Coined a new EV term!

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

Ok, but hospital security personnel ON their property? Come on.

I've been talking about retailers, who are not likely to tow because of the hassle dealing with upset customers.

Hospitals are a lot more likely to enforce them, but probably won't unless people complain.

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[BigNerd]

The question here is does the customer have ANY right to be upset? Clearly the sign says you must be charging and they are not. The best deterrent is the one that inconveniences people the most.\

Or maybe put a note on their windshield saying next time they will be towed... grey ticketing.

 

[FordEVTruck]

The question here is does the customer have ANY right to be upset? Clearly the sign says you must be charging and they are not. The best deterrent is the one that inconveniences people the most.

I was reading a few news articles of some nasty things EV owners were doing to ICE vehicles parked in an EV spot. Nasty stuff and that is so not right. Don’t ever commit a crime or be nasty in return.

HOWEVER, they probably sell stickers that list parking violations that are, apparently, quite tough to remove from a side windshield. I heard from a friend.

 

[shutterbug]

Handicapped parking spots are required by and protected by law. EV spots are electively placed there by landlords to attract customers. Police are not obligated to enforce them.

So? Pass such law. I don't see this as insurmountable problem.

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

I was reading a few news articles of some nasty things EV owners were doing to ICE vehicles parked in an EV spot. Nasty stuff and that is so not right. Don’t ever commit a crime or be nasty in return.

HOWEVER, they probably sell stickers that list parking violations that are, apparently, quite tough to remove from a side windshield. I heard from a friend.

I think shopping centers could definitely cut down on complaints by doing some sort of stickers like that. As for me, I'm just happy they're free. My power company (Con Edison of NYC) gives me monthly rebates via PayPal whenever I charge in NYC, even in free spaces at the mall less than a mile from my house... So I jump at any chance to use them.

I tend to use the ones in the back of the lot. If they put most in the back, there will be virtually zero non-EVs using them.

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

So? Pass such law. I don't see this as insurmountable problem.

My guess is that shopping centers above a certain size will eventually be obligated to provide EV parking. When that happens, these spots could potentially be protected by those same new laws.

One thing I know is that the newer handicap laws require a lot more spaces than the older ones, and that any parking lot built, paved, or re-painted is obligated to enforce the newer regulations. So, when they do start mandating EV spots, they will likely allow older lots to remain as-is until the lots or the buildings do any renovations.

 

[Blainestang]

So? Pass such law. I don't see this as insurmountable problem.

Sort of off topic because this didn't happen in Florida, but Florida has a law about EV charging spots, but it only requires that the car in the spot be *capable* of charging, not that they actually be charging. So, ICE vehicles can't block charging spots or they can be legally ticketed, but EVs can block EV spots and they're still within the letter of the law.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, yes, write the laws, but also make sure they're worded in an intelligent way that actually solves the problem.

 

[Surfnturf]

I don't think you can tow cars for not actively charging. If you did this vandals/punks would simply unplug the vehicles that don't lock the charger to the vehicle when charging. And by them doing something so simple would result in a towed vehicle at your expense. Does the Lightning charging cable lock in place when charging or can it be removed?

 

[FordEVTruck]

I don't think you can tow cars for not actively charging. If you did this vandals/punks would simply unplug the vehicles that don't lock the charger to the vehicle when charging. And by them doing something so simple would result in a towed vehicle at your expense. Does the Lightning charging cable lock in place when charging or can it be removed?

It is removable like every other charger I have seen/used. Lock in place?

 

[Amps]

Does the Lightning charging cable lock in place when charging or can it be removed?

It is removable like every other charger I have seen/used. Lock in place?

The VW ID.4 I had locked all charging cables when connected. It had to engage the lock pin before initiating a charge. Lightning locks cable during DCFC as required, not Level 2. Though, with an unlock button at the charging port, it becomes a moot point as to whether a third party can unplug it.

 

[PrivateJoker]

Gosh, I hope this video doesn't inspire anyone.

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

Gosh, I hope this video doesn't inspire anyone.

With those rear wheels locked, it would be a bit of a problem for the towed car to move far on a dry surface, but I'm not surprised the Tesla could handle the tow itself.

Generally speaking, towing a vehicle thats not in neutral is not a good idea, which is why police tow trucks use a method that lifts the locked wheels.

As I've mentioned, I think these types of problems would happen less if they placed the chargers in the rear of the parking lot, instead of the up front spots. Nobody would go out of their way use an EV spot if it wasn't up front.

Some people already get upset when they see the best spots are reserved for cars with handicap permits and the person who gets out isn't struggling to walk. That reminds me of a scene in a Jim Carry movie where he trashes a parked car driven by a young healthy driver, only to realize he was picking up a man in a full body cast.

 

[sotek2345]

With those rear wheels locked, it would be a bit of a problem for the towed car to move far on a dry surface, but I'm not surprised the Tesla could handle the tow itself.

Generally speaking, towing a vehicle thats not in neutral is not a good idea, which is why police tow trucks use a method that lifts the locked wheels.

As I've mentioned, I think these types of problems would happen less if they placed the chargers in the rear of the parking lot, instead of the up front spots. Nobody would go out of their way use an EV spot if it wasn't up front.

Some people already get upset when they see the best spots are reserved for cars with handicap permits and the person who gets out isn't struggling to walk. That reminds me of a scene in a Jim Carry movie where he trashes a parked car driven by a young healthy driver, only to realize he was picking up a man in a full body cast.

The counterpoint to the location is that L2 EVSEs typically branch off of existing electrical infrastructure (i.e. at the building) and putting them in the back of the lot cost a LOT more money (trenching and repaving, more and heavier wiring, etc.), It can be the difference of a few thousand to add them at the front of the lot and a few hundred thousand to add them at the back.

 

[FordEVTruck]

The counterpoint to the location is that L2 EVSEs typically branch off of existing electrical infrastructure (i.e. at the building) and putting them in the back of the lot cost a LOT more money (trenching and repaving, more and heavier wiring, etc.), It can be the difference of a few thousand to add them at the front of the lot and a few hundred thousand to add them at the back.

That makes total sense.

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

The counterpoint to the location is that L2 EVSEs typically branch off of existing electrical infrastructure (i.e. at the building) and putting them in the back of the lot cost a LOT more money (trenching and repaving, more and heavier wiring, etc.), It can be the difference of a few thousand to add them at the front of the lot and a few hundred thousand to add them at the back.

Great point. As a rule of thumb most of the paid Fast Chargers are in the back of shopping centers.

In those cases, I can only assume they're getting power directly from the lines coming from the street, or the lights which may already be on the outside edges... and they absolutely have their own meters billed to the Fast Charging company rather than the landlord.

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