[twriter]

Running an errand at lunch today, I stopped at the local Target, which has a few (free, for 2 hours) ChargePoint L2 chargers. When I left, the app said there were some open.


I got there to find 4 CP spots, and the last had just been filled. The rightmost spot was a Tesla.


Here's the thing. Down the row from the CP L2 chargers were about twice as many Tesla charger spots, mostly vacant. Across the row were 3-4x more Tesla charger spots, also mostly empty.



The words that I used to describe that Tesla driver are not fit for family publication.

 

[Bolt2019]

Well it's 10 more steps to go ALL the way over from the Tesla chargers donchaknow.
Would you hike that? Huh? Would ya?

 

[Jim Fallston Md.]

He could afford the Tesla but not the cost for supercharging.

 

[DaV8or]

Well, you're supposed to be in awe of the fantastic machine in front of you and wait till the owner returns and congratulate them on their excellent choice and thank them for supporting Elon's mission. Don't you know anything about electric cars??!!

 

[Ste]

Poor form. Not quite as bad as an EV in a charging spot without plugging in, but certainly getting up there.

 

[captivabolt]

That's the reason to have a Tesla cord adapter in your car....

 

[GetOffYourGas]

In my experience, Tesla drivers are the worst at this. The next step below them is Prius Prime drivers.

 

[GJETSON]

I think I may have actually seen a Prius Prime once. Here in central Virginia, it is still pretty amazing to even see another EV, let alone at a charger.

A week ago, I went to a small local hot rod/classic car show. There were the usual totally amazing customs. This time I talked to owners of not one, but two totally restored Avantis, and a DeLorean! The DeLorean owner said he meets with two other Delorean owners in this area. Of course, there were no electric cars

 

[Dyefrog]

In my experience, Tesla drivers are the worst at this. The next step below them is Prius Prime drivers.

Worst at what exactly?
Charging for free when they have available pay as you go charging? Count me in as one of them. When time allows, I have plugged into a level 2 charger and there's a Tesla supercharger on site, completely empty.
Maybe you meant worst in that no other brand that has a choice of chargers, chooses the free ones first. Although, there's not a lot of competition there as so far, Tesla is the only brand that can do that.
Or did you mean no other brand seems to take a charging spot yet not plug in? Now that if true is despicable, I agree. Can't say that I've seen it though. When you do, take a photo and post it here.
https://priuschat.com/threads/plug-in-parking-abuse-hall-of-shame-post-pics-here.138735/
This one seems to be specific to Tesla but there's an i3 also.
https://jpwhitetesla.com/2018/10/30/ev-hole-hall-of-shame/
BTW, Tesla's aren't immune from being blocked either.
https://qz.com/1506901/trucks-are-ice-ing-tesla-owners-from-charging-stations/

 

[GetOffYourGas]

Worst at what exactly?

Sorry, I should have been more specific. They are the worst about parking in front of chargers and either not using them, or leaving them there long after they are done charging (despite others waiting, and ample opportunities to move). Tesla drivers just seem entitled.

There are also a bunch of destination chargers (granted, sponsored by Tesla) with L2 Tesla connectors at J1772s. I've seen Tesla drivers intentionally use the J1772 when both Tesla connectors are available. If that's not done out of spite, then I don't know why else they would inconvenience themselves with the adapter.

 

[PhilBo]

You say fast charge but then you link to J1772 L2 extension cords.
I do entertain having all sorts of adapters though just in case. Haven't needed one yet.

You are correct, my mistake. Thanks for catching that. I deleted my post.

 

[neutrondrip]

In my experience, Tesla drivers are the worst at this. The next step below them is Prius Prime drivers.

Just one data point, the six chargers at my workplace:

• Nissan Leaf always parked in a charging space but never charging
• Tesla Model 3 sometimes parked in a charging space and never charging
• Chevy Volt sometimes parked in the charging space and sometimes not charging
• Prius Prime sometimes parked, always charges but never unplugs when finished (unplugged me to plug himself in once)
• Tesla Model S rarely parked, never charging

Moral of this data point is that there are equal opportunity EV-holes here. We have at least 5 or 6 Teslas here and they used to block the charging spots when the chargers weren't being utilized much, but they've started parking in the regular spaces once the chargers began to be more heavily used.

 

[GetOffYourGas]

Point taken. Selection bias may be at play. Teslas certainly outsell all other EVs combined.

 

[Bolt2019]

• Tesla Model S rarely parked, never charging

So like he's driving around all the time with solar panels on board working while the self-driving drives?




Maybe people think they're like handicap spots. Well this is an EV...I'll park here. Not quite grasping that it's for *charging* said EV.

 

[Dyefrog]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. They are the worst about parking in front of chargers and either not using them, or leaving them there long after they are done charging (despite others waiting, and ample opportunities to move). Tesla drivers just seem entitled.

There are also a bunch of destination chargers (granted, sponsored by Tesla) with L2 Tesla connectors at J1772s. I've seen Tesla drivers intentionally use the J1772 when both Tesla connectors are available. If that's not done out of spite, then I don't know why else they would inconvenience themselves with the adapter.

I agree completely then. They make us all look bad. The only thing I can imagine on your last point is maybe the destination chargers were full when they arrived but I will certainly keep a lookout for that kind of behavior as I'm embarrassed as a Tesla owner that this seems to be a profile none of us want associated with our ride. It's truly baffling as I think the destination chargers are faster than a typical Level 2, between 8kW-16kW.


https://www.tesla.com/findus?v=2&se...s=destination charger&zoom=8&location=dc18822


When I got my first BEV 4 years ago, I had little fortune cookie sized slips of paper with a polite message about not blocking an EV space with an ICE. I remember one instance where I had just slipped it under the wiper as the truck owner and wife were approaching. As I explained it to him in person, he seemed annoyed and not at all apologetic. It wasn't worth my time to engage any further as I would be wasting my breath at best and end up in jail at worst. I've since realized to let nature run it's course and eventually, the adoption shift will organically lessen the infractions in my "glass half full" outlook.

 

[PhilBo]

"It wasn't worth my time to engage any further as I would be wasting my breath at best and end up in jail at worst."
No problem. When the police show up just tell them you can't be "charged". They'll understand.

 

[discodanman45]

If people have the opportunity to charge for free or pay, most people will take the free. The problem here is free charging. My wife had 70% charge and decided to use the malls free level 2 charger. It was by Xmas and she did it for a parking spot. When she told me I got pretty upset. I told her that we didn't need to charge and some people depend on that being open.

I think all level 2 chargers should charge a minimal fee to avoid issues like this. My work charges $0.15 a kWh and I appreciate it. If I ever need to charge at work because of a situation, I know that at least one will be open because it is not free.

 

[Dyefrog]

If people have the opportunity to charge for free or pay, most people will take the free. The problem here is free charging. My wife had 70% charge and decided to use the malls free level 2 charger. It was by Xmas and she did it for a parking spot. When she told me I got pretty upset. I told her that we didn't need to charge and some people depend on that being open.

I think all level 2 chargers should charge a minimal fee to avoid issues like this. My work charges $0.15 a kWh and I appreciate it. If I ever need to charge at work because of a situation, I know that at least one will be open because it is not free.

I think yours' and Redpoint's comment of a token charge especially if not "sponsored" by a retail establishment hits the nail on the head. I've plugged in at my local grocers plugs when I certainly didn't "need" the charge and once in a while, I will have taken the last spot of 3. They are not conveniently located so if the weather's bad or I'm feeling lazy, I will just park closer to the door. This discussion does make me think more about not plugging in if it's not necessary especially when I'm only getting $.25 worth of juice and it's the last spot. Point being, if there was even a $.25 plug-in fee, I wouldn't use them, probably ever. I'm never there long enough to recoup the fee.

 

[redpoint5]

Are Tesla drivers not "entitled" to the parking spot and charging benefit?

The point of installing the spots in the first place wasn't charity, or to solve logistics problems for EV owners; it was to attract affluent customers in the hope that they will spend money. Another reason is to convey a "green" image to boost the perception of being socially responsible.

What percent of people absolutely depend on L2 charging to complete their trip? 1%? Hardly anyone is brave or foolish enough to depend on free L2 charging to complete their trips, so the whole concept is mostly a gimmick to begin with.

I don't doubt that some people are more considerate than others, and I'm not saying people should be selfish. What I'm saying is that whenever free stuff is offered, we're inviting poor behavior and abuse of the benefit. That's human nature; not Teslarati nature.

I stayed at the Flamingo once (my first and last experience with Priceline), and the parking structure was full except about 8 charging spots. It was within my right to park there in my Prius Plug-in, but instead I parked in the employee lot far away, out in the sun. Probably nobody used those spots since all of them were empty (and EVs were pretty rare in 2015). I'm not a Prius driver, I'm an individual that drives a Prius (among many other vehicles). My behavior isn't that of a Prius owner, it's that of myself alone.

 

[neutrondrip]

Maybe people think they're like handicap spots. Well this is an EV...I'll park here. Not quite grasping that it's for *charging* said EV.

The spots are very close to the entrance, and I'm afraid that many of the EV drivers who park here and don't charge are doing it for the preferential parking.

I'm trying to work with the facilities people here to put up some signage that says "EV charging, not EV parking" or something similar.

If that doesn't work, I'm afraid those of us who follow the rules of etiquette will have no recourse. Unfortunately, security here is pretty toothless, they can only leave a strongly-worded note on your car.