Conflict at the Supercharger

[VSG]

Theory art

Might as well just have a sign that says "My car has low self-esteem"

Sponsored

 

[VSG]

I take your point, but "guest" or not, it's never okay to take up two charging spots when people are waiting. Even for us "first class" Rivian owners. IMO.

In my R1T I take up EXACTLY one parking spot and use EXACTLY one charger. This apologizing for using "two" chargers is part of what I'm talking about. The spots to either side of me are free for any other Rivian to use.

The only way the "two spots" argument has any merit is if all the other vehicles are Teslas and if the supercharger is mostly full. That may be true right now, but when all Rivians and Fords get their adapters, and all the other manufactures that signed the Tesla agreement finally get access, then that won't be true anymore. And there are twice as many types of cars with a front-left/rear-right charge port that agrees with Rivians than there are with a rear-left/front-right port that agrees with Teslas.

So here's a scenario: Imagine an 8-stall supercharger where Teslas are parked in every other spot, as is commonly done. Then there are only 4 vehicles charging, but there is NO PLACE for a Rivian to park. Each Tesla is using "two spots" that could be used by a Rivian, a Mach-E, a Lightning or (in the near future) a BMW, a Hyundai, a Kia, a Mercedes, a Volkswagen, etc.

What do you think the response would be if you asked one of these Tesla owners to move one space over so you could charge your Rivian?

 

[ads75]

That's false. Most Tesla's cannot charge at CCS chargers, many are not enabled, and even though all newer Tesla are enabled, most Tesla don't have the required adapter (mostly because it wouldn't get used). My family currently has four Tesla and none of them can charge at a CCS charger.

Are you, or other Tesla owners actively pushing Tesla to allow Teslas to charge at EVGO or EA? I fail to understand why Tesla's can't or won't carry an additional adapter to allow more charging options. Just seems lazy or cheap.

 

[DevSecOps]

Exactly the wrong attitude. The amount of likes on your comment saddens me.

It's sad how many people do things with disregard for others just because they "can". I could go to Chick-Fil-A and spend 15 minutes in the drive through ordering for 30 people at the office but that would be fucked up and inconsiderate (instead go in or order ahead). I think there's a lot of people who feel the need to harass others due to their own shortcomings (lifted truck syndrome).

This shouldn't about what you "can" do as many are proclaiming, it should be about what's considerate of other EV drivers. Other's saying well it only blocks a Tesla, well yeahhhhh ... like the OP says he's doing (whataboutism). Blocking 2 spots while making others wait when you don't even need the charge (could finish on the hotel L2) isn't very considerate of others. They justify it because "Tesla bad". I've bookmarked this thread because I know when RAN opens up to the public the same people defending blocking 2 spots will have their day. Hypocrisy isn't a good look. I don't want people double parking at RAN, EA, EVGo or Tesla units if it's preventing other's from charging and I would never do that to anyone else.

 

[Underwhirled]

Tesla doesn't want to tell its customers other brands can now use Tesla chargers. It would let their customers (and potential customers) know they can buy other brands and still use (some) of the chargers. I wouldn't really expect a company (like Tesla) to send an email to its customers saying "can't we all get along" when referring to other brands. And to be fair to Tesla, they are assuming their customers will figure out the network is open when they see other brands using them.

I wouldn’t expect a “Can’t we all get along” email from Tesla or any other brand. They did need to make it clear to their customers who were once under the impression that they had an exclusive charging network for their vehicles, that they had sold the privilege to others.

It’s was up to them to find a way to communicate that in a way that makes sense for them. Leaving it to others to “figure out” at the chargers clearly causes conflict.

Edit: It looks like the QR code posted takes care of the notification.

 

[Black Muddy Rivian]

So there’s a 6 dispenser Shell Recharge station near me that shares a parking lot with a 20 dispenser Tesla SC. In the days before I upgraded my house to a 200amp drop and installed a level 2 charger I would use this DCFC quite often. Every time I went there it was a wait for the Shell side, that’s just the state of level 3 charging in metropolitan SoCal. But not at the Tesla side. Usually at least half of the SC dispensers were available. But here’s the thing, Shell Recharge had slightly cheaper electrons than the SC. Perhaps half the time I arrived to wait in line to charge on the CCS dispensers there was a Tesla there, charging on CCS with an adapter, ostensibly because of the cheaper rate. Sometimes 2 of the 6 CCS chargers would be in use by Teslas while SC spots were available and 3 or 4 non-Tesla BEVs waited in line (myself included). I never saw any of the non-Tesla BEV drivers get grumpy about this or even politely ask the Tesla drivers to move over to available SC chargers to make room for the queue of non-Tesla BEVs waiting. Maybe a shrug, or at worst a roll of the eyes. I’m sure it happened, I’d even put money down that it got heated at times, just not in any of my visits.

Take from my anecdote what you will. I’m just stoked that the next time I have to charge there I can use one of those SC dispensers (with my A2Z adapter) if the CCS dispensers are all taken. Thanks Rivian and Tesla for working that out, feels like an embarrassment of riches at this point to not have to wait for a charger.

 

[RalphB]

I too am 77, but this A$$hole is the reason I feel a lot better carrying a baton next to my drivers seat.

 

[mkhuffman]

It's sad how many people do things with disregard for others just because they "can". I could go to Chick-Fil-A and spend 15 minutes in the drive through ordering for 30 people at the office but that would be fucked up and inconsiderate (instead go in or order ahead). I think there's a lot of people who feel the need to harass others due to their own shortcomings (lifted truck syndrome).

This shouldn't about what you "can" do as many are proclaiming, it should be about what's considerate of other EV drivers. Other's saying well it only blocks a Tesla, well yeahhhhh ... like the OP says he's doing (whataboutism). Blocking 2 spots while making others wait when you don't even need the charge (could finish on the hotel L2) isn't very considerate of others. They justify it because "Tesla bad". I've bookmarked this thread because I know when RAN opens up to the public the same people defending blocking 2 spots will have their day. Hypocrisy isn't a good look. I don't want people double parking at RAN, EA, EVGo or Tesla units if it's preventing other's from charging and I would never do that to anyone else.

I agree with you. I have had my Ford adapter for a few weeks now and I really don't want to use it until I can get an extension cord and avoid blocking two spaces. $300 is pretty reasonable, I think. My biggest concern is how bulky it will be and will it fit in my frunk with everything else in there.

 

[emoore]

I agree with you. I have had my Ford adapter for a few weeks now and I really don't want to use it until I can get an extension cord and avoid blocking two spaces. $300 is pretty reasonable, I think. My biggest concern is how bulky it will be and will it fit in my frunk with everything else in there.

I can't see how an extension cord will work well. Probably limited charging due to heat. And I won't buy a $300 extension cord to make up for Elon's short sightedness.

 

[Duckman]

I am frustrated that I have to explain why I was at the SC site as opposed to the discussion of what happened. I arrived in Davis with a low SOC. The hotel has a 6kw charger that could charge up overnight. But I had family things to do and tried the EA and the EvGo resulting in the usual frustration. I don’t agree that I should have waited for a slot to charge with the usual EA problems. So I drove 9 miles to a Rivian compatible site.

 

[Duckman]

As an update, I continued my trip north from Davis today. The Rivian trip plan had me stopping to charge at the EA in Anderson on Ball Ferry Road. I have been there before and it is the usual EA shitshow. I went anyway and of the 4 stations 2 were busy and the one I drove to was “unavailable “. So I continued to the SC in Redding 10 miles north. This was the result. I was able to utilize the right end station and not block anyone.

 

[Placer Paul]

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.

You handled this as well as was possible. There is no accounting for the odd emotional adolescent or two we're all bound to encounter.

 

[Duckman]

Tomorrow Rivian planner wants me to stop at a 6 station EvGo in Tacoma with 2 stations “out of order”. Tesla has 2 Rivian compatible locations nearby. Unusually the station closest to the EvNoGo has 4 out of 12 out of order which still leaves twice as many functioning as the EvGo. The other nearby station shows 12 functioning. Probably where I will go. Rivian planner does not identify the available SC stations. You have to use the Tesla app.

 

[Duckman]

You handled this as well as was possible. There is no accounting for the odd emotional adolescent or two we're all bound to encounter.

Thanks.

 

[mkhuffman]

I can't see how an extension cord will work well. Probably limited charging due to heat. And I won't buy a $300 extension cord to make up for Elon's short sightedness.

I prefer to have access now rather than waiting 2-5 years for all the SCs to be updated with longer cords first. And I really don't understand your irrational Elon hate, but whatever dude. Personally I am thankful he agreed to open them up.

And you will spend $70k+ on a vehicle you want but refuse to spend $300 in order to be considerate to others? Seems pretty selfish to me. This is another reason I hate public charging.

Sponsored