How to wait in line for charger to free up?

[R1TruKaLa]

Just pull up, get your camp speaker out and turned up to max volume, then strip down and oiled up for some good sun tanning in the bed of your truck. A spot will open up quickly.

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[R1TruKaLa]

one technique to clear up spots quickly.

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[AxelR]

I just need to know the cars I am waiting 4. Not uncommon to pull up to a Super Charger and have 3 or 4 people waiting. I just look around to see what cars are there and mentally note as they get a spot. Once the last car there before me has a spot I’m next, anyone that pulls in after me does the same thing.

For the most part in 7 years it has worked well, only seen a few people try to jump usually if you tell them there is a queue they get in line. Only once was the person really arrogant and started charging anyway.

That makes a lot more sense than what you wrote above that made you sound like you’d skip the line.

 

[140 degrees]

I find it confusing, awkward, and uncomfortable, plus I lack the patience. I'm now in the habit of charging early and often on road trips in an attempt to avoid the situation. As I approach the freeway exit for the charger I'll check the appropriate app (e.g. EA) to see how many are open. If it looks full I'll skip it and head to the next one. Having a large buffer of range gives you options. I know that's not the answer to your question, but my opinion is it's just not worth if you can avoid it.

I wonder if when A Better Route Planner is fully integrated, it couldn't do this for us. Chargers are chosen when the trip is originally mapped, but as you approach a designated charger, it evaluates whether all stalls are full and changes to 'A Better Station' down the road. It could also guide you to charge early if your designated station is expected to be busy. I think this would be very useful functionality. It might even be worth buying a company to gain such a feature. 8^)

Personally, I've never had to wait at a DCFC. This were some good comments in this thread.

 

[Whale Blubber]

well the Count and Countess are off on their first long range trip with the R1S... during a busy Fourth of July week no less. They thank everyone for the advice and plans to hoover in line with a long axe and a grin.

A scythe and black robe might be even more impactful.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I ran into a couple situations this weekend.

First was a Chevy Bolt parked in front of a 350kw Electrify Canada charger, not charging, just hanging out for half an hour in Squamish.

Second was coming through Mission BC and a Kia Niro EV was plugged into a 100KW charger, with a 50kw charger vacant. Owners walked away just as I pulled up with my Rivian at 20% SOC, and disappear for half an hour. The Niro was at 93% when they walked off and was only requesting 12kw. So I plugged in our Rivian to the 50kw charger, charged for bit while we fed and changed our baby then left.

Moral(s) of the story
1. Don't use a charger as a parking spot. Charge while you're there, or move.

2. The burden should be on dealerships to educate owners on what speed their vehicle is capable of charging at or even have a notification pop up on the dash that says "Hey, you're plugged into an expensive 350kw DCFC, consider moving to a 50-100kw charger instead". A Chevy Bolt can only hit 55kw, while the Kia Niro maxes out at like 77kw. When you get to the point where your vehicle is charging at a tenth of the chargers rate, consider moving, in some cases it will even save you money being on the slower charger for the latter half.

For me, even though the Rivian is capable of hitting that 220kw level, most Electrify Canada units hit a max amp limit and the vehicle only gets to about 160-170kw. More often than not, I'll just take the 150 units.

 

[Ecupip]

I find it odd that chargers don’t have a check in process that puts you in a queue for the next charger, especially Tesla.

here’s an intense altercation at a Tesla charger…

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8etXNuP/

 

[Tahoe Man]

I ran into a couple situations this weekend.

First was a Chevy Bolt parked in front of a 350kw Electrify Canada charger, not charging, just hanging out for half an hour in Squamish.

Second was coming through Mission BC and a Kia Niro EV was plugged into a 100KW charger, with a 50kw charger vacant. Owners walked away just as I pulled up with my Rivian at 20% SOC, and disappear for half an hour. The Niro was at 93% when they walked off and was only requesting 12kw. So I plugged in our Rivian to the 50kw charger, charged for bit while we fed and changed our baby then left.

Moral(s) of the story
1. Don't use a charger as a parking spot. Charge while you're there, or move.

2. The burden should be on dealerships to educate owners on what speed their vehicle is capable of charging at or even have a notification pop up on the dash that says "Hey, you're plugged into an expensive 350kw DCFC, consider moving to a 50-100kw charger instead". A Chevy Bolt can only hit 55kw, while the Kia Niro maxes out at like 77kw. When you get to the point where your vehicle is charging at a tenth of the chargers rate, consider moving, in some cases it will even save you money being on the slower charger for the latter half.

For me, even though the Rivian is capable of hitting that 220kw level, most Electrify Canada units hit a max amp limit and the vehicle only gets to about 160-170kw. More often than not, I'll just take the 150 units.

But you're asking the general public for basic understanding. The average Joe six pack knows where the beer isle is, but you can't expect him to comprehend much else, even less for basic charging etiquette.

 

[WSea]

'
What do you mean "don’t care what the order of people in front of me is just who they are." ?

But you're asking the general public for basic understanding. The average Joe six pack knows where the beer isle is, but you can't expect him to comprehend much else, even less for basic charging etiquette.

joe six pack ain’t driving an EV

 

[Tahoe Man]

joe six pack ain’t driving an EV

As they get cheaper they are starting to enter the EV market, esp with the tax incentives.

 

[Tmack7]

It’s always funny to read people commenting on joe six pack. Yeah most don’t drive evs because it’s not an interest of theirs but probably have more etiquette than a couple of people I ran into at EA chargers this past week and seems like many of you have run into. Had a family driving a Mach e that appeared anything but joe six pack watch me try to activate an EA charger for 10 minutes before I approached them to ask. They looked offended I bothered to talk to them and had nothing to say but “it’s broken”. Then joe six pack comes up and chats me up and helps me out with another charger that seemed down but wasn’t. Another time BMW ev stared me down after I waved hi. I later looked over and they were charging to 100% at 20kw in a 350 while others were lined up. Joe six pack in an electric f150 saw me and family and decided to unplug early because he thought he had enough to make it to his next destination. Also saw people trying to cut others off at chargers when it was obvious the others were there first (one jaguar and one bmw). Again anything other than joe six pack. 2 of my 6 ea stop this week were friendly and helpful joe six packs and rude upper class. Other 4 stops were great with nice people all around.

 

[Count Orlok]

As they get cheaper they are starting to enter the EV market, esp with the tax incentives.

joe 6 pack doesn't pay income taxes.

 

[ads75]

Second was coming through Mission BC and a Kia Niro EV was plugged into a 100KW charger, with a 50kw charger vacant. Owners walked away just as I pulled up with my Rivian at 20% SOC, and disappear for half an hour. The Niro was at 93% when they walked off and was only requesting 12kw. So I plugged in our Rivian to the 50kw charger, charged for bit while we fed and changed our baby then left.

Moral(s) of the story
1. Don't use a charger as a parking spot. Charge while you're there, or move.

2. The burden should be on dealerships to educate owners on what speed their vehicle is capable of charging at or even have a notification pop up on the dash that says "Hey, you're plugged into an expensive 350kw DCFC, consider moving to a 50-100kw charger instead". A Chevy Bolt can only hit 55kw, while the Kia Niro maxes out at like 77kw. When you get to the point where your vehicle is charging at a tenth of the chargers rate, consider moving, in some cases it will even save you money being on the slower charger for the latter half.

I have to admit, I am not going to swap chargers at a station if I fall below the peak delivery of that unit I am plugged in to. If the one I am plugged into initially is working, that is the one I am going to use until I am done. However, in most situations, for most people, done is around 80%. One of the few times I saw someone trying to get to 100%, it was a Hyundai or Kia plugged into a 350kw station, charging over 80% when I arrived and into the 90%s when I left, about 30 minutes later. However, there was no line when I was there, but I doubt it would have bothered that individual, who looked confused because I arrived after and left before he did.

 

[HaveBlue]

I appreciate the tips here from people. Yes get out and ask who's waiting just like when ordering tacos at a stand or something. Most people are polite but it's good to watch out for the person who will be taking your ev spot and not someone snaking it from them.

I do a lot scuba diving at the beach and parking becomes a premium late mornings when I'm leaving after a dive. I get a lot of people asking as I'm breaking down gear. If they are rude and impatient I tell them I'm not leaving. I don't like people hovering and rushing as it's a process post dive. If they are friendly, or cute, I'll say it'll be a bit if you want to wait. However I'll have other people kind of jamb in try to snake the spot. I just point at the other car and make it pretty clear that I'm not going to depart my spot and let them do that.

 

[pricedm]

I ran into a couple situations this weekend.

First was a Chevy Bolt parked in front of a 350kw Electrify Canada charger, not charging, just hanging out for half an hour in Squamish.

drag 'em out? Tempting...but yeah....

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