minutes to get into the charging space and start charging, or else it moves on to the next in line. In this case, people wouldn't have to form literal queues or staging areas. They could just park wherever there is an open (non-charging) space and wait until they are notified it's their turn.

But this would require everyone to use the same app, or at least for all the major apps, including Ford's onboard Public Charging app, to work with each other. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

EVgo allows reservations at a limited number of locations, I believe for a fee.

 

[corradoborg]

EVgo allows reservations at a limited number of locations, I believe for a fee.

Yes, I've seen that in their offerings. Not very cool, IMHO, for someone to reserve a stall that they're not currently at, and cut in front of those who arrive just before them, but without a reservation.

This is why I suggested a geofence not allowing someone to reserve a place in line until they've arrived. Then it would still serve people in arrival order.

 

[Dear_OP]

McDonald's drive through format. So easy. Make it one way only.

It's gonna happen. That or we start hiring charge station attendants like those folks that pump combustible liquid into a tank a few inches away from passengers.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The only negative charging etiquette i deal with is my wife never remembers to plug the car in when she gets home.

That's your job.

 

[RickMachE]

Yes, I've seen that in their offerings. Not very cool, IMHO, for someone to reserve a stall that they're not currently at, and cut in front of those who arrive just before them, but without a reservation.

This is why I suggested a geofence not allowing someone to reserve a place in line until they've arrived. Then it would still serve people in arrival order.

Why? It's like a reservation at a restaurant. I made one, you didn't. I arrive 30 minutes after you, and get seated before you. If I don't show up, they charge me (or should). And I might pay for that time slot to be held. The fact that I'm better informed than you means I get preferential treatment. Answer - motivates you to get more educated and take advantage of that, right?

 

[Sikkun]

Just need more chargers along interstates and it’ll solve most lines. Majority of people do not need to be DC charging most the time, should be much easier to meet demand than the number of gas stations required.

 

[Snakebitten]

I could be wrong, of course, but I am under the impression that as I aged, my fuse got longer. And maybe I'm just imagining it, but for the most part it seems to be quite normal amongst my peers.

So while it's probably true that us old folks can get confused at times, I'm not sure we are nearly as likely to draw swords, if you know what I mean. ?

 

[4wheeldog]

At the local market they have a couple of free level 2 chargers for customers. I charge at home with Solar so I don't bother but I have tried it just so I understand it. I usually see the same couple of cars parked at these chargers each time I go. One day while walking from the parking lot I noticed an older gentlemen struggling to get his Kia plugged in. I went over and helped him out. He said his daughter usually does it from him but she's not here yet. I told him it's nice that his daughter helps him shop. He said she doesn't help him shop, she plugs his car in and takes him home while it charges all day.

Wow!

 

[load97]

Every year, same thread…

 

[AngryMan]

The only negative charging etiquette i deal with is my wife never remembers to plug the car in when she gets home.

Leave the toilet seat UP. That'll show her !

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

We have a few "free 4hrs" charging stations at our work. There is a Ford Lightning parked at the stall all day despite many complaints and notes. A colleague of mine suggests that the owner is playing tricks by creating multiple accounts to restart the 4hr free session.

We have a similar issue where I work. The ones that are the most annoying are the PHEVs that are there all day, and were likely fully charged before lunch.

 

[eponey]

Every year, same thread…

I think this is an ok thread to have periodically because social norms like this can change over time.

 

[load97]

A thread that pops up every 6 months to a year. No..

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