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not much saving charging at paid station?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by hanshinji, May 19, 2014.

  1. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    In MN we have few free chargers and I have never taken the last free spot available at free chargers.
    However, electricity is much cheaper, so I don't think there is much incentive for those that don't require a charge to take a spot.
    Generally, charging at home is cheaper.
    When the charging stations first opened up many were ridiculously priced.
    There have been some adjustments making it a bit more reasonable in MN.
     
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  2. srl99

    srl99 Member

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    OK, but what do you do at Safeway?
     
  3. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    Pay what you use plus a road use tax. Fairness for all.

    DBCassidy
     
  4. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

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    I may be sleepy and need more coffee but my initial response is - who cares ? What infraction is that Volt owner committing ? Lets say he left it there 3 hrs - he's paid $10. The supermarket then made a profit offsetting their costs if 3 different owners had come in, charged for an hour each and thus paid nothing !
    Now if that was the only charging option - one plug that's a bit different but we don't know that, prob not the case and as another poster alluded - maybe he's come back and shopped anyway...
     
  5. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    ^^ I'm guessing the Volt owner mentioned above unplugged at the 59min point to avoid incurring a charge that started once the first hour was up?
    FWIW- you get 10EV miles per hour of 240v charge on the Volt- seems like a lot of effort for a lousy 10mi of charge... especially if you don't have any shopping to do in that shopping center.
     
  6. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Even though I'm finding that plugging in my PiP is barely worth the effort, I'd probably be enticed to shop at a store that provided free charging stalls.
     
  7. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Not everyone would bend down to pick up a quarter, but I'll take 30 cents worth of free power anywhere I can get it. :sneaky:
     
  8. Squirt

    Squirt Member

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    For me, it's usually a matter of taking a free charge or burning gas for an extra 17-18 miles. Not only does it save me a buck on fuel, it keeps the ICE from running for that distance, and saves wear on the engine. If there's a semi-convenient charging station, I'm plugging in.
     
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  9. Lourun

    Lourun Member

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    Never even seen one in my one year of driving a PIP, here in northern NJ.
     
  10. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

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    isn't Glenrock considered southern NJ ?
    anyway - look at Recargo - type in an address and check the map
    There are dozens in northern NJ - my wife's family is from Randolph so I searched there

    maybe not convenient and yeah you may not see them on "Main St" but Recargo or Chargepoint are useful in finding such
     
  11. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    As a kid in the orthodontist's chair back in the day, I remember vividly a Mad Magazine statement: "You know you're old when you won't bend down to pick up anything less than a quarter."
     
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  12. Will Stewart

    Will Stewart Junior Member

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    Indeed, and the reasons for me would include;

    - Reduced air pollution
    - Reduced carbon emissions
    - Reduced reliance on petroleum, imported from unstable regions of the world and whose global production will ultimately (soon?) decline.

    Will
     
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  13. Lourun

    Lourun Member

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    No Glen Rock is in Northern Nj, north west Bergen Co.
     
  14. Lourun

    Lourun Member

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    And even if there was one in the area why would somebody drive miles out of the way, wait to get a few cents of free electric to then have to drive using that electric to get back on course. Now for 30-50 miles of electric it might,maybe , be worth it.
     
  15. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

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    Very true - I don't know your area at all so no idea if any of those are convenient. Was just responding to you saying you'd never seen one in northern NJ...
    Where I live there's a lot right at supermarkets so plug in, shop, return to a full PiP. One such supermarket/plaza just added plug-in capacity for 9 cars.
     
  16. Lourun

    Lourun Member

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    Nothing like that in my part of the country.
     
  17. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Where are you?
     
  18. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

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    I think you mean Lourun ? his sig says Glenrock NJ
    I'm from west of Boston
     
  19. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Nope, you. Lourun has his location listed. I was wondering where you are where they have charging stations. There's squat around here.
     
  20. fortytwok

    fortytwok Active Member

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    fixed - location added !
    More specifically - most 99's have installed them around here. Whole Foods too. Stop + Shop following suit - my friend and his Volt have been charging / shopping at one of 9 installed there in Wayland MA, couple miles from the big malls.
    I use one 5 miles away where I grocery shop, coffee, eateries, haircut and liquor store right there. There's a nice running path too - sometimes I plug in, run, then shop.
    We have a number of shopping options - 4-5 big groceries within 6 miles - I choose mine because I can charge up there. Just maybe other businesses will see some benefit...

    I wasn't a fan of the MA gov but he's started a cash back on purchases now and appropriated funds for more charging stations.