FILE - Electric cars are parked at a charging station in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Proposition 30, which has has divided Democrats, would add a tax on the highest earners, with most of the money going toward building charging stations and helping people buy electric cars. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Q: I am responding to Jo Howard’s comments last week about EV charging station rudeness. We have had an electric car since 2018. I agree that there is chaos and rudeness around EV chargers. I see three types:
1. ICEing: This is when an internal combustion engine (gas-powered) vehicle parks in an EV charging space, making it unavailable for EV drivers who need to charge. Sometimes it is done out of ignorance, sometimes out of malice. Most EV drivers have encountered this.
2. Non-charging EVs: Most EVs notify you on a phone app when they are done charging. And lots of charging stations have posted time limits. Often, you encounter a fully charged EV that is still connected to a charger. Even worse, some EV drivers treat these spaces as “reserved parking” and don’t plug in at all.
3. Line cutting: At busy chargers, a line often forms. Some people try to cut in line, which can result in heated arguments at times.
Josh B.
A: And…
Q: You asked readers to share experiences with rudeness at EV stations. Here is what I witnessed last summer:
While exiting Walmart in Mountain View, I saw a young woman sprint across the parking lot with a child about 8 years old in tow. She ran to the EV area and said something to a young man who was taking the charging plug out of his car, about to leave. Without going into all of the detail, very angry words were exchanged on both sides.
Confounded by the rage, I asked around and surmised that he used the EV stall just to park as he shopped and that his car had been charged for a while.
Shuttle drivers who use a nearby stop for breaks said they often see road rage at that EV station.
Terah James, Palo Alto
A: And…
Q: We have owned a Ford Mustang Mach-e (great car!) for over two years and charged at stations from Sunnyvale to Reno. We have never encountered rudeness at a charging station, including where only two out of six chargers were working and four other cars were waiting their turn. In fact, I have joked that owning an electric car will contribute to the owner
living a longer life. When we charge, we sometimes socialize with other drivers. You also have time to get out and walk around so you don’t suffer from the sitting disease as much as you would waiting in line the same length of time at Costco for gas. Finally, we have gotten free charges twice when Electrify America was updating its system and let everyone have free electrons.
Vivian Euzent, Sunnyvale
A: Thanks for these reports about your various experiences at charging stations.
Look for Gary Richards at facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Originally published at Gary Richards