Charging etiquette

[eponey]

I mean we could decide as a society if you leave your EV idling we take a dump on the hood, it's all a matter of perspective.

I was at an empty supercharger and decided to block a few spots to oragami my car for just a little while and oh man did those Tesla drivers find me, not even idle yet.

It's just a new set of etiquette we all have to learn because it is new.

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[Dear_OP]

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.

Reminds me of a time when one of my colleague excitedly told me she bought a RAV4 Prime. She uses the free chargers with gusto. I didn't have the heart to tell her about the "hierarchy of needs". So far she seems to abide to the etiquette and move her RAV4.

 

[YeOldeTraveller]

Reminds me of a time when one of my colleague excitedly told me she bought a RAV4 Prime. She uses the free chargers with gusto. I didn't have the heart to tell her about the "hierarchy of needs". So far she seems to abide to the etiquette and move her RAV4.

I don't mind if a PHEV gets there first and is able to charge up, I just am more annoyed when they don't move when full, or at the time limit.

 

[corradoborg]

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?

The two situations seem similar, but there are major differences.
Restaurants don’t charge an extra fee to make a reservation, so anyone with the wherewithal to do so can call and make one. It’s also widely known that reservations are necessary at certain popular restaurants if you don’t want a long wait.
Charging an extra fee for a reservation at a charging station is literally allowing people to pay more to cut the line. I know… capitalism at work. And there are plenty of places that do that with their services. Disneyland, for example.
But It turns me off. Not only does it reinforce the idea that people with more disposable money deserve special treatment, it also means that someone with a passenger gets better treatment than someone driving alone (because you can’t make the reservation while driving). And it’s nowhere near the norm to make reservations to charge your car, and I wouldn’t want it to be. The norm is to arrive and wait for your turn, based on who arrived before you.
I understand why reservations are a thing. I just don’t like it. And I know that means almost nothing and won’t change anything.

 

[Dear_OP]

I believe Chargepoint has the Waitlist feature. Works like restaurant reservations. Think it holds your slot for about 10 minutes.

Do you get annoyed with Teslas charging at non-Tesla SCs?

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

That's abusing a free charger. I'd tell the local market and encourage them to post signs that say "free charging while shopping only, 2 hour limit" or similar. I would have said something to him. Not nice.

Our local Target started out this way with 4 L2 ChargePoint units. Free forever. They eventually reduced it to 4 to try and get a turnover and found people just unplugged and plugged back in. They then made them available only while open — no changes. Next, they made those 4 hours free once every 24 hours only and added a rather nasty idle fee. Then they started towing. You finally have a chance at a top-off while shopping there now.

The local Safeway lot put in two L2 units and charges for them. They’re always available.

The local Kaiser Permanente Clinic has 2 L2 chargers and officially charges for them. You can’t ever use them though. They’re ICEd 100% of the time the clinic is open. Lousy parking spots at that, so ?.

On the other hand , the closest DCFC to me appears to have about 10 to 12 hours a day utilization the past week or so. That is 51¢ per kWh off peak (9 am to 5pm), 64¢/kWh 5 pm to 11 pm and 61¢ 11 pm to 9 am. I charge at home whenever possible.

 

[AngryMan]

Our local Target started out this way with 4 L2 ChargePoint units. Free forever. They eventually reduced it to 4 to try and get a turnover and found people just unplugged and plugged back in. They then made them available only while open — no changes. Next, they made those 4 hours free once every 24 hours only and added a rather nasty idle fee. Then they started towing. You finally have a chance at a top-off while shopping there now.

College somewhat near me has solar powered Clipper Creeks that are free to use as a thank you to the community . Those got me through my first couple of months . Id pull out my chair , plug in my headphones and charge & chill.
Found out that a guy lives really close by and he drives there after work plugs in his hybrid then walks home thereby effectively ICEing that spot till morning . He considers it his "home" charger . He's even left it there for the entire weekend . Friday through Monday morning . Even the college agreed this guy was a dick and banned him.

 

[4sallypat]

OOOh, now I know why I hate EA - lack of towers and to add insult - lack of working towers.

When I first got the Lightning, I remember the long lines of other brands offering free charging at all the EA stations.

Waiting in lines, stressing over who gets to charge next, unplugging those that attain 100% after leaving the site, having enough room to back in/out of the stall, etc.....

Now, I suppress all my nightmares of EA and use Tesla Superchargers exclusively.

No more charge etiquette or worrying about disconnecting - I actually smile when I charge now:

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