Sorry to unplug your car

[DustyShades]

I think it depends. I actually would probably be okay with this (sans note and golf balls even) as long as the other person plugged me back in after they’re done.

I also think it’s completely fine to unplug someone and plug yourself in if the car is fully charged or the charger has otherwise stopped (ex. hit a time limit or a user controlled % limit less than 100% is hit). I actually would prefer this behavior especially at a level 2 charger if was ever in a situation that I hit 100% so I wouldn’t have to stop what I’m doing and go do it myself.

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[Just Lurking]

or it’s been sitting at 100% for a while, you simply should not be unplugging them. Even if they are full or over the time limit it’s best not to, but I could understand in that case.

Anyone sitting at 100% for 5 minutes seems OK to unplug, why wouldn't it be?

 

[Phil-Springs]

Anyone sitting at 100% for 5 minutes seems OK to unplug, why wouldn't it be?

What happens if one accidentally damages the charge port, scratch the paint, causes some other charging issue for them, or any other bad thing that can happen when you touch someone else’s property?

Some vehicles will also not let you disconnect as easily as the Mach E.

Unplugging a car at 100% isn’t the worst thing one can do, but still not worth the risk.

 

[DYohn]

I would have been very pissed. Un cool move. Never unplug someone else’s car your urgency is not their problem. And stick your golf balls.

 

[BigMach-E]

Yeah, don’t unplug other people’s cars, if they aren’t charging, but plugged in, and not around, call the charger co or the property management, report it and move on. Oh, and don’t charge more than 80 percent on public unless you absolutely need it.

Just because someone else is inconsiderate, doesn’t mean it’s the correct, or safe, move to interface with their property. That is in essence what unplugging someone else’s car is. I’ve done it once in desperation as well, but I won’t be doing it again. Consider this a lesson learned.

 

[Mach-Lee]

This is a pretty controversial subject, but in my opinion you're justified unplugging someone who's stopped charging after waiting 5 minutes if that's the only charger available. Especially here in WI where the next charger might be 50+ miles away. You can't always just move on to the next charger because it could be too far to make it.

If you don't want someone touching your car, then it's your social responsibility to return to your car before or just after it finishes charging, unplug and move. You don't get to hog the charger. Especially on a DC charger. This behavior is why idle fees are needing to be implemented.

Also remember free chargers typically attract douches that leave their car for hours and hours after it's done. I've seen that way too many times to have sympathy. It's possible the Mach-E was sitting there for many hours. If they cared they probably would have come back right away when they got the unplugged notification, but they were still nowhere to be found. If my car was done charging and it got unplugged, I would not be angry because it's my fault for leaving it there.

 

[Just Lurking]

What happens if one accidentally damages the charge port, scratch the paint, causes some other charging issue for them, or any other bad thing that can happen when you touch someone else’s property?

Some vehicles will also not let you disconnect as easily as the Mach E.

Unplugging a car at 100% isn’t the worst thing one can do, but still not worth the risk.

The odds of something bad happening seems similar to the odds of an ICE car getting damaged by an attendant at a full-service gas station - pretty darn rare. I've even seen people drive off with the pump nozzle still attached to the car - with no damage occurring.

Of course, if I don't know how to unplug the vehicle or it doesn't quickly and easily disengage then I would immediately stop. If I'm looking at something truly rare and expensive (e.g. a $2 million Lotus Evija EV) then I might hesitate. Other than that, I think a non-charging EV is fair game to unplug.

 

[Just Lurking]

I would have been very pissed. Un cool move. Never unplug someone else’s car your urgency is not their problem. And stick your golf balls.

Very pissed, really? Seems like an overreaction. It's not as if this is your personal home charger - this is a community resource for Ford owners.

All public chargers are to some extent shared community resources and so a little flexibility and give-and-take helps make the world a better place for everyone.

 

[Old_Norm]

Ah the hypocricy of the human mind. For all of you who are defending the OP's actions please tell us what your reaction would be if you returned to your car and found it unplugged and plugged in to another car. I'm espically interested in hearing Mach-Lee's response.

 

[RickMachE]

If that car was charging, you have no business unplugging it. And they get a notice, so they do know. I would toss you back your golf balls. Oops, bounced off the car, my bad. I was just returning them.

 

[Old_Norm]

If that car was charging, you have no business unplugging it. And they get a notice, so they do know. I would toss you back your golf balls. Oops, bounced off the car, my bad. I was just returning them.

But if your car was done charging would you be OK with someone unplugging it and plugging in their car?

 

[RickMachE]

But if your car was done charging would you be OK with someone unplugging it and plugging in their car?

After 5 min on a fast charger, yes. Irresponsible to just leave it

 

[SWO]

If the other car is still charging, you have no basis to conclude your charging is more important than their's.

 

[Old_Norm]

Two sides to every story:
Side 1
Unplugging an electric vehicle (EV) at a public charging station is generally considered acceptable for several reasons:

1. Shared Resource: Public charging stations are shared resources intended to serve multiple EV owners. Just like parking spaces, users need to rotate in and out as needed. If someone's charging session has completed or they're not actively using the station, it's courteous to unplug and make the charger available for others.
2. Efficiency and Fairness: Leaving a vehicle plugged in unnecessarily can prevent others from accessing the charging infrastructure, leading to inefficiency and potential frustration for those in need of a charge.
3. Etiquette: There's an unwritten etiquette in EV charging culture that encourages users to unplug when their vehicle is finished charging or when they no longer need the charge. This fosters a cooperative and considerate community among EV drivers.
4. Avoiding Idle Fees: Some charging stations may apply idle fees to users who leave their vehicle plugged in after their charging session is complete. Unplugging when finished can help avoid these fees.
5. Emergency Situations: In case of an emergency where another EV driver urgently needs a charge, being considerate enough to unplug can be critical. It's akin to not hogging a gas pump when others are in need.
6. Promoting EV Adoption: Ensuring that charging stations are available and accessible encourages more people to adopt electric vehicles. If charging stations are frequently occupied by vehicles that don't need a charge, it could deter potential EV adopters.

Side 2
While it's generally considered acceptable to unplug an electric vehicle (EV) at a public charging station under certain circumstances, there are situations where it might not be okay to do so:

1. Active Charging: If the EV is actively charging and the owner still needs the charge to complete their journey, unplugging it would be disruptive and unfair to the owner who requires the charging session.
2. Etiquette and Respect: Some EV owners may have specifically planned their charging sessions, and unplugging their vehicle without permission could be seen as disrespectful and inconsiderate.
3. Emergency Situations: In some cases, an EV owner might be relying on the charge for an emergency situation, such as needing to reach a hospital or dealing with other urgent matters. Unplugging their vehicle without permission could significantly impact their ability to respond to the emergency.
4. Charging Agreement or Policy: Certain charging stations or networks may have specific policies or agreements in place regarding unplugging vehicles. For instance, they may have rules about idle fees or penalties for unplugging without authorization.
5. Battery Management: Abruptly stopping a charging session can sometimes impact the battery's health or cause technical issues with the charging equipment or the vehicle itself.
6. Safety Concerns: Unplugging a charging EV without following proper safety procedures could pose risks, such as electrical shock or damage to the charging equipment.

In summary, while there are circumstances where unplugging an EV at a public charging station is acceptable, it's important to be mindful of the situation and considerate of the needs and rights of other EV owners. Unplugging without permission or when it's actively needed could be seen as rude, disruptive, and potentially harmful.

 

[thekat03]

Ah the hypocricy of the human mind. For all of you who are defending the OP's actions please tell us what your reaction would be if you returned to your car and found it unplugged and plugged in to another car. I'm espically interested in hearing Mach-Lee's response.

If it happened while I was still charging, and I needed that charge to continue, I would have tried to come back to the car ASAP. Annoying, but not something to get freaked out over. If my car were done charging, I would have come back already and moved. Ideally, we should never need to unplug someone else's car, and if there's another option, that's what we should take instead. But sometimes, there isn't another option, and the risk of damage is comparable to parking next to another car in the parking lot.

Of course if Ford made the cars lock onto the charger's cable while charging, that would avoid situations like this.

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