EV Etiquette with Mr (& Mrs) EV

[PremierscfcEV]

I've just watched a YT video charging etiquette ans wondered what everyone else's experience has been since taking the EV plunge.

l'm hopefully ordering a ZS or MG5 soon and this is something I've never considered.

 

[Gomev]

I've not watched it yet, they tend to make long videos, but she is quite good, very straightforward and cuts through the bullshit to speak the obvious.

 

[Alb]

Seems to me that someone so desperate to be unfriendly has other problems.

 

[AnonymouseDriva]

Seems to me that someone so desperate to be unfriendly has other problems.

Quite possibly. Being the parent of an ASD and ADHD child (and recognising some of those symptoms in myself - it is genetic after all) I can see how this could be a major issue for people who genuinely don't want to (or more to the point, find it extremely difficult to) interact with random people.
'Pay at pump' was a godsend. Turn up, swipe your card, fill up, go. No interaction necesarry.

Couple that with the fact that you're now not on a nice brightly lit forecourt with CCTV (Well, it's there to protect the dino juice, but it's still there) and you're instead out in the open at the back of a dingy car park often with no security etc. then you're not going to be welcoming to people knocking on your door.

I guess many EV drivers are used to just approaching each other as it's a 'niche' thing so you have a shared , rare 'common interest' - but that's becoming less the case. These are slowly becoming more 'normal'.

In all honesty, with charge speeds and availability at the moment, if I couldn't do 99% of my charging at home then I wouldn't be driving an EV. Having to go out of my way to a petrol station is bad enough - I couldn't imagine having to take my car somewhere and wait half an hour plus just to charge it back up.

 

[JohnInFrance]

I noticed this on a French FB group the other day, not something that I've previously noticed, but it makes a lot of sense. As the guy with the Zoe arrives the Tesla is using the free charge point at the supermarket, so he unlocks his charge flap and then leaves the car locked.



When the Tesla owner returned he/she unplugged and plugged in the Zoe - all nice and friendly and everyone wins.

 

[5teep]

Seems to me that someone so desperate to be unfriendly has other problems.

I think that maybe that she is simply not a social creature (I know others like her) and it just adds to her discomfort to have people intruding on her personal space, albeit they mean well mostly.
That said, I've watched a number of their vids now and she is very set in what she likes and does not.

 

[Nutnut]

I've just watched a YT video charging etiquette ans wondered what everyone else's experience has been since taking the EV plunge.

l'm hopefully ordering a ZS or MG5 soon and this is something I've never considered.

This amused me greatly. She's no nonsense and gets straight to the point.

It's one thing to nod and smile but I wouldn't walk up to someone's window just like that, let alone open the door! Certainly I wouldn't nag an individual either to find out when they'll be done.

I don't know why some take the different method of 'refuelling' as a blanket OK to encroach on others.

 

[Deleted member 823]

I think I'm the only person on the planet who doesn't get YouTube for things like this - I really don't want to watch a 30 minute video of two people chatting in a car!

 

[seye]

I have watched that and it did make me think. My wife will be using out EV most of the time. She works shifts so may well end up charging at hours I think exist only once a day but apparently they occur twice. Probably wont be a problem of queues though at those times ;-)

Everyone should respect each other and behave in a way that does not make anyone feel uncomforatble. Unfortuantley that is not always the case. Its not an EV charging issue its a courtesy and manners problems.

We can only lead by example but others may not follow. That doesnt mean we all fall to the lowest common denominator. Calling out raises awareness, that can't be a bad thing.

Hopefully charger installers will take note and make the environment safer by design. Open & light.

Tech can easily help with electronic queueing ( think ANPR when you go to the supermarket combined with being called to the counter at Argos ).
That same tech could also easily help with overstay too. So 3 cameras for 1) arrive in queue, 2) use charge point, 3) depart would serve all the purposes.
As a bonus they do security too

If its really smart you wouldnt even necessarily need payment details as it knows the car, like tesla does when you plug in ). You could choose to auto authorise, but it would need to be a choice

Maybe I should patent that idea and licence it to all the charging companies.

 

[Lovemyev]

I have watched that and it did make me think. My wife will be using out EV most of the time. She works shifts so may well end up charging at hours I think exist only once a day but apparently they occur twice. Probably wont be a problem of queues though at those times ;-)

Everyone should respect each other and behave in a way that does not make anyone feel uncomforatble. Unfortuantley that is not always the case. Its not an EV charging issue its a courtesy and manners problems.

We can only lead by example but others may not follow. That doesnt mean we all fall to the lowest common denominator. Calling out raises awareness, that can't be a bad thing.

Hopefully charger installers will take note and make the environment safer by design. Open & light.

Tech can easily help with electronic queueing ( think ANPR when you go to the supermarket combined with being called to the counter at Argos ).
That same tech could also easily help with overstay too. So 3 cameras for 1) arrive in queue, 2) use charge point, 3) depart would serve all the purposes.
As a bonus they do security too

If its really smart you wouldnt even necessarily need payment details as it knows the car, like tesla does when you plug in ). You could choose to auto authorise, but it would need to be a choice

Maybe I should patent that idea and licence it to all the charging companies.

I like yourself watched this video a few days ago and it did get me thinking about her views and fears ?.
I have watched many of their videos and I find her opinions very funny on times.
But this is a serious subject that she raises.
I tend to find that the majority of EV owners are a great bunch and are only too pleased to chat and help each other out, if needed.
But I do see how this can feel very intimidating for somebody travelling on there own, or with young children.
Knocking on the glass is bad enough, but
attempting to open the door of the car is a complete NO NO !.
If and when larger charging hubs are produced, that have a lot of people / cars in brightly lite forecourts, this maybe fine.
But a single charger around the back of a dark building, is no place for anybody to be on a cold dark night.
You are an instant target for the “Pond Life”.
She makes a good valid point !.
Think about how you would feel, if that was one of your family or loved ones, placed in that position.
In that situation, I would tell my wife to find a well populated and well lit area and park up.
Ring the recovery services to come and get you.

 

[Solar powered]

Good lighting at public ev chargers should be compulsory and designed in when the chargers are sited. Electricity to run led floodlighting is at the charger anyway. It should actually be a health and safety issue and have a minimum required light level to use high current electric equipment in low lighting areas.

 

[JohnInFrance]

Good lighting at public ev chargers should be compulsory and designed in when the chargers are sited. Electricity to run led floodlighting is at the charger anyway. It should actually be a health and safety issue and have a minimum required light level to use high current electric equipment in low lighting areas.

I believe that it is indirectly already covered by the Lighting at work regs (HSG38) in the UK

 

[Solar powered]

Technically you wouldn't be at work so those regs might not quite work in a court of law, but there must be a regulation that describes a minimum light level for the safety of customers using a companies equipment. And thinking about it, what is to stop young children wondering along and fiddling with this equipment and cables.

 

[JohnInFrance]

Technically you wouldn't be at work so those regs might not quite work in a court of law, but there must be a regulation that describes a minimum light level for the safety of customers using a companies equipment. And thinking about it, what is to stop young children wondering along and fiddling with this equipment and cables.

Yes and no - commercial sites are required to comply with the EAW regs because people work there, thus places such as filling stations, motorway services etc. have to comply.
Under the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and subsidiary legislation, car park owners and any contractors operating car parks or services in them on their behalf, have a responsibility to ensure that car parks are safe to use. However, the notes on lighting are all advisory (guidance) suggesting that if a charge provider sited their chargers in poorly lit areas they could potentially be prosecuted in the event of an incident, but not just for the initial lack of lighting - strange thing the law eh?