Conflict at the Supercharger

[emoore]

I agree that it sucks you had to deal with that guy but I must ask, why didn't you go to the closer EA station? Only 3 of 4 working means 3 are working and you can charge there just fine.

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[DuoRivians]

I bet Elon is the Model S guy’s unconditional hero

 

[FooF]

What a waste of the oxygen we share.

And those Oxnard chargers are all the way on the far side of the parking lot that is never full true dick move.

 

[Killer95Stang]

This same guy would be all mad at the gas station when you took two spots filling up your RV. "F" that guy. This isn't an issue you have control of. Once extensions or lengthen cables come out, it will most likely not be an issue, but this dipshit will still find a different issue to pick a fight with.

 

[SANZC02]

Damn.....now I'm worried.....too bad EA (from everything I've read and seen on YouTube) sucks.

From my personal experience people seem to exaggerate the negative experiences at EA. I agree they are not perfect, I frequently see stalls down and EA needs to shorten the down time for them.

That being said, I have never not been able to charge at one, that includes a 5500 mile trip where I used 33 different stations around the country.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

A little more testosterone in the Model S

I don’t think you’ll have that problem with Teslas in the future

 

[Foobar]

There are idiots everywhere. I’ve dealt with idiots like this using the wrong EvGo or EA charger for their parking spot, or taking up two spots for no reason and then acting all butt hurt when they’re called out.

People suck.

 

[srkz]

I agree that it sucks you had to deal with that guy but I must ask, why didn't you go to the closer EA station? Only 3 of 4 working means 3 are working and you can charge there just fine.

3 stations open means there's a very high probability that you'll arrive to find 2-4 vehicles waiting their turn (that's the way it goes pretty much every time I've ever tried to use an EA or EVgo station in SoCal) which can mean waiting 30+ minutes before you get to plug in, assuming everyone is only charging to 80% and moving along quickly. There's also a very high probability that several of the people charging there are charging for free and going to spend an hour or more going to 100%, or driving cars that max out at 50kW, or they left their vehicle to go shopping or eating and won't be back to unhook as quickly as they should be because EA's idle fees aren't that bad.

EA stations are slllloooowwwww. Not in terms of the current, just in terms of the process. You can get a charge, but you'd better be prepared to waste a lot of time hanging around in a parking lot just waiting for your turn. 8+ plugs (and no free charging for anyone) means you're likely to get in and out having spent no more time than what's needed for the actual charge.

 

[emoore]

3 stations open means there's a very high probability that you'll arrive to find 2-4 vehicles waiting their turn (that's the way it goes pretty much every time I've ever tried to use an EA or EVgo station in SoCal) which can mean waiting 30+ minutes before you get to plug in, assuming everyone is only charging to 80% and moving along quickly. There's also a very high probability that several of the people charging there are charging for free and going to spend an hour or more going to 100%.

EA stations are slllloooowwwww. Not in terms of the current, just in terms of the process. 8 stations (and no free charging for anyone) means you're likely to get in and out having spent no more time than needed for the actual charge.

I can see them being busy but you can check the EA app to see if they are in use.

 

[DevSecOps]

A little more testosterone in the Model S and a lot more in the Rivian (I am 77) and it could well have gotten out of hand.

I commend you for keeping a cool head. There's plenty of things that irritate me at EVGo, EA etc that people do. Charging to 100%, a Bolt using a 350 instead of an open 50, picking a power share when others are open and the list goes on. This has nothing to do with Tesla owners or Elon. It's unfortunate that some forum members go there. I had hopes that Rivian owners would be above that, but I digress.

Charging is still a new frontier and there's a lot of learning that needs to happen. I try to educate people whenever I see them doing things at charging stations that could be taken as bad etiquette. Most of the time they are receptive. The last time was actually at the Santa Nella RAN. I was charging on station 1a and all of stations 2 and 3 were open, yet a Rivian owner decided to take 1b. I got out and politely told him that if he used 2a/2b or 3a/3b, we would both charge faster because we wouldn't be sharing the juice. He moved and thanked me.

In your case I would have probably moved once I saw another Tesla pull up instead of making them wait just because I would consider that to be the polite route since I would have been hogging 2 spots. While I wouldn't expect other's to be that polite it's just what I would have done especially if I could have finished on a hotel L2 charger. I try not to be part of what I criticize others for doing, but that's just my personal take.

The problem of other vehicles charging at Superchargers has been well discussed wayyyy before they opened them up. We knew this was coming. It's just what it is for now.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I am on a long road trip from PHX to Blaine WA. Great RAN charging for much of the way. Kingman Az, Barstow CA, Buttonwillow CA, Santa Nella CA.
I stopped in Davis CA to visit family. Surprisingly, although Davis is a very envoronmentally conscious city, it is a void for EV charging. Lots of level 2 destination chargers, a Tesla supercharger that is not open to Rivian, 4 EA's of which only 3 work, 2 EvGo's one functional. So needing something a bit faster than what my hotel trickle charger could give me, I ventured 9 miles to Woodland to a Tesla Supercharger that was open to Rivians. It is an 8 station location across the street from a Costco. I went on a Saturday. When I got there there were 3 stations open. The layout required that I block 2 to use one. This is going to cause a lot of problems as the adapters reach the market. BTW, I bought an A2Z just for this trip and it has functioned flawlessly the 3 times I used.

Back to the Supercharger. After I plugged in there was only one station left. A Tesla pulled up next to me and I apologized and explained that the layout required me to use the cable from his charger. He said no problem and moved to the vacant station. Next guy pulls in a few minutes later. I apologize, tell him I will only be 10-15 more minutes and he says no problem and pulls out to wait for the next station. Right away a Model S with lots of flashy trim add ons pulls in. I apologize and explain the situation to the young man in the muscle shirt with his girl friend beside him. He immediately goes into a testosterone fueled rant about me having no right to be there, it's for Teslas, it's worng for me to take two chargers. I say I am sorry, can't be helped and I will be done in 10 minutes. He tells me it can be helped by getting my non Tesla POS out of there. He continues to rant at me and my non Tesla and that I have no right to do this. I politely explain that I do have a right. That Elon sold the right for me to be here charging knowing that it would take 2 stations. I say you need to complain to Elon because he's the one who sold out your exclusive use. He continues on then moves his car in a sulk. A few minutes later my 10 minutes is done and I unhook and leave, although by this time I was considering passive aggressively continue to charge way past 70%! Anyway as I pull away He continues to yell while impressing his GF.

I can certainly see how if these stations are not retrofitted with longer cables or dual side access a situation like this could escalate. A little more testosterone in the Model S and a lot more in the Rivian (I am 77) and it could well have gotten out of hand.

Almost identical situation but with less muscle. Pull up to a literally vacant set of superchargers and start charging. Within 10 minutes the stations fill up. Guy pulls up beside me, realizes he can't use the charger and then just stands by my window glaring at me until I finally roll down the window. He proceeds to rant about how I'm at the wrong charger, and should use the one beside me. I ask him to show me how that's physically possible and explain this is my only option unfortunately.

Then the rant about how I'm not allowed to use the charger. I follow it up with patience and let him know I should only be another 10 minutes. He storms off and grabs a coffee.

Upon returning, I get another glare, so I decide I'm done, I'll unplug and the guy can use the charger. I unplug and let him know he's good to go. He angrily plugs his car in and turns his back to me. So I pipe up and say "No problem man, you're welcome" he begrudgingly says thanks, then goes on another rant about why I shouldn't be charging there, I tell him that tesla has opened their chargers to both Ford and Rivian to get government funding, I tell him to start expecting Chevy bolts in the near future too and giggle on my way out.

To be honest, it feels almost more beneficial to just park like a jackass dead center of the line between two stalls so people can't pull in in the first place. Although you'd get an immediate fuck this guy response, rather than a delayed one.

 

[Cycliste]

He continues to rant at me and my non Tesla and that I have no right to do this.

"Then why is this charger letting me charge here? Is Tesla mistaken/stupid/idiotic?” Choose the final word as you feel fits the person ranting and the circumstances.

 

[Glembi2]

Thank you for keeping your cool.

It probably would not have been a good response to say that your truck was a new gen 2 of the Cybertruck - the “Model Rivian”.

Or a Tesla charger test vehicle.

Or that Elon personally sent you the adapter.

Or asking to see his Tesla Charger Police badge.

 

[emoore]

I commend you for keeping a cool head. There's plenty of things that irritate me at EVGo, EA etc that people do. Charging to 100%, a Bolt using a 350 instead of an open 50, picking a power share when others are open and the list goes on. This has nothing to do with Tesla owners or Elon. It's unfortunate that some forum members go there. I had hopes that Rivian owners would be above that, but I digress.

Charging is still a new frontier and there's a lot of learning that needs to happen. I try to educate people whenever I see them doing things at charging stations that could be taken as bad etiquette. Most of the time they are receptive. The last time was actually at the Santa Nella RAN. I was charging on station 1a and all of stations 2 and 3 were open, yet a Rivian owner decided to take 1b. I got out and politely told him that if he used 2a/2b or 3a/3b, we would both charge faster because we wouldn't be sharing the juice. He moved and thanked me.

In your case I would have probably moved once I saw another Tesla pull up instead of making them wait just because I would consider that to be the polite route since I would have been hogging 2 spots. While I wouldn't expect other's to be that polite it's just what I would have done especially if I could have finished on a hotel L2 charger. I try not to be part of what I criticize others for doing, but that's just my personal take.

The problem of other vehicles charging at Superchargers has been well discussed wayyyy before they opened them up. We knew this was coming. It's just what it is for now.

Why would he move if he’s still charging? He has just as much right to charge as a Tesla.

 

[1T2022]

duel: head on collision Rivian vs Tesla

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