ICE'd by a Tesla. Or was I "BEV'd"?

[DuckTruck]

I stopped by the store yesterday for five minutes to pick up a few items and thought I'd plug in for a little free charging. I was surprised to see a Tesla taking up one of the two spots with charging, but noticed it wasn't plugged in. I guess I got "Tesla'd". Still unplugged when I left...

No idea how long it'd been there when I arrived, but there was plenty of open parking within 50 feet.

Thinking that Volta might need to change their tagline to "Charging For Some".

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[crashmtb]

You’ve been Elon’d!

 

[Rally1]

Yes, I find it strange when EVs take up a charging space but don't charge. Surely they experience the other end of that equation themselves on occasion. Happens all the time at Chargepoint locations.

 

[ChampagneUnicorn]

I have also 100% parked at a ChargePoint and tried to plug-in and it’s busted. Twice. At that point, I’m like F it, I’m not moving..

 

[crashmtb]

Upon further inspection, one could park in the next spot over and plug in a rivian just fine

 

[atebit]

Hoo-mans will be hoo-mans no matter what powers their runabouts - Rule of Acquisition No. 298.

 

[sevengroove]

I find these situations tricky to navigate. I was recently at a hotel for the night where there were three EV parking spots in the garage - 2 Tesla destination chargers and one Clipper Creek for us non-Tesla EV owners. I set it to charge around dinner time and was close to 80% by bedtime, so trying to be a good EV owner I went back down to the garage to move my R1S out of the spot to free it up for others. However, the garage was full at this point. Only one spot was open, and that was one of the Tesla chargers. The other Tesla spot coincidentally had a Tesla just like this - parked but not plugged in. What was I supposed to do? I did not have anywhere else to move to and I did not need to be plugged in either, so I just unplugged and left the vehicle in the same spot.

By morning of course other spots had opened up, by which point it would have been very easy for someone to drive by and think that I was an asshole for having parked in that one EV spot without needing to charge.

So yea, I don't know. We need a guidebook or something.

 

[kylealden]

Given my experience with Volta (and, frankly, with most retail/municipal L2 chargers), I'd bet the charger is broken so this guy figured he wasn't truly in anyone's way.

I'll admit I've done that, although I usually leave the broken charger plugged in for appearances

 

[Rally1]

Bring your compass yellow painters tape to properly identify busted chargers

 

[zipzag]

I find these situations tricky to navigate. I was recently at a hotel for the night where there were three EV parking spots in the garage - 2 Tesla destination chargers and one Clipper Creek for us non-Tesla EV owners. I set it to charge around dinner time and was close to 80% by bedtime, so trying to be a good EV owner I went back down to the garage to move my R1S out of the spot to free it up for others. However, the garage was full at this point. Only one spot was open, and that was one of the Tesla chargers. The other Tesla spot coincidentally had a Tesla just like this - parked but not plugged in. What was I supposed to do? I did not have anywhere else to move to and I did not need to be plugged in either, so I just unplugged and left the vehicle in the same spot.

By morning of course other spots had opened up, by which point it would have been very easy for someone to drive by and think that I was an asshole for having parked in that one EV spot without needing to charge.

So yea, I don't know. We need a guidebook or something.

Leaving your phone number is one passibility. Turning you charge rate down so it takes all night is another

 

[Ralph]

As EV sales increase, these types of situations will be even more common. Maybe a deck of cards with pre-printed messages to defuse frustration and anger?

"I tried to move after charging, but there were no open parking spaces anywhere. My apologies!"

"I'll return by XXX time, when my charge is estimated to be complete."

"All chargers out of service."

 

[ads75]

Leaving your phone number is one passibility. Turning you charge rate down so it takes all night is another

Although I understand the theory behind leaving your phone number so someone can call/text you to ask you to move (especially at a hotel), I prefer not to leave my number out for all to see, to be contacted at anytime, and by anyone, who may be more interested in my wallet or keys than actually charging. I would probably park and charge, check at some point to move it when it was done, and if there were no spots, leave it for the night, and check again in the morning.

 

[zipzag]

Although I understand the theory behind leaving your phone number so someone can call/text you to ask you to move (especially at a hotel), I prefer not to leave my number out for all to see, to be contacted at anytime, and by anyone, who may be more interested in my wallet or keys than actually charging. I would probably park and charge, check at some point to move it when it was done, and if there were no spots, leave it for the night, and check again in the morning.

In a Tesla, and probably eventually Rivian, you can turn on the cameras from the app. In particular you can who is calling and if they have an EV.

But there are few situations where leaving a number makes sense. One place I did leave a number was at free charging at a local electrical utility yard office across from a motel. No sign said I couldn't charge overnight. But it was private property and I didn't want to be towed.

 

[tojesky]

Although I understand the theory behind leaving your phone number so someone can call/text you to ask you to move (especially at a hotel), I prefer not to leave my number out for all to see, to be contacted at anytime, and by anyone,....

Get a free Google phone number.

https://www.appsverse.com/blog/how-do-i-get-a-google-phone-number/

What are the benefits of Google Phone Numbers?
The benefits of Google Phone Numbers are many. Having an extra phone number is incredibly useful in many real world situations.

For example, -You will not need to give out your real phone number with strangers - You can rely on your same cell phone plan minutes and texts -No need to buy new SIM card -No need to buy new phone -Get additional features like like free text messaging and voicemail transcription.

 

[zefram47]

As EV sales increase, these types of situations will be even more common. Maybe a deck of cards with pre-printed messages to defuse frustration and anger?

"I tried to move after charging, but there were no open parking spaces anywhere. My apologies!"

"I'll return by XXX time, when my charge is estimated to be complete."

"All chargers out of service."

This is one use for PlugShare. You can leave an estimate of how long you'll be charging and even a note/comment if you want.

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