Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk

[jz0309]

I hear you on people who don’t know how to use a charger though. I think I end up helping an EV driver nearly every time I stop (which isn’t often to be fair) get connected.

part of the problem, at least here in the US, is that every provider provides their own app, and there are no "bug-free" apps. Whereas at a gas station, you swipe your credit card before starting to pump ...
But plug and charge (no need for neither app nor CC) is coming ...

 

[Apple fanboy]

part of the problem, at least here in the US, is that every provider provides their own app, and there are no "bug-free" apps. Whereas at a gas station, you swipe your credit card before starting to pump ...
But plug and charge (no need for neither app nor CC) is coming ...

Same here. But I just use a card rather than an app most of the time. Swipe and done. Takes a second or so. Most seem to use the same card or contactless debit/credit card of course.
Pretty sure we will never get plug and charge across all cars and networks.

 

[russell_314]

I have seen this happen and it’s infuriating.

Incredibly selfish stuff.

Tesla charges idle fees if you have a car plugged in and not charging. This helps combat abuse but it’s not impossible to exploit the system. I’ve heard of cases where people unplug the car and still leave it there. I’m not sure how common this is though.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Worse is ICE cars blocking chargers. Should be a towable offence. Some do it on purpose still. Very immature thing to do.

 

[russell_314]

Worse is ICE cars blocking chargers. Should be a towable offence. Some do it on purpose still. Very immature thing to do.

Usually protests like this are done by people without a job. What person that works 8 to 10 hours a day has time to sit in their truck blocking a charging stall. That would be the equivalent of me blocking a gas pump. I don’t have the time nor the energy.

Of course some people park in EV charging spots just because they’re inconsiderate. The same people will park in handicap parking spots, even though they’re not handicapped. This is usually why they place EV chargers further away so it’s not convenient parking. It’s unfortunate it has to be that way, but there are so many inconsiderate people.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Worse is ICE cars blocking chargers. Should be a towable offence. Some do it on purpose still. Very immature thing to do.

In some places, it *IS* a towable offense.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Usually protests like this are done by people without a job. What person that works 8 to 10 hours a day has time to sit in their truck blocking a charging stall. That would be the equivalent of me blocking a gas pump. I don’t have the time nor the energy.

Of course some people park in EV charging spots just because they’re inconsiderate. The same people will park in handicap parking spots, even though they’re not handicapped. This is usually why they place EV chargers further away so it’s not convenient parking. It’s unfortunate it has to be that way, but there are so many inconsiderate people.

Over here I’d say on average the EV charging points tend to be closer to the services etc. that’s part of the problem. But yes the same people that do park in an EV spot would park in a disabled spot or mother and baby spot (if your kid is 14 you don’t really qualify anymore!).

Selfish bar stewards.

 

[Apple fanboy]

In some places, it *IS* a towable offense.

Indeed. But not often enforced in my opinion.

 

[JT2002TJ]

If there is a free charger, and it is unoccupied, I’m using it. I do it at my local grocery store while I shop. Even though I have a L2 charger at home.

I’m usually in and out in <15 mins. I would never leave my car there, but I’m also not going to give up free juice.

I’ll do it even if I’m at >=75% with my charging limit at 80%. I never leave it there if it’s reached the charging limit.

Because I paid to have a L2 charger should not mean I don’t get to benefit from free charging.

 

[russell_314]

If there is a free charger, and it is unoccupied, I’m using it. I do it at my local grocery store while I shop. Even though I have a L2 charger at home.

I’m usually in and out in <15 mins. I would never leave my car there, but I’m also not going to give up free juice.

I’ll do it even if I’m at >=75% with my charging limit at 80%. I never leave it there if it’s reached the charging limit.

Because I paid to have a L2 charger should not mean I don’t get to benefit from free charging.

If you need it I can understand, but I think some courtesy goes along to saying well. I really don’t need to charge right now because I’m at 75%.

I don’t think most people are talking about the level two charger at the grocery store. They’re talking about fast chargers meant for traveling.

However, you’re right that most people are not going to turn down anything that’s free. It’s just human nature. That’s why vehicle manufacturers are getting away from offering free DC fast charging. At least in the USA they are. It sounds like a good idea because they can offer free charging for people traveling, but the reality is people will use that instead of their home charging. Then people who are traveling can’t use it.

Hopefully one day there will be enough level two chargers, where people don’t have to think about it. Every parking spot will have one so there’s no need to worry about taking up a charging spot.

 

[Apple fanboy]

If there is a free charger, and it is unoccupied, I’m using it. I do it at my local grocery store while I shop. Even though I have a L2 charger at home.

I’m usually in and out in <15 mins. I would never leave my car there, but I’m also not going to give up free juice.

I’ll do it even if I’m at >=75% with my charging limit at 80%. I never leave it there if it’s reached the charging limit.

Because I paid to have a L2 charger should not mean I don’t get to benefit from free charging.

I understand that mentality. I charge my car for free at work. It’s rare I won’t plug in when there. But it’s one of the few decent perks we get at work.
If there were more EV’s I’d move once it hits 100%, but no one else is ever waiting to use one of them. That will change at some point of course, but as I’m only in one day a week and most are in more I’m sure we will work it out.

 

[I7guy]

I understand that mentality. I charge my car for free at work. It’s rare I won’t plug in when there. But it’s one of the few decent perks we get at work.
If there were more EV’s I’d move once it hits 100%, but no one else is ever waiting to use one of them. That will change at some point of course, but as I’m only in one day a week and most are in more I’m sure we will work it out.

If there was a free charger I would use it. My place of business has 7 Tesla level 2 chargers with 2 being free. The free ones are always occupied. Everyone who uses the free chargers has L2 at home. The kicker to the 7 stalls is the 5kw limit along with 2 hrs - which the building does enforce.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Worse is ICE cars blocking chargers. Should be a towable offence. Some do it on purpose still. Very immature thing to do.

Yep .. there a couple fast chargers I frequent where the comments on the PlugShare App are all about if there was "ICE-ing" today.

Sometimes comments are "no ICEd lattes today!" (the charger is at a Starbucks)

😂

 

[richard13]

My rate with a recent price hike is .16kwh. I costs me about $1.25 a day for my commuting. I’ve gotten into the habit of plugging in when the car is in the garage. Even if I go out for a quick trip to the store. Unplug then plug back in. So I ABC not CWIFLI. lol

Back when I had the Chevy Volt with the "small battery" I had to be ABC if I wanted to stay on electric. Home, work, wherever I could get a charge... Now with the superior charger and capacity of my Tesla's batteries, I don't have to, but I do anyway. Anytime I return home from a trip, and I have more than a little while before my next one, the car is plugged in. It's more like a muscle memory than consciously thinking and acting.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Back when I had the Chevy Volt with the "small battery" I had to be ABC if I wanted to stay on electric. Home, work, wherever I could get a charge... Now with the superior charger and capacity of my Tesla's batteries, I don't have to, but I do anyway. Anytime I return home from a trip, and I have more than a little while before my next one, the car is plugged in. It's more like a muscle memory than consciously thinking and acting.

It really makes more sense to just plug in. I don't think about the battery level in my 2 EVs. When I get home, I charge my wife's, once I get the charge complete notification on my phone, I move the plug over to mine. Every morning both our vehicles are at 80%. I use 2-3x the battery my wife does.

If I didn't charge nightly, I would have to monitor the battery level, like I did with the gas tank on my ICE vehicles.

One less thing to think about.

 

[burgman]

my average rate is .38$/kWh. While I'm on a TOU and charge only at off-peak, I don't bother with the exact charging cost, so the .38 is the total kWh divided by cost per month. Compared to Costco EA (.56) and the other nearby EA/EVGo/SuC (.66-.72) I'm obviously still better off at home.
But there are days where I don't drive at all, or just run some errands locally of 5 miles or so, I usually plug in when I'm near or below 70% ...

My TOU .06$kWh off peak .25$kWh on. My power company has stopped new sign ups because infrastructure loss of funding. I only use DC if I’m bored, or on a trip.

 

[BigMcGuire]

My sister, one state over from me pays $.13/kWh while we're paying:

(Peak = 4pm-12am, Partial Peak = 3pm-4pm, Off Peak = 12am-3pm)

Her state also receives free energy (and paid to take it) from CA because CA produces too much renewable energy during sunlight hours.

CA should be incentivizing people like me (with an EV) to charge for pennies (OR FREE) during peak output times instead of PAYING surrounding states to take it then charging us some of the highest rates in the nation.

https://www.newsweek.com/california...an-energy-paying-other-states-take-it-1995346 (Citing my sources - I don't pay for it but was able to read it for free).

 

[Anonymous Freak]

If there is a free charger, and it is unoccupied, I’m using it. I do it at my local grocery store while I shop. Even though I have a L2 charger at home.

I’m usually in and out in <15 mins. I would never leave my car there, but I’m also not going to give up free juice.

I’ll do it even if I’m at >=75% with my charging limit at 80%. I never leave it there if it’s reached the charging limit.

Because I paid to have a L2 charger should not mean I don’t get to benefit from free charging.

With my longer-range EVs, no. My Rivian has ~300 miles range. If I pull into the Walgreens, and even if both charge stalls are empty, if I'm at 150+ miles of range, I leave them for people who need them. That 15-30 cents of free electricity just isn't worth it when someone coming in with an old Leaf, eGolf, or Fiat 500e may *NEED* the charge to finish their errands and get home.

In my short range EV? Yeah, unless I know for a fact that I will have plenty of range to get home, I'll plug in whenever possible. And yes, when I pull up to a two-stall location, and find two Teslas both charged to 90% plugged in, it pisses me off.

 

[JT2002TJ]

With my longer-range EVs, no. My Rivian has ~300 miles range. If I pull into the Walgreens, and even if both charge stalls are empty, if I'm at 150+ miles of range, I leave them for people who need them. That 15-30 cents of free electricity just isn't worth it when someone coming in with an old Leaf, eGolf, or Fiat 500e may *NEED* the charge to finish their errands and get home.

My thoughts are, they are for anyone to use, and I am anyone... Over a lifetime, the cents add up to dollars. There are plenty of paid chargers all around here (Long Island NY), so if they really NEED a charge, just like everyone else they have access. There is no shortage of chargers, there is a shortage of free chargers though. This is Long Island, there really aren't a lot of apartment dwellers, so almost anyone using it, is in the same boat as me.

It's almost always a TLC/Uber/Ride share vehicle using the free charger. They have every right to use it as well, even though the electricity they are using is commercial.

In my short range EV? Yeah, unless I know for a fact that I will have plenty of range to get home, I'll plug in whenever possible. And yes, when I pull up to a two-stall location, and find two Teslas both charged to 90% plugged in, it pisses me off.

Here's the thing though, there is no reason to get pissed off. When we show up to used chargers, as long as someone is actively charging, you have no idea of what their situation is. Perhaps they are about to start the first leg of a long trip and need the extra juice. I am going to assume you are talking about paid L3/L4 chargers here in the US, if that is the case, they are paying to get the juice, that is their right to be there. It is also the right of the charger company to charge idle/high volume fees. If I need to go to 100% and am willing to pay a higher fee to get there, no one should be pissed off, I'm paying for it. But the minute my charging is complete, if people are waiting, it is on me to unplug and get out the way ASAP (should be immediate).

I hate when people finish pumping (ICE)/charging and sit there in their car to set the GPS or find their favorite tunes... Get out of the spot and fiddle at the side of the road/parking lot.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Agreed, they offer it for free for a reason, so why not use it? Only thing that annoys me for a few seconds is when slow charging cars are hogging ultra fast chargers when their type of maximum speed charger is empty. But even then, one doesn't know what the situation is when they arrived, they could have been full...

 

[diamond.g]

Agreed, they offer it for free for a reason, so why not use it? Only thing that annoys me for a few seconds is when slow charging cars are hogging ultra fast chargers when their type of maximum speed charger is empty. But even then, one doesn't know what the situation is when they arrived, they could have been full...

I think a lot of people just assume the bigger number charger will charge their car faster, even if it wont.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My thoughts are, they are for anyone to use, and I am anyone... Over a lifetime, the cents add up to dollars. There are plenty of paid chargers all around here (Long Island NY), so if they really NEED a charge, just like everyone else they have access. There is no shortage of chargers, there is a shortage of free chargers though. This is Long Island, there really aren't a lot of apartment dwellers, so almost anyone using it, is in the same boat as me.

It's almost always a TLC/Uber/Ride share vehicle using the free charger. They have every right to use it as well, even though the electricity they are using is commercial.



Here's the thing though, there is no reason to get pissed off. When we show up to used chargers, as long as someone is actively charging, you have no idea of what their situation is. Perhaps they are about to start the first leg of a long trip and need the extra juice. I am going to assume you are talking about paid L3/L4 chargers here in the US, if that is the case, they are paying to get the juice, that is their right to be there. It is also the right of the charger company to charge idle/high volume fees. If I need to go to 100% and am willing to pay a higher fee to get there, no one should be pissed off, I'm paying for it. But the minute my charging is complete, if people are waiting, it is on me to unplug and get out the way ASAP (should be immediate).

I hate when people finish pumping (ICE)/charging and sit there in their car to set the GPS or find their favorite tunes... Get out of the spot and fiddle at the side of the road/parking lot.

Couldn’t agree more with your last point. You have finished charging. Now you can see the people waiting to start there charge. But no you want to fiddle with the Sat Nav first. Any reason you couldn’t do that before you finished charging?
With Apple CarPlay it’s a bit different. I’ve sorted my destination before I even get back to the car. Easy.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I think a lot of people just assume the bigger number charger will charge their car faster, even if it wont.

Yup, in the earlier days we had gentle conversations about that. But I'm noticing it now that people just aren't interested in learning, just not worth it to explain it.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Yup, in the earlier days we had gentle conversations about that. But I'm noticing it now that people just aren't interested in learning, just not worth it to explain it.

The early EV adopters were EV enthusiasts, as with any new technology. EVs are now mainstream. The average person DGAF about the inner workings of their vehicle (ICE or EV), it is a utility that gets them from point A to point B. They 100% are NOT interested in having a conversation.

This is a good thing, it means that EVs are no longer the fringe. This also means that the retail space will continue to expand their EV products/services because of this.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They are making some incredible EVs over in China.

Xiaomi claimed 289,000 pre-orders within an hour. If all those $700 paid pre-orders turn into actual sales, that’s more than what the entire UK car industry produces in four months.

Meanwhile, Tesla has just missed its own deadline for putting more affordable cars into production.