Hotel Charging Etiquette

[eleven24]

Google Voice has been around a long time. About a decade ago, you would port your old landline number to Google Voice, and give up the landline, yet keep the number. Then, you can simply forward that number to your PC, tablet, phone, a hotel phone, a work phone, ...

We ported to Google Voice, then got a device called an OBI, which let us plug our fixed wire phones into that device, and GV forwarded to it. So, we still had our home phone, yet weren't paying AT&T a dime. And, we were getting free long distance (remember when home lines didn't get free long distance)?

We cut the cord back in 2012., saving many hundreds of dollars a year (cut our cable in 2013, internet only).

Today, GV allows you to be anywhere and receive, or not receive, calls. You can create a unique GV number for say Facebook / Craigslist sales. Send all calls to that number, they have no idea you are forwarding it to your cell, nor what your cell number is. Don't want to talk to, say, Mike Huffman when he calls? Have it screen just him, and send him to a unique message about how busy you are, how you'd love to talk to him, how you find his discourse so interesting...

Google Voice offers the ability to set a number of features not easily available on types of service. It has the ability, which is built into the phone apps now, to actually screen calls and engage in a dialog with the caller to see if you want to talk to them. You read the transcript, and decide it'a scam call and send them to oblivion.

The cost is great. Zero. Not a dime. It works anywhere internet exists, or forwarding to any phone that exists in the US and most of Canada.

At last count I had 5 GV numbers. One we use exclusively for sales, including when we sold a cottage.

And, go Google the number. You have no idea who owns it (unless it's the old home ported number).

That's a quick summary.

That’s one good reason to use Google Voice, it for me I initially got it for when I have to register somewhere. I never use my actual number, but instead use the GV number.

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[Mach-Jay]

It would be nice if all free hotel chargers said something like this: it is our policy that when your vehicle stops charging that it is okay for the next customer to unplug from your car. If you aren't okay with this, please do not park here.

 

[Steady Eddie]

I've left mine plugged in when I needed to be at 100% in the AM. However this bit me in the ass with a $30 charge for charging at a hotel, when I could have unplugged and charged for 20 minutes at a DCFC about half a mile instead, for far less. The hotel wasn't clear about the charge. They said it was free for guests. Right. Not so much.

Where was that? I’m planning a trip thru WY and expect to use a hotel charger over night to make that route possible.

 

[Thunderanger]

Where was that? I’m planning a trip thru WY and expect to use a hotel charger over night to make that route possible.

Clarksville, TN

 

[babgvant]

Just because some of you go to sleep at 8pm and there's only 2/5 spots taken doesn't mean that others won't check in after and need a charge for a 7am departure. EV charging spots aren't your personal parking spots. I normally don't get to hotels until 9pm-11pm.

They seriously need to have very high idle fees at these stations to encourage courteous users and discourage selfishness.

If you don't want to unplug (or leave a note to unplug) then don't use them.

I see what you're saying, but how does someone manage this if they need to go to bed at 8PM for an early departure (e.g. 4AM), and need to charge the car to facilitate their next leg? If the car won't hit target SoC until 12AM, should they stay up? Set an alarm? It's a tough thing to manage, especially when we don't know everyone's logistical goals.

Seems like the best solution is to add L2 ports with intelligent load sharing, but that's a complex/expensive solution.

Maybe a valet service at the hotel?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I see what you're saying, but how does someone manage this if they need to go to bed at 8PM for an early departure (e.g. 4AM), and need to charge the car to facilitate their next leg? If the car won't hit target SoC until 12AM, should they stay up? Set an alarm? It's a tough thing to manage, especially when we don't know everyone's logistical goals.

Seems like the best solution is to add L2 ports with intelligent load sharing, but that's a complex/expensive solution.

Maybe a valet service at the hotel?

I set an alarm for the time the charge is expected to reach my preferred SOC. If I need to precondition, I'll set the departure time for that same time and set my alarm for about 30 minutes later. Then I'll go move the car when the alarm goes off. It's easy enough.

 

[Logal727]

Google Voice has been around a long time. About a decade ago, you would port your old landline number to Google Voice, and give up the landline, yet keep the number. Then, you can simply forward that number to your PC, tablet, phone, a hotel phone, a work phone, ...

We ported to Google Voice, then got a device called an OBI, which let us plug our fixed wire phones into that device, and GV forwarded to it. So, we still had our home phone, yet weren't paying AT&T a dime. And, we were getting free long distance (remember when home lines didn't get free long distance)?

We cut the cord back in 2012., saving many hundreds of dollars a year (cut our cable in 2013, internet only).

Today, GV allows you to be anywhere and receive, or not receive, calls. You can create a unique GV number for say Facebook / Craigslist sales. Send all calls to that number, they have no idea you are forwarding it to your cell, nor what your cell number is. Don't want to talk to, say, Mike Huffman when he calls? Have it screen just him, and send him to a unique message about how busy you are, how you'd love to talk to him, how you find his discourse so interesting...

Google Voice offers the ability to set a number of features not easily available on types of service. It has the ability, which is built into the phone apps now, to actually screen calls and engage in a dialog with the caller to see if you want to talk to them. You read the transcript, and decide it'a scam call and send them to oblivion.

The cost is great. Zero. Not a dime. It works anywhere internet exists, or forwarding to any phone that exists in the US and most of Canada.

At last count I had 5 GV numbers. One we use exclusively for sales, including when we sold a cottage.

And, go Google the number. You have no idea who owns it (unless it's the old home ported number).

That's a quick summary.

Yep, Google didn't even build Google Voice, they purchased a company called Grand Central and then renamed it Google Voice. I've been using it since it was Grand Central, which makes me feel very old lol.

 

[TGIF]

In relocating down south for the winter, DH and I stayed at the same hotel with L2 charging. He was in a PHEV, arrived first and hooked up. When I arrived an hour or so later, the PHEV was almost full so I unhooked him, moved it and plugged in the MME, which left another charging space available. My MME charged all night and still wasn’t fully charged in the am. There is a DCFC less than a mile away which I consider the backup plan. I don’t plan to set a middle of the night wake-up notice if fully charged at another hotel but I will move it first thing in the morning, before breakfast. There is an element of first come, first serve. I think the chances of someone arriving after 3 am is pretty slim and they are as capable of using a back up charger as I am. It is a balancing act. The MME needs to work as a road tripper. Time, convenience and cost to charge are all factors to consider. I will absolutely move a PHEV off a charger and lose a bit of sleep for it to leave the option for EVs, but as an EV I don’t think I have to forego a hotel amenity (fully charging) for a hypothetical. Please note that I travel in areas without many EVs. My attitude could well change as they become more prevalent.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

In relocating down south for the winter, DH and I stayed at the same hotel with L2 charging. He was in a PHEV, arrived first and hooked up. When I arrived an hour or so later, the PHEV was almost full so I unhooked him, moved it and plugged in the MME, which left another charging space available. My MME charged all night and still wasn’t fully charged in the am. There is a DCFC less than a mile away which I consider the backup plan. I don’t plan to set a middle of the night wake-up notice if fully charged at another hotel but I will move it first thing in the morning, before breakfast. There is an element of first come, first serve. I think the chances of someone arriving after 3 am is pretty slim and they are as capable of using a back up charger as I am. It is a balancing act. The MME needs to work as a road tripper. Time, convenience and cost to charge are all factors to consider. I will absolutely move a PHEV off a charger and lose a bit of sleep for it to leave the option for EVs, but as an EV I don’t think I have to forego a hotel amenity (fully charging) for a hypothetical. Please note that I travel in areas without many EVs. My attitude could well change as they become more prevalent.

I don't have any expectation that someone else do the things I do. If I arrive at a hotel late in the night or early morning, it's usually because of poor planning on my part and I don't expect anyone to go out of their way to make up for my poor planning. I do definitely appreciate it if there's an open L2 charger, though!

On the other hand, the things I do to make space for others is just that: what *I do* and not what I expect others to do.

There is some sort of happy space in between.

 

[TGIF]

I don't have any expectation that someone else do the things I do. If I arrive at a hotel late in the night or early morning, it's usually because of poor planning on my part and I don't expect anyone to go out of their way to make up for my poor planning. I do definitely appreciate it if there's an open L2 charger, though!

On the other hand, the things I do to make space for others is just that: what *I do* and not what I expect others to do.

There is some sort of happy space in between.

I agree if I arrive late and the L2s are in use, I figure it’s my own fault for not getting there earlier. Your post reminds me of the saying, “Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for me.”

 

[DevSecOps]

I see what you're saying, but how does someone manage this if they need to go to bed at 8PM for an early departure (e.g. 4AM), and need to charge the car to facilitate their next leg? If the car won't hit target SoC until 12AM, should they stay up? Set an alarm? It's a tough thing to manage, especially when we don't know everyone's logistical goals.

Seems like the best solution is to add L2 ports with intelligent load sharing, but that's a complex/expensive solution.

Maybe a valet service at the hotel?

This is the way I look at it, and yes I understand not everyone will look at it the same way:

1. All of these chargers list the kW delivered. If you are at 20% SOC and it's a 7kW charger then you know that if you plug in at 10pm it won't be done until 8am. My point is that you can easily know, via the app or basic math when you will be full. Most of these aren't really fast L2 chargers. Therefore, if you want to sleep, do some basic math and go to the charger when you know it'll be done when you wake up.
2. Set an alarm if you don't want to do math.
3. Don't charge unless you actually need it. A lot of people will just charge because they can. If you are plugging in at 8pm and it'll be done at 11pm, it's not likely you'll actually need that amount of charge.

Ultimately, not unplugging, in my opinion, is just selfish. You are weighing 2 things, your sleep vs another persons ability to drive a vehicle. In many cases, which is the same as parking in a handicap spot illegally, people only think about themselves.

When you drive an ICE vehicle do you park at a gas pump (after it's filled up) while you go into Starbucks across the street for an hour long zoom meeting while drinking a Frapachino? That would be rude but with EV's, for some reason, people don't see it the same.

Here's a post at a resort I frequent every other month in Newport Beach. My mentality regarding charging etiquette has always been the same based on my below review. Many people complain because they basically get hit with $10 for idling. I think it's great that they charge the way they do because it means that vehicles will only charge for less than 3 hours or more than 7-8 hours.

 

[babgvant]

This is the way I look at it, and yes I understand not everyone will look at it the same way:

1. All of these chargers list the kW delivered. If you are at 20% SOC and it's a 7kW charger then you know that if you plug in at 10pm it won't be done until 8am. My point is that you can easily know, via the app or basic math when you will be full. Most of these aren't really fast L2 chargers. Therefore, if you want to sleep, do some basic math and go to the charger when you know it'll be done when you wake up.
2. Set an alarm if you don't want to do math.
3. Don't charge unless you actually need it. A lot of people will just charge because they can. If you are plugging in at 8pm and it'll be done at 11pm, it's not likely you'll actually need that amount of charge.

"Need" is a tricky criteria here. How do we define if person A's definition of need is greater than person B's? You have personal criteria defined by what you want to do, but no visibility into the goals and criteria of another person.

If charging to 100% means person A saves a massive amount of time/effort the next day, why should person B's desires trump that? How do we prioritize "need"?

What I'm trying to say, is that this is a very complicated thing to sort out exactly because we lack information about what others are trying to accomplish. We can only process through the limited lens of the available information. Which often leads to incorrect conclusions.

Ultimately, not unplugging, in my opinion, is just selfish. You are weighing 2 things, your sleep vs another persons ability to drive a vehicle. In many cases, which is the same as parking in a handicap spot illegally, people only think about themselves.

IMO, there's a huge difference between charging longer than you "need to" and parking in a disabled spot.

It is potentially selfish, but not necessarily selfish. This definition of selfish doesn't seem to include the goals of both parties.

I've never had to question whether I should set an alarm for the middle of the night. But, to be honest, I don't think I would because if I wake up enough to leave the room and unplug my car after going to sleep, I'm not getting back to sleep for at least another hour. The idea that I would give up a night of sleep to maybe, just maybe, open up a charger for someone else to use isn't very compelling.

In one view, that's incredibly selfish. In another, is a potential safety issue, definitely a performance issue.

When you drive an ICE vehicle do you park at a gas pump (after it's filled up) while you go into Starbucks across the street for an hour long zoom meeting while drinking a Frapachino? That would be rude but with EV's, for some reason, people don't see it the same.

I see what you're trying to say, but the fueling paradigm is so different from ICE I really struggle to see the validity of this argument. Your example is exactly how EV charging is supposed to work. Obviously, set the away time appropriately during waking hours. I have eaten a leisurely dinner while slow DCFC so I wouldn't have to drive the long way home from Iowa.

I wouldn't characterize that as selfish. I would characterize that as doing it the right way.

 

[mkhuffman]

"Need" is a tricky criteria here. How do we define if person A's definition of need is greater than person B's? You have personal criteria defined by what you want to do, but no visibility into the goals and criteria of another person.

If charging to 100% means person A saves a massive amount of time/effort the next day, why should person B's desires trump that? How do we prioritize "need"?

What I'm trying to say, is that this is a very complicated thing to sort out exactly because we lack information about what others are trying to accomplish. We can only process through the limited lens of the available information. Which often leads to incorrect conclusions.



IMO, there's a huge difference between charging longer than you "need to" and parking in a disabled spot.

It is potentially selfish, but not necessarily selfish. This definition of selfish doesn't seem to include the goals of both parties.

I've never had to question whether I should set an alarm for the middle of the night. But, to be honest, I don't think I would because if I wake up enough to leave the room and unplug my car after going to sleep, I'm not getting back to sleep for at least another hour. The idea that I would give up a night of sleep to maybe, just maybe, open up a charger for someone else to use isn't very compelling.

In one view, that's incredibly selfish. In another, is a potential safety issue, definitely a performance issue.



I see what you're trying to say, but the fueling paradigm is so different from ICE I really struggle to see the validity of this argument. Your example is exactly how EV charging is supposed to work. Obviously, set the away time appropriately during waking hours. I have eaten a leisurely dinner while slow DCFC so I wouldn't have to drive the long way home from Iowa.

I wouldn't characterize that as selfish. I would characterize that as doing it the right way.

Anyone who parks in a charging space and the car is not charging is exactly the same kind of person who parks in a handicap space when they are not handicapped.

And it is the same as someone who parks in front of a gas pump and leaves their car there while they eat dinner nearby. It is selfish, inconsiderate behavior. I am surprised you think it is "the right way". It is the opposite of the right way.

When your car is charged, take a break from dinner and move it. You don't own the charging space just because you own a BEV.

 

[DevSecOps]

"Need" is a tricky criteria here. How do we define if person A's definition of need is greater than person B's? You have personal criteria defined by what you want to do, but no visibility into the goals and criteria of another person.

Your "need" to charge ends at 100%. There's no guess if you need more or not. Anything beyond that is potentially impacting someone else, which I define as selfishness.

As for the "need" - other than a full 100% ... There's something about people charging because they can which is a phenomenon I don't understand. While I can't assume the difference between the two when arriving at a charger, they exist and their need is really just a want.

Everything else you said is an attempt to justify selfish actions in my opinion. Not only do I consider it to be wrong, but so does the law. Most chargers have signs that clearly state "while charging" language. When you are idling, you are not charging. If there's a number for tow, I'm calling it.

I just don't understand how anyone can justify hogging a charger. Maybe there's not a lot of EVs in Chicago, but in California it's often times very hard to get a spot. Last time I had to DCFC I had to wait for a spot and someone was at 100% - 116 minutes and nowhere to be found. My commute home was extended because someone was selfish.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I just try to make sure my intent (don't be a jerk) matches my impact through my actions (move my car when it's done charging).

It doesn't matter what someone's intent is in staying in a charging (not parking) spot overly long, the impact is the same--someone else is unable to use that charging spot.

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