Charging Etiquette

[jeffand]

I found this article on charging Etiquette, and thought it would be a good reminder for all of us.
http://www.plugincars.com/eight-rules-electric-vehicle-etiquette-127513.html

Remember to be kind and rewind.

 

[michael]

To me, one of the most important things is for everybody to get over the feeling that it's somehow wrong to unplug someone at a public station when they have charged up. There's still this feeling of "don't touch my car" and "better not touch someone's car". Remember that old bumper sticker, "You toucha my car a breaka you face"

Everyone (both the unplugger and unpluggee) has to get adjusted to the idea that when you unplug someone, you are not tampering with their car...you are using a shared, public resource. It is perfectly fine to do and the expected action.

And unplug alarms should always be deactivated when using public charging. When I bought my Volt, that was the first thing I did...the salesman didn't understand why anyone would want to do this until I explained about shared charging.

At my place of work, we share chargers and freely move the cords around as appropriate. It should be like that everywhere.

 

[jeffand]

Before unplugging you should be able to determine if the car is still charging. If the owner has posted a phone number you should always make an effort to make contact first before unplugging.

How do you determine if vehicle is still charging?
First look at the charging station display if it has one.
Now on the FFE part of the charging ring maybe lit or flashing. That is if the owner has not disabled this function.
The Nissan Leaf has three dash lights. If any of the lights are flashing then the car is charging. When all three lights are on constantly the car is fully charged.
The Chevy Volt and Spark EV indicates it is charging when the green dash light is on constantly. A rapid blinking light indicates the charge is complete.
The Tesla model S uses an adapter to plug into a J1772 charging station. Note: the adapter is difficult to remove from the car socket without the charging plug connected to it. So if you do unplug a Tesla the owner may have difficulty removing the adapter from the cars charging port. He may have to unplug your car so that he can remove the adapter out of the charging port. When the car is charging the charging port will have a blinking green light ring.

 

[michael]

Exactly. And if it's finished, feel free to unplug. Close the other's car's charging door so nobody will think he's asking to be charged.

BTW the chances of seeing a Tesla at a public charging station are low. 95% are Leaf and Volt

 

[unplugged]

To me, one of the most important things is for everybody to get over the feeling that it's somehow wrong to unplug someone at a public station when they have charged up.

Unfortunately, in my charging stations around my area, it is impossible to park near enough to the parking spot of a fully charged car to even unplug them and use the charger.

Not being able to unplug a charged car is irritating, and this irritation is amplified by the amount of plug-in Prius' in Southern California. This vehicle was designed by Toyota to game the car pool sticker law by allowing a Prius to get a sticker. The all-electric power of a Prius lasts 6, yes SIX, miles. Still, you see these PiPs hogging charging stations for hours on end so they can use their measly six miles of electricity. They are almost always charged because it only takes a few minutes to fill the tiny AA battery on the car.

Just my venting about PiPs.

 

[michael]

I dealt with this exact problem by buying a J1772 extension cord from Tucson EV. Now I can double park and still reach.

 

[WattsUp]

Not being able to unplug a charged car is irritating, and this irritation is amplified by the amount of plug-in Prius' in Southern California.

I agree.

I'm one of those people that think all those gas-powered EVs (PiP, Volt) should perhaps have second priority at charging stations (don't know how to realistically enforce that, but I wish it was somehow the case). I don't mean to sound exclusionary, but I just see those things as hybrids, and not really EVs. And when my trip is ruined because a gas-powered EV plugged in, charged for an hour, and then blocked the charging station for 4 hours, it is twice as irritating as when another EV does the same.

 

[Gigi]

I have not used a public charging station for either our Electric or our Energi. If I were running low on charge in our FFE, I sure would want to be able to use a charging station once I arrived at one.

At 43 miles per gallon in the Energi, it is cheaper to pay for gasoline than it is to pay even $1.00 per hour to charge. Unless a charging station is free, I don’t understand why someone driving a PHEV or EREV would want to use one.

If my state legislature passed a law like the one in Arizona forbidding PHEVs and EREVs from using public charging stations, I would be okay with that. Always having a minimum fee of $1.00 per hour should work to keep PHEVs and EREVs out of charging stations if their drivers know how to do the math to realize that unless it is free, public charging is not economical.

Free, however, is tempting.

 

[michael]

I have not used a public charging station for either our Electric or our Energi. If I were running low on charge in our FFE, I sure would want to be able to use a charging station once I arrived at one.

At 43 miles per gallon in the Energi, it is cheaper to pay for gasoline than it is to pay even $1.00 per hour to charge. Unless a charging station is free, I don’t understand why someone driving a PHEV or EREV would want to use one.

If my state legislature passed a law like the one in Arizona forbidding PHEVs and EREVs from using public charging stations, I would be okay with that. Always having a minimum fee of $1.00 per hour should work to keep PHEVs and EREVs out of charging stations if their drivers know how to do the math to realize that unless it is free, public charging is not economical.

Free, however, is tempting.

I agree. I just got a Volt and it's 8 or 10 cents per mile for gasoline, and 10 cents per mile for electricity at $1.00/hour.

I would prefer that all public charging stations be paid, not free. This would clear out the squatters.

At the Sherman Oaks mall, there are two newly installed charging stations, and one of them is almost always occupied by the same Smart EV. I have little doubt this guy uses the public charging every day so he doesn't have to charge at home.

But what really frosts me is something I've seen often at the Topanga Plaza Mall. There are exactly two charging spots for a huge mall, and they are in a prime location. So very often, the spots are occupied by EVs not even plugged in....they are treated like handicapped parking spots for EV owners. I confess to having left a few nastygrams on windshields.

 

[Gigi]

But what really frosts me is something I've seen often at the Topanga Plaza Mall. There are exactly two charging spots for a huge mall, and they are in a prime location. So very often, the spots are occupied by EVs not even plugged in....they are treated like handicapped parking spots for EV owners. I confess to having left a few nastygrams on windshields.

Go get 'em, michael!

Better to put charging stations at the far end of a row of parking spots where they are less convenient. I don't mind walking.

 

[dmen]

In my area, unplugging someone is a bit trickier because for four to six cold months a year, that fully charged car is still using the plug to keep the battery warm and/or preheat the cabin. If it's my FFE, preheating can save me from more than 20 miles range loss on a full battery, so it's not a small deal. Similarly you guys in CA and AZ might not like being unplugged at 2pm when it is 110 degrees out and you are counting on the plug to keep your batteries cooled. Pre-cooling the cabin doesn't save much range so that's fine.

Anyway the most important thing to do if you have a reason you want to remain plugged in after reaching full is to leave a note and your number. And if you don't mind being unplugged, go one step further and move your car after it reaches full charge.

I personally don't mind PHEVs taking up spots, as long as they are charging of course, and move when complete. The way I see it they need to charge more often to run on electricity so they "need" public chargers more than a car that can go 2-4 times as far on electricity. I would probably draw the line on Prius plugins but Toyota doesn't sell them in this region so it doesn't come up.

I actually get more upset by Teslas taking up public level 2s. Number one, they get such a small portion of total range in an hour to two, it just doesn't seem like they need it. Number two, they have the whole supercharger network to themselves. Number three, their battery mgmt system works off plug (I think). And yes, I have been blocked at public level 2s by Teslas as often as Leafs and more often than Volts or CMax or Fusions. I think it's just a "look what I can do!" thing, as well as a prime parking spot thing. I agree it's best when stations are positioned at far ends of lots, but I understand it's usually cheaper to put them close to business entrance/garage elevators/etc.

 

[jmueller065]

I think it's just a "look what I can do!" thing, as well as a prime parking spot thing.

I have to admit to doing this: Charging up at a spot not because I have to but because I've never charged there before (typically when doing this I snap a photo and post it on plugshare). In addition though, because it is novel, I usually don't stay there long (long enough to eat at a local restaurant or browse the nearest store for example).

In general, for me, it is rare that I have to use public charging: 99.9% of my charging needs are taken care of by my home Level 2.

 

[Focused_Driver]

Regarding charging station locations. I had asked my employer, not for a charging station but simply a properly rated 120V plug so I could do some slow charging while at work for 8 hours. I specifically asked that the plugs not be located close to the building entrance because despite the fact that I had every intention of paying, the perception would be: "Wow, you get to charge for free and a great parking spot?" Seems there is already too much drama for ignorant people about electric cars, I didn't want these new outlets to be another reason for people to talk badly about electrics.

Unfortunately, turns out my employer's answer was no. What gets my goat is I asked permission and was told no while there is already an employee charging a Leaf at another division (and another building). Fortunately I don't need to charge to get home, but it would be nice to extend my range for lunchtime or after work errands.

 

[WattsUp]

Unfortunately, turns out my employer's answer was no.

Sorry you have such a short-sighted employer regarding EVs. That blows.

At the other end of the spectrum, mine has been offering (multiple) free Level 2 charging stations for a couple years now, and also recently just starting offering an "EV valet" service. This is where a valet will take your EV in the morning and, in addition to obviously parking it somewhere for you, will also charge it up. This way, the valets worry about coordinating all the EVs and stations, instead of employees taking time away from their work to do so, and you just get your car back (fully charged) at the end of the day.

 

[v_traveller]

At the other end of the spectrum, mine has been offering (multiple) free Level 2 charging stations for a couple years now, and also recently just starting offering an "EV valet" service. This is where a valet will take your EV in the morning and, in addition to obviously parking it somewhere for you, will also charge it up. This way, the valets worry about coordinating all the EVs and stations, instead of employees taking time away from their work to do so, and you just get your car back (fully charged) at the end of the day.

Wow, that is on the other end of the spectrum! That is cool. Mine is somewhere in the middle, we're charged $1/hr when hooked up to one of the company's 16 L2 EVSE, which are about 50% utilized since doubling the capacity in December, so no waiting... yet.

So, are you supposed to tip the valet? Haven't seen this addressed in any of the many charging etiquette posts/blogs/articles.

 

[WattsUp]

So, are you supposed to tip the valet? Haven't seen this addressed in any of the many charging etiquette posts/blogs/articles.

Well, at my company, no. While the valets are provided by an outside service, we are told that they do not expect tips (as they service is being paid for fully by the company).

But, I would think for any valet out "in the world" (at a hotel, restaurant, etc.), you would tip accordingly (perhaps a little extra if they offer some kind of EV recharging service, eh?).

 

[michael]

I want your job!!!!!!!!

My company provides charging stations and 220 outlets, but not enough of them so we need to play "plug jockey" throughout the day.

 

[WattsUp]

I want your job!!!!!!!!

My company provides charging stations and 220 outlets, but not enough of them so we need to play "plug jockey" throughout the day.

Haha... thanks.

I should also mention that we have nearly 50 employees (at the same location) who drive an EV to work, at least part of the time. (I drive mine all the time.) Of the bulk, about half are Leafs and about one quarter Volts. The rest are "other" EVs, including a few Teslas, three Plug-in Prii, two Chevy Sparks, and even a Fiat 500e... as well as a few Fords, of course. At the moment, I drive the only Focus Electric, but we have two C-MAX Energis and one Fusion Energi.

(Yes, I know those aren't all "EVs" -- but we all share the charging stations.)

 

[EVA]

In my area, unplugging someone is a bit trickier because for four to six cold months a year, that fully charged car is still using the plug to keep the battery warm and/or preheat the cabin. If it's my FFE, preheating can save me from more than 20 miles range loss on a full battery, so it's not a small deal. Similarly you guys in CA and AZ might not like being unplugged at 2pm when it is 110 degrees out and you are counting on the plug to keep your batteries cooled. Pre-cooling the cabin doesn't save much range so that's fine.

Anyway the most important thing to do if you have a reason you want to remain plugged in after reaching full is to leave a note and your number. And if you don't mind being unplugged, go one step further and move your car after it reaches full charge.

I personally don't mind PHEVs taking up spots, as long as they are charging of course, and move when complete. The way I see it they need to charge more often to run on electricity so they "need" public chargers more than a car that can go 2-4 times as far on electricity. I would probably draw the line on Prius plugins but Toyota doesn't sell them in this region so it doesn't come up.

I actually get more upset by Teslas taking up public level 2s. Number one, they get such a small portion of total range in an hour to two, it just doesn't seem like they need it. Number two, they have the whole supercharger network to themselves. Number three, their battery mgmt system works off plug (I think). And yes, I have been blocked at public level 2s by Teslas as often as Leafs and more often than Volts or CMax or Fusions. I think it's just a "look what I can do!" thing, as well as a prime parking spot thing. I agree it's best when stations are positioned at far ends of lots, but I understand it's usually cheaper to put them close to business entrance/garage elevators/etc.

Agree about everything above the Tesla discussion. The counterpoint to a Tesla parking in a level 2 spot - the superchargers are not likely near where that person parked (in the Chicago area, there is one at the service center in downtown Chicago, one at Old Orchard, another at the service center in Highland Park, and another at the show room in Oak Brook - not exactly convenient locations). They do get around 30 miles per hour on a 40 Amp circuit, they get 60 miles per hour on an 80 amp circuit. That's not insignificant range addition - so they aren't sipping electricity and just barely denting their range.

The other problem with Teslas, you can't unplug them unless you have the key. So until the owner comes back and moves the car, you are totally stuck.

Only trying to give you another perspective to not feel upset about them charging there. I'd probably say, they have just as much access rights as anybody else.

 

[dmen]

Agree about everything above the Tesla discussion. The counterpoint to a Tesla parking in a level 2 spot - the superchargers are not likely near where that person parked (in the Chicago area, there is one at the service center in downtown Chicago, one at Old Orchard, another at the service center in Highland Park, and another at the show room in Oak Brook - not exactly convenient locations). They do get around 30 miles per hour on a 40 Amp circuit, they get 60 miles per hour on an 80 amp circuit. That's not insignificant range addition - so they aren't sipping electricity and just barely denting their range.

The other problem with Teslas, you can't unplug them unless you have the key. So until the owner comes back and moves the car, you are totally stuck.

Only trying to give you another perspective to not feel upset about them charging there. I'd probably say, they have just as much access rights as anybody else.

You are correct that any vehicle with a plug has as much 'right' as any other. As far as etiquette/courtesy/whatever, the big picture is that prime chargers are a limited resource. The courteous thing to do with a limited resource is only take what you need, then move along to let the next person get in. I have a hard time seeing a situation where a Tesla needs charge from a level 2.

A Tesla will definitely NOT get 60 miles range per hour from a public level 2 charger. I've never seen a public level 2 give more than 6 kW of power (5 after charging losses), and S's aren't as efficient as our little FFEs so they are actually getting more like 15-20 miles range per hour on these level 2s. It would take the smaller 60kWh S over 12 hours to fill on these level 2s, and the 85 kWh S over 17 hours. To me, that makes an hour or two pretty insignificant. Superchargers may not be convenient to destinations in the city, but they are convenient to most routes out of the city. In 15 minutes on an SC the Tesla will get more range than in 4 hours on a level 2. If I owned one that would be the way I'd go.