Frustrated With PHEVs

[Engi_Nerd]

I got the call a few days ago. Nope, not that one. My dad died suddenly at 56 of a windowmaker and I needed to come take care of the ensuing maelstrom of paperwork and family drama. After what was undoubtedly the single worst day of my adult life, I pulled into the only hotel in town that I knew had EV chargers, mentally and literally on fumes. Just my luck then that both of them were taken. No, not by EVs, mind you but by a pair of shiny new Wrangler 4xEs with six inch lifts and 35 inch tires. "Guess this shit heap of a day is going to be just a bit longer" I thought as I left for the closest supercharger at 11 PM, around 20 minutes away. Sure enough, the next night, both spots were again taken, this time by a Prius Prime and a Volt. Again, after shuttling sobbing family around all day, I had to spend an extra hour supercharging. Can someone please explain to me how it's acceptable for vehicles that work perfectly fine when not charged to take the limited public charging access from those that rely on it to get home? Especially at hotels, this is really just people feeling like they're saving five bucks and getting to park up front. This problem is only going to get worse as more and more PHEVs come to market.

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[Sgt Beavis]

First off, my condolences. 56 is much too soon for anyone.

As for chargers, it won't matter if they are PHEVs or BEVs. There simply are not enough chargers. Even with the new infrastructure bill, it's going to take years to get capacity where it needs to be.

 

[COdogman]

I’m so sorry about your Dad. That sucks. I lost my Dad years ago and it still hurts to think about it.

I agree with you. I see the same thing at my apartment complex. It has 1 level 2 charger and there are at least 10-15 Teslas that live here. Yet people park their vehicle there to charge overnight. My R1T will be my first EV so I’m not up on the proper charging etiquette but I would never do that. I would come move my truck after it was charged in case someone else needed it.

 

[mgc0216]

Sorry for your loss, I am coming up on the 1 year anniversary of losing my mom so i've recently been on this journey. Some unsolicited advice: I beat myself up because I felt like I didn't mourn my mom the right way, that it didn't hurt as much as i thought it should. It took time to realize that's nonsense. Grief is not a linear path and it's not the same for everyone. It feels better one day and super crummy the next. Whatever you're doing you're doing it right.

As for EV parking spots. A lot of time they are up close. We have them at our local albertsons and they are the two closest spots. Often cars are parked there that aren't. even charging. It's like the drivers feel like they earned the right to park close because they are saving the planet.

I think we should be locating the charging stations in an inconvenient spot to discourage folks from just taking them to save their lazy butts from walking an extra 200 yards.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

I think we should be locating the charging stations in an inconvenient spot to discourage folks from just taking them to save their lazy butts from walking an extra 200 yards.

agreed. I prefer the chargers be in the back of the parking lot. Easier access and removes the “lazy” incentive to reduce blocking issues. I’m one of those weirdos who chooses to park in the back, anyway — I don’t want door dings.
At the parking garage for my office, there are multiple people who “park by feel“ and literally just drive until they hit something and call it good. This is a daily occurrence:

 

[Dark-Fx]

No, not by EVs, mind you but by a pair of shiny new Wrangler 4xEs with six inch lifts and 35 inch tires.

This is why I'm supportive of hotels that enforce a mandatory $10 charge per day for people who use the chargers. For a PHEV it's going to be way more expensive than gas to charge overnight. For an EV, it's still on the expensive side, but probably still cheaper than a fast charging option.

 

[sub]

What we really need at hotels is to be able to reserve the charging spot when you reserve the room so there are no surprises when you get there. "I'd like a room with two queens and a EV charger"

 

[Longhorngirl]

Tesla has installed floor locking devices in China. Not sure if they have these in the US, but by physically placing in object to prevent parking is the only way to guarantee only cars that need charging are parked at a charging station.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Tesla has installed floor locking devices in China. Not sure if they have these in the US, but by physically placing in object to prevent parking is the only way to guarantee only cars that need charging are parked at a charging station.

I think those Jeep 4xe with 6" lifts and big tires won't be troubled by those devices.

 

[COdogman]

And if I understand correctly how those work, they would only prevent a non-Tesla vehicle from occupying the space, right? It still wouldn’t prevent a Tesla owner from parking their car there for 12 hours when they only needed 1 to charge?

 

[Longhorngirl]

I think those Jeep 4xe with 6" lifts and big tires won't be troubled by those devices.

Haha. Agree. My point was that you need to place a physical barrier to prevent people from parking at a charging spot, not necessarily the one Tesla uses in China but as an example.

 

[FutureTruck]

As a 4XE owner (temporarily until my R1T arrives) I'll remember this, thanks for posting. I've never actually charged at a hotel charger, but if I ever do I'll remember to get my two hours of charge in and move after I'm finished.

 

[Dark-Fx]

As a 4XE owner (temporarily until my R1T arrives) I'll remember this, thanks for posting. I've never actually charged at a hotel charger, but if I ever do I'll remember to get my two hours of charge in and move after I'm finished.

If you intend on doing this, check in on plug share with an expected departure time. That way anyone who needs it and checks plugshare knows that it's worth taking a look at that time.

 

[Max]

There needs to be national and state law against parking at a Charger without charging and a good way to enforce it. Every charger should have a sign that indicates this mentioning the violation and applicable fines. Ideal would be if there were magnetic loops (like at intersections or for traffic control systems or airport parking spots) under every charging stations to detect presence of a car. Alternatively a camera with image processing software could be used. If anyone, EV, PHEV or otherwise parked but not charging, photo is used to process fines. I am sure if they open this to third party that gets a cut, it will be as wide spread as red light camera. There may be some integration with charging system for optimal result but there could also be more primitive less effective implementations like an App EV owners can use to upload photos to help inforcement.

Short of it is that if bad behavior is all reward and no cost, you will get more of it.

Inconvenient location in hotels and shopping malls is a great idea. May be EVs could have an EZpass like for toll but to remove spikes or some physical barrier. Whatever has lower cost to implement may have better luck.

May be Will Ferrel can go see what they are doing in Norway.

 

[r1t_kev]

I feel like some passive-aggressive 'business' cards to stick in violators' windscreens could be fun.

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