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[Doug S]

So I (finally!) got my Diginow up and running this weekend, tested it on the 14-50 outlet I have at home, and it's great. Yesterday after work I went to a Chargepoint station on my way home to verify that the card was initialized, billing worked correctly, etc. That all worked great and in 26 minutes I received 2.713kWh of energy at a cost of $0.81 (not as bad of a ripoff as I was expecting actually -- I'm not going to use it too often anyhow).

As I was also pretty much expecting, two of the four stations had non-EVs in them, making them inaccessible (though on the bike I could have gone up on the sidewalk if necessary). I was rather pleasantly surprised to find that the parking fee for the station I was using was free until 6:18 pm, by which time I would have been out of there anyhow. At 6:18, it was scheduled to go up to $2.00 per hour.

But that got me thinking. After 6:18, of all the vehicles in this large shopping center parking lot, none of them would have to pay a parking fee EXCEPT FOR the charging EVs....even the ICE cars hogging the EV spots! We're being charged for parking when nobody else (even the scofflaws) is.

Is that standard practice? Are the rates determined by the service provider (Chargepoint in this case) or by the facility (the shopping center)? I feel the need to craft a Sheldon Cooper blazing email but I'm not sure who to send it to.

[NEW2elec]

I see it's a deterrent to letting people stay parked for long hours or days at a mall.
I don't agree with it but I see their "why".
Also I hope everyone has their eyes open enough to see we're just trading oil tycoons for electric tycoons.  Without the low end trucking  and drilling jobs that come with gas they will make even higher profit margins faster.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

From the FAQ: http://www.chargepoint.com/support/driver-faq/

How much will I pay to charge my car?



Stations on the ChargePoint network are independently owned, so each station owner sets the price for use of their stations. Many stations are completely free to use. You can see the price to use a specific station on our mobile app by viewing the indicated rates on the station details page, or click a charge spot on our online map and view pricing in the station details pop up. The price also scrolls across the charging station's display. Because prices are dynamically configured by individual station owners, the price you pay at any given ChargePoint station is subject to change at any time without notification.

[Erasmo]

As I was also pretty much expecting, two of the four stations had non-EVs in them, making them inaccessible (though on the bike I could have gone up on the sidewalk if necessary).

https://twitter.com/ivebeeniced for all your public shaming I also carry around bright pink business cards to stick behind a wiper and raise all the other wipers in the upright position because fuck those people.

[Doug S]

Also I hope everyone has their eyes open enough to see we're just trading oil tycoons for electric tycoons.

When I look at Plugshare in my area, I see at least as many residential stations as public stations. I'm going to try to use the privateers when I can. Granted, it may be a bit harder to get to a coffee shop to wait out the charging period, but it's worth it to me to not support some faceless, money-grubbing megalopolis. I'll even buy them a burger for giving me some electrons.

I love the pink business card idea. I'd assume the majority of these people are macho men who "have the balls" to park where they're not supposed to, so anything pink and highly visible would be a great way of shaming them. Maybe carrying a can of silly string to write "I'm a scofflaw" on their rear windshield would be even more visible? Or a pad of pink post-it notes to apply over a large surface area?

[DonTom]

When I look at Plugshare in my area, I see at least as many residential stations as public stations. I'm going to try to use the privateers when I can. Granted, it may be a bit harder to get to a coffee shop to wait out the charging period, but it's worth it to me to not support some faceless, money-grubbing megalopolis. I'll even buy them a burger for giving me some electrons.

I have that $300.00 adapter cable that converts the J1772 to an AC cord. I have a "Y" server cable so I can bring a quick charger (ten lbs) in one of my saddlebags and charge at twice the speed.

I sometimes use the ChargePoints and they are always free. At least all the ones I have seen here in Reno and Carson City have been free.

But I am just curious, who pays for all these free chargers?  In some cases, like the one I will use today at a casino, I assume the casino  pays for it. But some are just in an alley or wherever.  Who is paying for these?

-Don-  Reno, NV

[Richard230]

When I look at Plugshare in my area, I see at least as many residential stations as public stations. I'm going to try to use the privateers when I can. Granted, it may be a bit harder to get to a coffee shop to wait out the charging period, but it's worth it to me to not support some faceless, money-grubbing megalopolis. I'll even buy them a burger for giving me some electrons.

I have that $300.00 adapter cable that converts the J1772 to an AC cord. I have a "Y" server cable so I can bring a quick charger (ten lbs) in one of my saddlebags and charge at twice the speed.

I sometimes use the ChargePoints and they are always free. At least all the ones I have seen here in Reno and Carson City have been free.

But I am just curious, who pays for all these free chargers?  In some cases, like the one I will use today at a casino, I assume the casino  pays for it. But some are just in an alley or wherever.  Who is paying for these?

-Don-  Reno, NV

Probably some government or utility agency, funded by your tax or utility dollars.     The only thing that I know of that is free is my advice. 

[togo]

Charging stations that are free eventually get abused and often charges are imposed.

I love the policy of the chargepoint stations at Sutter maternity. Free for two hours and then $20/hr.

I usually charge at$1/hr charge point stations. There are free ones on my route too but they are often occupied. I get 8.3kw for an hour for my $1.

[MrDude_1]

some are free because the owner believes they bring in business... no taxdollars.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

The stations seem to cost several thousand dollars, not including the cabling to wherever in a lot they're meant to go, permits, electrician labor, etc., so I can see why most retailers (often operating conservatively at low margins) would demand a fee. Especially if they're twitchy about vandalism.

[MrDude_1]

The stations seem to cost several thousand dollars, not including the cabling to wherever in a lot they're meant to go, permits, electrician labor, etc., so I can see why most retailers (often operating conservatively at low margins) would demand a fee. Especially if they're twitchy about vandalism.

That kind of bothers me too.  I mean they're just a microcontroller board, one big relay, a plug, and a GFCI coil.
Cost of hundreds... understandable. You want good markup to stay in business.
Cost of thousands? eeehhh....

[Doug S]

I encouraged one of my frequent destinations to install a regular 14-50 outlet, put a padlock on it and keep the key behind the counter -- they can charge a fee to use it or not, their choice. Installation cost is very low, it'll provide 10+ kW, they have control of it (so no third-party fees), and I think most EVs have a charging adapter to be able to use it. So much simpler and easier. Why not just use the existing standard?

[togo]

The stations seem to cost several thousand dollars, not including the cabling to wherever in a lot they're meant to go, permits, electrician labor, etc., so I can see why most retailers (often operating conservatively at low margins) would demand a fee. Especially if they're twitchy about vandalism.

That kind of bothers me too.  I mean they're just a microcontroller board, one big relay, a plug, and a GFCI coil.
Cost of hundreds... understandable. You want good markup to stay in business.
Cost of thousands? eeehhh....

"thousands" probably includes running heavy duty cable to the parking lot, perhaps upgrading service to the property.

[Keith]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-EV-Charger-Indoor-Outdoor-Level-2-DuraStation-Wall-Mount-with-18-ft-Cord-EVDSWGH-CP01/205808537

$397 Level 2 charging station

[Erasmo]

I encouraged one of my frequent destinations to install a regular 14-50 outlet, put a padlock on it and keep the key behind the counter -- they can charge a fee to use it or not, their choice. Installation cost is very low, it'll provide 10+ kW, they have control of it (so no third-party fees), and I think most EVs have a charging adapter to be able to use it. So much simpler and easier. Why not just use the existing standard?

Because J1772/Mennekes is the standard?

The stations seem to cost several thousand dollars, not including the cabling to wherever in a lot they're meant to go, permits, electrician labor, etc., so I can see why most retailers (often operating conservatively at low margins) would demand a fee. Especially if they're twitchy about vandalism.

That kind of bothers me too.  I mean they're just a microcontroller board, one big relay, a plug, and a GFCI coil.
Cost of hundreds... understandable. You want good markup to stay in business.
Cost of thousands? eeehhh....

"thousands" probably includes running heavy duty cable to the parking lot, perhaps upgrading service to the property.

In that case it doesn't really matter if you go for a station instead of an outlet if the price difference is about $400 for a basic one.