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[Richard230]

I was at Alice's Restaurant today and was told by one of the owners that they were no longer going to allow electric vehicles to use the L2 outlet on the side of their gas station wall.  The reason is that their electrical system can not handle the load and their breakers sometimes trip off when EVs have been charging in the past, resulting in disruptions to their operations.  There is now a handwritten sign above the 240V outlet saying "No electric vehicle charging".  However, I was told that it would be OK to use their 120V outlet located behind the backyard fence gate, adjacent to the real estate office.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

It seems like the charging during the last meet may have caused some kind of fault (it very well could have been me, but I didn't notice anything during my session).

Unfortunately, their NEMA 14-50 plug is on the same breaker circuit as their fuel pumps, and when I first heard they had problems, they were saying that their septic system had failed in some way. They claimed that they were waiting for an electrician's assessment before allowing any charging again, but this sounded like an uninformed cautiousness rather than a confident assessment. I think we've gathered collectively that 3-5kW is okay there, but no one seems to know what or who triggered their problem.

I think it is the case that their electrical system is old and not very robust, and any serious EV charging in their location will require an unfortunate amount of investment. It's annoying that Toyota is installing a hydrogen station across the street for their Mirai car, when EVs are actually common now.

[anton]

I was at Alice's Restaurant today and was told by one of the owners that they were no longer going to allow electric vehicles to use the L2 outlet on the side of their gas station wall.  The reason is that their electrical system can not handle the load and their breakers sometimes trip off when EVs have been charging in the past, resulting in disruptions to their operations.  There is now a handwritten sign above the 240V outlet saying "No electric vehicle charging".  However, I was told that it would be OK to use their 120V outlet located behind the backyard fence gate, adjacent to the real estate office.

Just this past weekend there was a printed sign above 120V outlet as well, which I didn't notice. Managed to top off my bike for a bit and then told by one of the staff that I cannot use that outlet either.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Just this past weekend there was a printed sign above 120V outlet as well, which I didn't notice. Managed to top off my bike for a bit and then told by one of the staff that I cannot use that outlet either.

That means that there's absolutely no charging available near that crossroads now, because the broken down gas station is gone in favor of the hydrogen station, of all things. This sounds absurd.

There's a library just within two miles with level 2 chargers down towards town, but the region around CA-35 and westward is incredibly sparsely covered, practically nothing available until Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz.

[Richard230]

Just this past weekend there was a printed sign above 120V outlet as well, which I didn't notice. Managed to top off my bike for a bit and then told by one of the staff that I cannot use that outlet either.

That means that there's absolutely no charging available near that crossroads now, because the broken down gas station is gone in favor of the hydrogen station, of all things. This sounds absurd.

There's a library just within two miles with level 2 chargers down towards town, but the region around CA-35 and westward is incredibly sparsely covered, practically nothing available until Half Moon Bay or Santa Cruz.

And since that is where I do much of my riding that explains why I am always encouraging Zero to up their battery pack capacity, even though most other riders would prefer fast charging.

I was finally found someone who showed me how to download photos taken with my smart phone.  Attached is a photo of the side of the gas station at Alice's.  It shows the L2 outlet and above it is a conduit with a white strip attached to it.  That is the sign that says no electric vehicle charging.   

Cute cat on the nearby bench.   

[NEW2elec]

This just strikes me as a slap in the face for EV companies, and riders who did meet ups at this "iconic" spot.
Charging will need to be faster and at current gas stations if even restaurants (even one's where you can get anything that you want) denies charging.

[Richard230]

This just strikes me as a slap in the face for EV companies, and riders who did meet ups at this "iconic" spot.
Charging will need to be faster and at current gas stations if even restaurants (even one's where you can get anything that you want) denies charging.

Alice's Restaurant has three problems, two of which existed when the current owner purchased the business and buildings:  An old and flaky electrical system (the buildings have been there since at least the 1930's); not much of a parking lot; and now they have way too many customers (on the weekends) for the size of the restaurant and available parking and no additional area that they own to add to their parking lot. I don't think you can fault the Restaurant for being so successful under the current owners.  It was not always the case. (I have been riding my motorcycle there since the early 1970's - when you had lots of room to park, even on the weekends.)

[NEW2elec]

I heard they have an old electrical system and "maybe" breakers were getting popped so I don't really blame the owners for banning something that hurts their business.
Just a bit of irony that Zero and Energica and maybe Alta used this place to woo media.
Before you hook your cart up be sure the horse you choose can pull it 

I do think long term stand alone charging will be the norm as others don't want to be in the refueling business but we'll see.

Safe and happy riding for all.

[Richard230]

Meanwhile the new H2 gas station across the street just keeps getting bigger and bigger (and likely more expensive) every week.   

[Shadow]

Meanwhile the new H2 gas station across the street just keeps getting bigger and bigger (and likely more expensive) every week.   

The compressors need a lot of electrical energy to run. I don't see any technical reason which prevents it from also becoming an EV charging station.

[Richard230]

Meanwhile the new H2 gas station across the street just keeps getting bigger and bigger (and likely more expensive) every week.   

The compressors need a lot of electrical energy to run. I don't see any technical reason which prevents it from also becoming an EV charging station.

My thoughts, exactly.  But I bet whomever is bankrolling the H2 Highway probably doesn't want the competition.   

[KrazyEd]

I see H2 as just milking grant $$$ until they figure out that it costs more to produce than it's worth.
I can't believe that since the cars ( appear to be electric drive train ) that they don't have EVSE ports.
This way, someone could drive it like a Volt and use H2 when it is available and electric otherwise.

[mrwilsn]

I see H2 as just milking grant $$$ until they figure out that it costs more to produce than it's worth.
I can't believe that since the cars ( appear to be electric drive train ) that they don't have EVSE ports.
This way, someone could drive it like a Volt and use H2 when it is available and electric otherwise.

H2 use an electric drive train but not a battery or if there is a battery it's small.  They could make a battery/H2 hybrid but H2 is just dumb IMHO.  Simplify and just use a battery.

Energy companies like it because they keep the old model of generating the fuel, shipping it all over and then charging for a fill up.

They don't like batteries because they can be charged from solar panels and they get cut out of the picture.  Win for the people is a big loss for the energy industry.

From a science nerd perspective it's cool but I pray that it dies as a serious option for transportation.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[oobflyer]

I was the last one to charge from our EV ride in August - I charged after Brian. When I came back to my bike after lunch it was still charging, so I know I didn't trip the circuit breaker.

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I bet the guy selling the gas saw our large group of electric bikes and realized that EV bikes are getting more popular/more common - and cut us off from refueling for free. (Imagine ten bikes pulling into the gas pumps, each buying two or three gallons of gas...)

I would have happily paid for the electricity, of course, if there were a way to do that.

What do you think? Maybe we can offer to pay to use the outlets?

I would also happily ride to a different destination ;-)

[Shadow]

Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I bet the guy selling the gas saw our large group of electric bikes and realized that EV bikes are getting more popular/more common - and cut us off from refueling for free. (Imagine ten bikes pulling into the gas pumps, each buying two or three gallons of gas...)

Hey man, how come you never ask me when I'm selling the gas, and you make up all these harsh rumors about me, man...  on the INTERNET.  What a total bummer, man. Be cool, be cool.