I probably wouldn't have gone there in the first place, if the app told me that the sole charger there was being used. That's if I was pushed for time. If I had all day and there was no time pressure, I would have done what you did. But yeah, if there was another charging station which showed vacant chargers on the app, I would have gone straight there.
This issue should dealt with by the provider of the charging station laying out the conditions on a sign or on the screen or on the app for disconnecting a vehicle.
At the self serve wand wash near me they have the rules posted on the wall. No hand washing. No drying your car in the car wash. Keeping the bays clear for the next customer. Your idea sounds similar and a good one, I think.
At one of the parking lots where I work in Boston, there are four pay charging stations with a two hour limit. If the car is still there after the time is expired, the user will be charged $10US an hour for parking.
Maybe that is why it is a good idea to have a charging cost after the charge is over and the car still sits there. Call it a parking fee vs a charging fee. Have like a 5 minute leeway before the parking fee kicks in.
A few years ago Strathroy Ontario had one level two charger with one cord downtown and one near the 402 at a car dealership, today there are quite a few more. This downtown charger was free and always occupied by three or four cars and often after they were charged, basically used like their personal charger. I needed a charge to complete my trip, an older LEAF was plugged in fully charged so I didn’t feel bad at unplugging it and plugging mine in. Today this charger is replaced by two Chargepoint chargers with a total of four cords, costing $3 an hour, and almost like magic the cars that were always hogging the charger are never to be found.
Sounds like they were trying to save a few cents in electricity using that charging station at the expense of everyone else who might have actually needed it.
Easy way to prevent that would be for the provider of the charging station to charge $300 per hour for the vehicle 10 minutes after charging is completed. The Chargepoint charger on Ness and Sturgeon is free while charging, but charges you if you leave your vehicle plugged in after charging is complete.
If you are running experiments, I would lean towards to not unplugging a car even if done. What would be best is if we had a sign or a way in the app to notify people you ar okay with unplugging your car when it stops. I think best, don't touch others unless you know they will not have an issue.
Yes. If that car is plugged in that charger is un-available. You move to the next charger. If the car has been plugged in and completed charging for two days that charger is un-available. If you like, you can leave a note granting permission to un-plug your car. In the absence of a note or a driver. That car is private property. That charger does not belong to you and it is as much his as it is yours. His thoughtlessness does not grant you access to that charger.
Ain't no way dude, it's still his if he's plugged in for two days? That's never happening. This is why many DCFC have idle charges if you don't move your car. I'd have that mofo towed out of the charging spot if his car was on the charger for 2 days. It's 100% an option to have the vehicle towed if the spot is placarded "while charging only".
The charger is not the vehicle owner's property, it's the charging company, and you don't have to touch a vehicle to unplug it, only the charger. 100% I would unplug a vehicle, only if I knew for sure it had stopped charging.
What would you do in this situation?
I probably wouldn't have gone there in the first place, if the app told me that the sole charger there was being used. That's if I was pushed for time. If I had all day and there was no time pressure, I would have done what you did. But yeah, if there was another charging station which showed vacant chargers on the app, I would have gone straight there.
This issue should dealt with by the provider of the charging station laying out the conditions on a sign or on the screen or on the app for disconnecting a vehicle.
At the self serve wand wash near me they have the rules posted on the wall. No hand washing. No drying your car in the car wash. Keeping the bays clear for the next customer. Your idea sounds similar and a good one, I think.
At one of the parking lots where I work in Boston, there are four pay charging stations with a two hour limit. If the car is still there after the time is expired, the user will be charged $10US an hour for parking.
Maybe that is why it is a good idea to have a charging cost after the charge is over and the car still sits there. Call it a parking fee vs a charging fee. Have like a 5 minute leeway before the parking fee kicks in.
Agree. I think Tesla does this and calls it an idle fee.
Many DCFC in my area have idle fees that start after 10 minutes.
A few years ago Strathroy Ontario had one level two charger with one cord downtown and one near the 402 at a car dealership, today there are quite a few more. This downtown charger was free and always occupied by three or four cars and often after they were charged, basically used like their personal charger. I needed a charge to complete my trip, an older LEAF was plugged in fully charged so I didn’t feel bad at unplugging it and plugging mine in.
Today this charger is replaced by two Chargepoint chargers with a total of four cords, costing $3 an hour, and almost like magic the cars that were always hogging the charger are never to be found.
Sounds like they were trying to save a few cents in electricity using that charging station at the expense of everyone else who might have actually needed it.
Easy way to prevent that would be for the provider of the charging station to charge $300 per hour for the vehicle 10 minutes after charging is completed.
The Chargepoint charger on Ness and Sturgeon is free while charging, but charges you if you leave your vehicle plugged in after charging is complete.
W,w,w,wait…you sat there for half an hour AFTER their car stopped charging?!? How adorably Canadian of you!! 🇨🇦
😄
If you are running experiments, I would lean towards to not unplugging a car even if done. What would be best is if we had a sign or a way in the app to notify people you ar okay with unplugging your car when it stops. I think best, don't touch others unless you know they will not have an issue.
Yes. If that car is plugged in that charger is un-available. You move to the next charger. If the car has been plugged in and completed charging for two days that charger is un-available. If you like, you can leave a note granting permission to un-plug your car. In the absence of a note or a driver. That car is private property. That charger does not belong to you and it is as much his as it is yours. His thoughtlessness does not grant you access to that charger.
Ain't no way dude, it's still his if he's plugged in for two days? That's never happening. This is why many DCFC have idle charges if you don't move your car. I'd have that mofo towed out of the charging spot if his car was on the charger for 2 days. It's 100% an option to have the vehicle towed if the spot is placarded "while charging only".
The charger is not the vehicle owner's property, it's the charging company, and you don't have to touch a vehicle to unplug it, only the charger.
100% I would unplug a vehicle, only if I knew for sure it had stopped charging.
@@GregHassler Good point. The parking spot is also not the property of the vehicle owner.
Buy gas car and go to a gas station! :)