Shortage of electric vehicle chargers?

[jyl]

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/10/11/science/in-california-electric-cars-outpace-plugs-and-sparks-fly.html?_r=0&referer=http://slashdot.org/~HughPickens.com

Is competition for charging spots really such a problem?

If you really need one charger for every two electric vehicles, that isn't going to work.

[wdfifteen]

The only problem I've had is ICEhole drivers who are either to dumb to read or to inconsiderate to care, who park in a charging spot. There needs to be a penalty for blocking an EVSE space. I was in Champagne, Illinois this summer and two douchenozzles on Harleys were parked in the only two EVSE spaces in the parking lot. A $250 ticket would stop that BS.
One problem is the design of some of the charging stations. Instead of putting an EVSE out in the middle so four cars can park adjacent to it, they put them along the edge of a lot so only two can park nearby.
This will work out, but there needs to be some technology and a protocol for using these things. My Volt, for instance, will set off an alarm if someone unplugs it when the door is locked and the battery isn't fully charged. There is a light on the dash that comes on when the car is charged, indicating that the alarm is disabled. Then someone can unplug my car and plug theirs in - if they can get close to the EVSE. I don't know if all EVs have this or not. There should be a lock on the plug so that it can't be unplugged if the doors are locked and the battery isn't charged.
I try to be courteous. My car sends me a text when it is charged and I go move it away from the EVSE as soon as possible. There should be some kind of penalty for leaving your car in the EVSE space after it's charged. I've never unplugged another car, since I can go anywhere on gas if I have to.

[Paul_Heery]

I have no sympathy for anyone that is totally dependent on the availability of public access chargers. If you bought an EV, you should charge it at home. If you bought an EV that doesn't have enough range to get you home, you bought the wrong EV.

[Jeff Higgins]

I have no problem with public access chargers - we freely re-fuel our gas and diesel vehicles when out and about, why shouldn't electric vehicles be allowed to do so as well?

Their problems are, of course, centered purely around how long it takes. One easy solution would be to establish refueling stations with lot attendants that shuffle the cars around as they get charged.

E-vehicle owners would, of course, likely have to pay for this service. Hell, they should be paying for the kilowatt hours being pumped into their cars at the going rate anyway. No more "free" public charging stations that the rest of us are paying for.

As far as an immediate solution, though, courtesy and cooperation are essential for the current system to work. Unfortunately, that is what is entirely lacking at the moment. My e-vehicle driving acquaintances all share this very same complaint - the lack of courtesy among their peers. When they were the only ones driving these things, life was good. Now that demand is up on the "free" charging stations, it can really suck.

I will not hold my breath while the e-vehicle community sorts this out. They will almost certainly demand the rest of us help them out, monetarily and logistically. That's how they roll. They are a bit of an "entitlement" population. I guess that's maybe why it's at least a little bit amusing to listen to them whine...

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I will not hold my breath while the e-vehicle community sorts this out. They will almost certainly demand the rest of us help them out, monetarily and logistically. That's how they roll. They are a bit of an "entitlement" population. I guess that's maybe why it's at least a little bit amusing to listen to them whine...

This. It's the typical "Everything I don't like should be banned/made illegal, Everything I do like should be paid for by someone else."

[GH85Carrera]

Honest question, what is the LAW about parking in front of EV charging units?

Is there any law at all that says ONLY an EV can park there? Can a EV park there and NOT take a charge?

It is certainly NOT a handicap parking spot which is indeed protected by law.

[Nordwest]

I have a Leaf and the only "FREE" charging station I have ever seen is at a Nissan dealer.

[Paul_Heery]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The only problem I've had is ICEhole drivers who are either to dumb to read or to inconsiderate to care, who park in a charging spot. There needs to be a penalty for blocking an EVSE space.

After there was some noise raised by the EV community, there was considerable debate in the CT legislature this year regarding doing just this, issuing tickets for parking in these spots which would require a change in the law. But, it died quickly when one of the members pointed out that it defeats the primary purpose of parking lots, which is PARKING. The overall consensus was that, other than handicap spots, all parking spaces in a lot are fair game.

It makes it interesting as Tesla installed these superchargers on the Merrit parkway. But, as the signs point out, these are parking spaces and not necessarily reserved for EVs.

[Paul_Heery]

pic

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by Paul_Heery

After there was some noise raised by the EV community, there was considerable debate in the CT legislature this year regarding doing just this, issuing tickets for parking in these spots which would require a change in the law. But, it died quickly when one of the members pointed out that it defeats the primary purpose of parking lots, which is PARKING. The overall consensus was that, other than handicap spots, all parking spaces in a lot are fair game.

It makes it interesting as Tesla installed these superchargers on the Merrit parkway. But, as the signs point out, these are parking spaces and not necessarily reserved for EVs.

This makes perfect sense^^. However, why couldn't the charging spaces be time restricted, much like loading zones or green curb parking? Set a time limit that falls within a reasonable range for charging a typical EV, and then ticket any car that exceeds the time limit. That way, whatever type of car parks in the space, it will have to free it up of face a ticket.

Or how about requiring a credit card to be inserted into the charger in order to activate the system. If the credit card is not reinserted and a "Turn off" button activated within a set time limit, the account will be charged a designated fee which might escalate the more time passes. This system could also prevent an outsider from turning off the charger and using it for themselves.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Honest question, what is the LAW about parking in front of EV charging units? Is there any law at all that says ONLY an EV can park there?

It depends on the state and the community. Some places there are no laws, other places have various laws. The problem is, what looks like a parking space to some people isn't a parking space, it's access to the EVSE.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Can a EV park there and NOT take a charge?

They shouldn't. But some douchnozzle EV owners do it. Even they haven't gotten their heads around the fact that IT ISN'T A PARKING SPACE.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

It is certainly NOT a handicap parking spot which is indeed protected by law.

It's not a parking spot, it's access to the EVSE. Nobody should be there if they aren't charging a car.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It depends on the state and the community. Some places there are no laws, other places have various laws. The problem is, what looks like a parking space to some people isn't a parking space, it's access to the EVSE.



They shouldn't. But some douchnozzle EV owners do it. Even they haven't gotten their heads around the fact that IT ISN'T A PARKING SPACE.



It's not a parking spot, it's access to the EVSE. Nobody should be there if they aren't charging a car.

In those areas where these are not parking spaces, the idea I posted above--requiring a credit card to activate/deactivate the system--coupled with patrols that will ticket parked vehicles, could provide a remedy to the problem. The technology is already here. If the "Turn off" penalty fee is high enough, EV owners will make sure they move their cars when charging is finished. If they don't care of the cost, the ticket by the patrol can make it financially painful as well.

There could even be a "Cash Back" bonus if you deactivate the system within a short time of the completed charging that would be an incentive to get charged and get out. Don't see why this couldn't be done, except for the costs of fitting the systems with the activating technology.

[wdfifteen]

^^
I like your idea. Charge enough to pay for the power and to pay for enforcement. This business of treating EV owners like privileged citizens just ticks off the ICE drivers and isn't necessary. Put the EV charging stations three rows from the front of the lot - the extra wire doesn't cost that much. This business of putting them on front edge of parking lots confuses people and it's inefficient. Put four spaces around each EVSE to minimize the parking issue.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

FUEL CELL BABY!!!!!!!!

This whole charging thing will never work en masse.

While we don't have charging stations near where I live yet, we do have a lot of cute little parking spaces at hip local grocery stores. Right next to the "expectant mother" parking spaces, and "people of variety" parking spaces, are the "electric vehicle only" parking spaces.

These should immediately be moved to the back of the g#$ da#$ parking lot. Since the electric vehicles are so "clean", it only benefits the planet to have them drive the extra distance to the back. Secondly, since the owners are young and hip, they are in shape and can afford to walk. Thirdly, when these grocery stores add the charging feature, and everyone starts to abuse it, putting these cars out of the way only makes sense. It's a win win for the grocery store- because the gas guzzling out of shape drivers will be able to buy more beer/potato chips/beef/dog food (high volume items) and get them to their behemoth gas guzzling cars quicker if they are parked close.

I'm here to save the world. One small problem at a time!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It depends on the state and the community. Some places there are no laws, other places have various laws. The problem is, what looks like a parking space to some people isn't a parking space, it's access to the EVSE.



They shouldn't. But some douchnozzle EV owners do it. Even they haven't gotten their heads around the fact that IT ISN'T A PARKING SPACE.



It's not a parking spot, it's access to the EVSE. Nobody should be there if they aren't charging a car.

OK, so the next thing someone needs to invent is a fake EV connector. I can park in the nice spot up front and plug in the but not actually have to have a electric car.

[Tervuren]

^ Making the EV spots metered seems the easiest solution.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

These should immediately be moved to the back of the g#$ da#$ parking lot. Since the electric vehicles are so "clean", it only benefits the planet to have them drive the extra distance to the back. Secondly, since the owners are young and hip, they are in shape and can afford to walk. Thirdly, when these grocery stores add the charging feature, and everyone starts to abuse it, putting these cars out of the way only makes sense. It's a win win for the grocery store- because the gas guzzling out of shape drivers will be able to buy more beer/potato chips/beef/dog food (high volume items) and get them to their behemoth gas guzzling cars quicker if they are parked close.

I'm here to save the world. One small problem at a time!

Remind me never to vote for you.
EVs have their uses. They aren't for everyone, but for some of us they are fantastic. Your over the top stereotypes are hilarious. Unfortunately a lot of shallow thinkers believe that stuff is true. It's not. My wife and I both have Volts. I'm 65 and I have arthritis in my feet and a bad knee. My wife is 61. Our dogs eat 10 lbs of dog food a month. None of us are big beer drinkers.

[techweenie]

I haven't used any parking lot chargers in over 2 years. I charge at home.

Some lots that had free charging when I got my Volt went to a third party system involving putting credit on a card and only that card would activate the charger. The world's dumbest startup idea, ever. Further, the ones that took regular cards seemed to be about a buck an hour. Not sure how many miles of charge I'd get in an hour, but didn't seem worth it.

There is an app where people can list their J1772 connections as 'publicly available.' But not sure how valuable stopping to charge in someone's residential carport would be.

All of the above is why I picked a plug in hybrid, anyway. There is no mileage limit. I use the battery, then the engine kicks in. It even has a mode that uses the engine to charge the battery. My average after 2-1/2 years and 25K miles is 125 MPG.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

HA! You are not for real! You must be stopped! To the back of the parking lot for you!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by techweenie

It even has a mode that uses the engine to charge the battery. My average after 2-1/2 years and 25K miles is 125 MPG.

Which mode is that?

I actually was able to increase the estimated range of the battery while driving through West Virginia last week. I put it on "hold" going up hills - it operated on the ICE and held the battery charge level. Going down I put it on "normal" and the regenerative braking had increased the range level from 25 miles to 29 after a few hills. My wife called me a nerd, but what's the use of having a new toy if you don't play with it?