Friends we need some MachE Hotel Charging Etiquette

[melissphillips]

So I've been at a hotel here in Richmond this week during a lacrosse tournament and the hotel has one working charger in the parking lot but 2 of the 3 nights so far a MachE (different ones) has been plugged in and left it plugged in all night despite being fully charged by 11 PM ish. Both nights I've parked beside the other cars in hopes they will see on their app that their car is fully charged and at the very least unplug it if not move it. And no, I was not so rude as to attempt to see if I could unplug their car. As I understand it, that would see off the alarm and I don't want to do that.

I can tell the car is no longer charging on the charger itself but both cars were left plugged in all night - yes I checked again at 6 when I got up just in case I could charge a bit before leaving.

Can we just agree to unplug or move our cars when we're done at a hotel without other chargers open? Let's be kind and take care of each other.

Editing this to add the note that MANY times on these summer tournament road trips I've either stayed up to move my car when it's charged or set an alarm to move it. It's not that big of a deal to get up and move the car. Especially when that might mean that someone else coming in late might not have to go hunt down a random pubic charger in a Walmart parking lot at 2 am. It's about thinking about the next person - more than about yourself.

So since sleep seems to be everyone's concern, what if the charger wasn't free, and in fact charged you all night even after you were full or added surge pricing like some do - would you get up and move it then? See suddenly when it's your wallet you're thinking of instead of another traveler it's not a big deal to set an alarm and move it.

Sponsored

 

[DevSecOps]

Yeah one of my biggest pet-peeves and most people here will say that it's okay to leave it charging all night without going and unplugging, which I can agree with if you need the charge.

Most of the time however people only use those spots because it's available or the closest. Which just makes me want to smash a twinkie all over their windshield.

There's quite a few threads about this subject on the forum here. Welcome to the world of dealing with the selfish, entitled, impolite, EV crowd.

 

[Regularmache]

Yeah one of my biggest pet-peeves and most people here will say that it's okay to leave it charging all night without going and unplugging, which I can agree with if you need the charge.

Most of the time however people only use those spots because it's available or the closest. Which just makes me want to smash a twinkie all over their windshield.

Welcome to the world of dealing with the selfish, entitled, impolite, EV crowd.

I think we used to call "Entitled, Selfish."

 

[DevSecOps]

I think we used to call "Entitled, Selfish."

Yeah I think of entitled as those who think they deserve something because they are driving an EV and selfish as those who just think of themselves and no one else.

 

[Mach1E]

Maybe they were asleep at 11pm?

I could understand people moving their car if it was charged up earlier. But 11pm is past bedtime for a lot of people. Especially if they’re traveling.

Not many people are gonna set an alarm for an hour after they went to bed to go move their car on the off chance that another EV driver needs a charge in the middle of the night.

Scratch that. NO ONE is gonna wake themselves up to do that. I would feel awkward even asking a friend to do that, let alone a stranger.

 

[RickMachE]

No, the alarm won't go off. Leave a note or unplug when full.

 

[Mach1E]

No, the alarm won't go off. Leave a note or unplug when full.

Highly don’t recommend.

Not sure why people would risk confrontation with strangers over a few dollars of free electricity.

Unless the hotel has a policy or rules or signage etc, you’re just making up your own set of rules and could make people mad.

Only fixes I see are the hotel creating rules and signage or them not making it free and charging people for idle time.

 

[DevSecOps]

Highly don’t recommend.

Not sure why people would risk confrontation with strangers over a few dollars of free electricity.

Unless the hotel has a policy or rules or signage etc, you’re just making up your own set of rules and could make people mad.

Only fixes I see are the hotel creating rules and signage or them not making it free and charging people for idle time.

And it's quite the conundrum because hotels don't want to tow the cars of their patrons. That doesn't encourage repeat visits.

I would agree with not touching the charger. I wouldn't ever unplug anyone else's car. Also, some EV's lock onto level 2s as well. My previous one did.

 

[ARK]

Highly don’t recommend.

Not sure why people would risk confrontation with strangers over a few dollars of free electricity.

Unless the hotel has a policy or rules or signage etc, you’re just making up your own set of rules and could make people mad.

Only fixes I see are the hotel creating rules and signage or them not making it free and charging people for idle time.

If the vehicle is clearly not charging, I don’t think they would even get the unplug notification and would only notice if they opened their FordPass App if we are taking about unplugging a Mach-E?

Agree that some people are crazy, but I don’t see the vast majority getting upset if (1) they clearly are done charging, (2) it is clear that you did not take a charge off of their credit card, and (3) you don’t touch the charge port door with dirty hands (like after having had a burger without washing your hands).

If any of the above three are in doubt, I agree definitely don’t do it.

 

[Matt Bagne]

Maybe they were asleep at 11pm?

I could understand people moving their car if it was charged up earlier. But 11pm is past bedtime for a lot of people. Especially if they’re traveling.

Not many people are gonna set an alarm for an hour after they went to bed to go move their car on the off chance that another EV driver needs a charge in the middle of the night.

Scratch that. NO ONE is gonna wake themselves up to do that. I would feel awkward even asking a friend to do that, let alone a stranger.

I think you are basically right in the context of human nature, but in this case we should acknowledge that when we decide to own an EV it comes with certain responsibilities, such as basic etiquette at public charging stations. When we said "Yes" to EV ownership we became part of a shared community at shopping centers, hotels, and entertainment venues that provide very limited resources for ALL of us to use. Anyone unwilling to participate in the community as a responsible user of shared resources is very selfish. So yes . . . plug in and then set your alarm for 10 or 11 PM and GO UNPLUG FOR THE NEXT PERSON who needs a charge for the next day, just like you!!

 

[Mach1E]

If the vehicle is clearly not charging, I don’t think they would even get the unplug notification and would only notice if they opened their FordPass App if we are taking about unplugging a Mach-E?

Agree that some people are crazy, but I don’t see the vast majority getting upset if (1) they clearly are done charging, (2) it is clear that you did not take a charge off of their credit card, and (3) you don’t touch the charge port door with dirty hands (like after having had a burger without washing your hands).

If any of the above three are in doubt, I agree definitely don’t do it.

Maybe? But based on the multiple threads here, quite a few would be pissed if you unplugged their car.

I’m honestly not even sure how you’d know they’re fully charged or not. I don’t know how the indicators work on all the other cars.

I think signage would be an easy first step for the hotel. They have signs for everything!

But expecting people to not be selfish? Lol good luck!

Ever seen the lounge chairs near the pool? By early morning they’re covered in towels and stuff from people “saving their spots” and the chairs rarely have people in them and are empty probably 90% of the day.

 

[Mach1E]

I think you are basically right in the context of human nature, but in this case we should acknowledge that when we decide to own an EV it comes with certain responsibilities, such as basic etiquette at public charging stations. When we said "Yes" to EV ownership we became part of a shared community at shopping centers, hotels, and entertainment venues that provide very limited resources for ALL of us to use. Anyone unwilling to participate in the community as a responsible user of shared resources is very selfish. So yes . . . plug in and then set your alarm for 10 or 11 PM and GO UNPLUG FOR THE NEXT PERSON who needs a charge for the next day, just like you!!

I like your optimism and hope for mankind and some sort of shared responsibility…….. however I kinda call BS on this one.

Even though it’s your idea, I’m betting you might do this to be kind once or twice in your lifetime.

Then when you go out in the morning and realize no one came and charged at midnight and you woke yourself up for nothing…… next time you don’t set your alarm.

It’s a kind idea though! The world needs more kind people.

 

[Mach Tuch]

i don’t have an EV yet, but being a considerate person I would set my alarm at a hotel to move my car. I stay in hotels 10 nights a month and I experience people slamming doors, yelling in the hallways, never getting out of the pool to pee, not wiping down the gym equipment, basically acting like their $159 for the night entitles them to be inconsiderate to others.
As the EV world expands the charger etiquette ass kickings will begin, rules and fees will start and the fun of free charging will disappear. We do it to ourselves.

 

[SWO]

I have a premade note I leave on my dash that says "text me at xxxxxxxx if I'm done charging and you need to charge". Most of the time, I'm the only EV there all night. If I saw a queue of cars I would get up and move it.

90% of the issues would be solved if hotels didn't put the chargers up front.

 

[Mach1E]

I have a premade note I leave on my dash that says "text me at xxxxxxxx if I'm done charging and you need to charge". Most of the time, I'm the only EV there all night. If I saw a queue of cars I would get up and move it.

90% of the issues would be solved if hotels didn't put the chargers up front.

That is a good point. They shouldn’t make the chargers the equivalent of a handicapped spot. That way people may be a little more inclined to move if they aren’t giving up the best parking spot.

Sponsored