Public Charging Etiquette

[BadgerGreg]

Question for EV owners:

Being new-ish to the EV ownership world, I need to know what you think about the proper etiquette when using Level 2 public chargers. The scenario is as follows: you arrive at a public charger and plug in for an hour or two while eating lunch. Upon returning to your car, there is another EV parked next to you, unplugged (they needed a charge, but your car was using the last available charger). Their charge port is close enough for the Level 2 plug to reach.

Question 1: would it be ok to plug them in, or should you leave their car alone? I'm leaning towards plug them in, as that was likely their intent...

Question 2: is there a way to signal that you'd like to be plugged in? for instance, leave your charge port door open and hope the departing EV owners sees it and plugs you in when they vacate the space?

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[benk016]

I suppose it depends on the charger. Most that I've seen in public require activation of some kind, so even if you did plug them in, it wouldn't start charging.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Are you at a free L2 charger? I guess if it's a free charger and you're feeling nice, why not?

I do not know of any signal to show someone else that you want a charge.

 

[Orangefirefish]

I say leave it alone. I get the intent but let’s say it was at 90% already and the owner moved the car over, then you might be giving unwanted charge to the owner. Also not all cars can have their ports accessible to unauthorized personnel, not sure why the Mach E’s is not locked but I digress. As for #2, the common Post-it note might be a good way to signify such a request ?

 

[BadgerGreg]

Good points - I encountered a car a few weeks ago (Chevy Volt) that parked next to me (I was using the free Level 2 charger). The driver left their charge port door open.

At the time, I decided not to plug them in, but, in retrospect, I think they might have been asking for a plug in by leaving their door open. I felt less guilty in that scenario, as the Volt also has a gas engine.

I think that the EV community needs to figure out what the right 'signals' are. I say if you leave your charge port door open, you're asking for juice.

 

[generaltso]

I say if you leave your charge port door open, you're asking for juice.

Or you’re asking for water intrusion when a storm rolls in.

 

[BadgerGreg]

Or you’re asking for water intrusion when a storm rolls in.

Yeah, I'd probably limit that gesture to covered parking garages.

 

[shutterbug]

Good points - I encountered a car a few weeks ago (Chevy Volt) that parked next to me (I was using the free Level 2 charger). The driver left their charge port door open.

At the time, I decided not to plug them in, but, in retrospect, I think they might have been asking for a plug in by leaving their door open. I felt less guilty in that scenario, as the Volt also has a gas engine.

I think that the EV community needs to figure out what the right 'signals' are. I say if you leave your charge port door open, you're asking for juice.

I think the clearest indication of asking to be charged is to actually ask. A few years ago, I was charging at free L2 charger. When I came out there was a Leaf parked next to me and the owner left a note asking that I plug him when done. Which is what I did.

 

[shutterbug]

Yeah, I'd probably limit that gesture to covered parking garages.

Or places where it doesn't rain all the time. Like here in the desert.

 

[BMT1071]

Or places where it doesn't rain all the time ever. Like here in the desert.

I fixed it for you. ??

 

[fayt349]

I'm not touching anyone else's car unless there's a note on their windshield or something asking to be plugged in after.

 

[R7206]

Question for EV owners:

Being new-ish to the EV ownership world, I need to know what you think about the proper etiquette when using Level 2 public chargers. The scenario is as follows: you arrive at a public charger and plug in for an hour or two while eating lunch. Upon returning to your car, there is another EV parked next to you, unplugged (they needed a charge, but your car was using the last available charger). Their charge port is close enough for the Level 2 plug to reach.

Question 1: would it be ok to plug them in, or should you leave their car alone? I'm leaning towards plug them in, as that was likely their intent...

Question 2: is there a way to signal that you'd like to be plugged in? for instance, leave your charge port door open and hope the departing EV owners sees it and plugs you in when they vacate the space?

If you park near a free charger that is currently being used, I have seen standard etiquette is to leave your charger door open to indicate you would like to be plugged in when they leave. The couple of times I have been in that situation, I got plugged in and I have plugged someone else in.

 

[peoples1234]

Or you’re asking for water intrusion when a storm rolls in.

Can you explain more? I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything. I leave my charge door open (while charging) all the time no matter the weather. Honestly, it never occurred to me that this would be a problem so I am assuming that I am misunderstanding you.

 

[generaltso]

Can you explain more? I just want to make sure I’m not missing anything. I leave my charge door open (while charging) all the time no matter the weather. Honestly, it never occurred to me that this would be a problem so I am assuming that I am misunderstanding you.

It‘s fine while charging because the plug creates a weather-tight seal with the charge port. But if you leave the charge door open in the rain without it plugged in, water can get into the receptacle.

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