Guest charging etiquette

[svet-am]

I kind of look at it like allowing guests to use my pool, showers, and other electronics - generally good form to ask before helping themselves. It’s negligible in the grand scheme of costs and it’s not like they are trying to sleep in your bed or use your toothbrush.

In some ways it's like expecting someone to let you use their wifi when visiting their house. Just ask first. Most people will say yes anyway but courtesy is to ask first.

A good example is last Thanksgiving, my wife's brother and his family were staying at a hotel nearby. They drove their Tesla from Minnesota to Colorado. On the last day of their visit they were at about 10% with no DCFC nearby so I let them charge on the L2 at my house all day so that they could socialize with us and still be topped off before they set back to Minnesota on the morning of the next day.

Sponsored

 

[Tahoe Man]

I wouldn't want someone pulling into my driveway expecting to L2 charge all day at peak rates on my dime. If they offer to pay, it's still awkward with an overall weird feeling. Best is to tell them to bring something in exchange. Where it gets really weird is when they ask if they can use your dryer plug.

I'm not sure how it's like using the wifi..wifi cost nothing.

 

[PAFDenver]

Maybe I am missing something obvious, but why do they need to charge? I can see the case where they are traveling from a long distance, I would proffer them a charge then. But this sounds like it's frequent so I suspect fairly local people.
It's just a strange situation to me. I wouldn't bring my laundry to someone's house if they invited me for dinner. But if I spill a glass of wine on my clothes I hope they would offer letting me wash my clothes.

 

[kylealden]

For me the overall cost to have people charge is negligible...I was more asking what's the etiquette. People are generally welcome to charge. My question was more orientated toward the people doing the charging..what's that perspective?

To the extent that your circumstances make it possible,

1. Be a generous host
2. Be a generous guest

Generally speaking, Rivian/EV owners aren't going to miss a few bucks for an L2 charge or a few bucks for a six pack or a decent bottle of wine (or even an Ozworthy crudité).

When someone might need to charge at your home, offer it unconditionally. When you charge at someone else's home, bring a token of your thanks.





Unless it's a Hummer.

 

[Taco]

Personally I wouldn't care but our TOU price is .05/cents /kWh so a full charge is $7.50 or as I see a beer. If i'm out with friends i'd buy them a beer and not even think about it so. However if you're in CA where the price of power is stupid high, that same charge might be upwards of like $48... or something like that depending on the price I might think about it. That said they're friends, if they need some power and I have a hook up feel free, if they've got their own at home then I'd find it strange they need to use it.

 

[timesinks]

For me the overall cost to have people charge is negligible...I was more asking what's the etiquette. People are generally welcome to charge. My question was more orientated toward the people doing the charging..what's that perspective?

As the host, I try to avoid putting my guests in the position of asking. If we know they're coming in an EV, we'll ask something along the lines of "do you think you'll want to charge while you're here? We're happy to move the car before you arrive."

Or if they're friends we know don't have home charging, we'll just move the car anyways and give them a hard time if they don't plug in.

 

[RBR1S]

Here's my question for the forum: What is the proper etiquette when you're charging a BEV as a guest at another persons' house? There's several things you can do that range from just letting them charge, to charging them by the kWh, have them bring a nice bottle of wine, etc.

Thoughts?

They have to help with the dishes!

No seriously, I mean here locally, a Leaf or Bolt would be like $5 to charge. An R1T/S maybe $20?

But a Tesla = sorry, we don't have your brand of electricity here.

 

[JerseyGreens]

Not sure about you folks but if I'm inviting people to my house they are either 1) Family, or 2) very good friends...because as you get older quality reigns supreme over quantity...

If I have the comfort of them walking around my home, hanging out with my kids, breaking bread with us....then I sure as heck wouldn't mind them charging their EVs at my place.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I have a H2 2023 delivery window on a R1T and thought I'd pose a question to see what the collective thought is on friends & guests charging at your home while visiting.

Here's the background: We have a L2 Charger at our main home that we use with the Tesla Roadster and will also use with the Rivian when it comes. Our vacation house (~250 miles away) only has a L1 set-up that will be upgraded to a L2 charger once the Rivian gets closer to delivery.

We currently have friends who frequently visit in their BEVs and there is often this little dance they do to get to an outlet to charge. It's sort of come to an expectation that they can charge as they are visiting. To put this into an ICE perspective, it's like I'm paying their gas money to get home.

Here's my question for the forum: What is the proper etiquette when you're charging a BEV as a guest at another persons' house? There's several things you can do that range from just letting them charge, to charging them by the kWh, have them bring a nice bottle of wine, etc.

Thoughts?

Friends? I let them plug in. I’ve got a Tesla, J1772, and a NEMA 14-50.

What do I care? They’re friends. I’ve got a solar field so the energy is free, even if it wasn’t we’re talking maybe $5 worth of electricity. I don’t charge them for ice water, food consumed, or energy used to keep them comfortable which would Add up to more than the cost to charge.

Its all costs involved in being a host IMO.

 

[NY_Rob]

OP.. you're lucky enough to have good friends and even better ones that you enjoy spending time with at your home. If the pandemic has taught us anything it's that lives can be cut short and being isolated sucks.

Eat, drink, laugh, share and enjoy!!!! Don't overthink the little things.....

 

[golden_frog]

If they are good guests otherwise, I don't see the problem with letting them top off. I'd pretty much expect to be able to charge my R1T as a guest. If they are otherwise bad guests, then it would be one more thing that would annoy me.

Most of my guests are "good guests" who I enjoy hosting. But I do have a cousin who brings her husband and 2 young kids to stay with us about twice a year. They've started becoming bad guests in multiple ways, to the point that I'm close to telling them "no" the next time they ask to stay. If I came home and found them hooked up to my charger, they would be one step closer.

 

[crashmtb]

Just issue them an invoice and blame pg&e ?‍
put one of these in the guest room too

 

[Mathme]

 

[Hoo D. Hoo]

Once I get it installed, I plan to offer and encourage it. It's a hello-welcome thing, just like offering beer, wine or soft drinks.

Sponsored