Forget being ICE'd, I've been Tesla'd! :)

Exactly. It's first come first served. I'd be fine with BEV only charging stations though. Nobody with a PHEV really "needs" a charge.

 

Sympathetic to the BEV supersedes PHEV charging argument, if we are talking about paying stations. As for free stations, would argue that the case is slightly stronger for PHEV > BEV. But in general would argue first come, first served, be polite applies.

While I'm being a cheapskate charging our Nissan Leaf or Plug-in Prius at a free charging station, I would tell an upset next BEV cheapskate or squatter who pulls up to wait or go down the road to the unoccupied pay charging station. My vehicle stays until shopping is done then promptly moved. So far haven't run into this scenario.

Neither the PHEV or BEV needs a free charge, but at least with a PHEV you are avoiding carbon emissions and improving air quality if avoiding gas, and that is a worthy cause in and of itself.

Imagine a gasoline station giving away free gas. Guy with and ICE pulls up to a line 1 hour long full of PHEVs. "Hey buddy", says the ICE driver, "common, you can drive on electricity, why are you blocking the free gas station, I've got places to go, I'm late..." Meanwhile the regular pay gas stations down the road remain ready for a credit card.

 

100% true from a pure transportation-based (getting from point A to point B) perspective.

That said, from an environmental-based perspective, every PHEV mile driven electrically reduces emissions at the tailpipe and further reduces reliance on gasoline as a single energy source. Governments, businesses, and individuals who have those environmental interests in mind have an incentive to provide charging capabilities for PHEVs as well as BEVs.

Another reason to promote PHEV charging from an environmental perspective...Prius Primes are very efficient on electricity -- 25 to 35 miles on a little over 6 KWh is competitive with virtually every BEV on the road today.

 

Were they parked there or charging? If you keep seeing them, it probably belongs to an employee there. If they are not charging there, politely leave a note. The problem with charging stations is they put them in "prime" locations close to the building. That's how those spots gets ICE'd or Tesla'd.

 

That's a somewhat myopic view. Consider that by PHEV occupying the charging spot and preventing a BEV from charging, the BEV runs out of power and has to use tow services. Now your environmental argument is blown out of the water as that 10 cylinder diesel rig has to help the BEV moving again. all for the environmental cost of 50mpg of the PHEV. Penny wise and pound foolish, it seems.

 

the problem isn't PHEVs using chargers, it's bev's driving to a charger without enough juice to get home
that's the weakness of bev's in general.

 

Not quite sure what you mean? The only reason to use a charger is because I don't have the range to get home.

If you mean the weakness of BEVs is the lack of infrastructure, that I would agree with.
For some, this affects them greatly, and so a BEV doesn't currently make sense.
For others, the infrastructure is 100% sufficient, and so BEVs make perfect sense.

 

That may be a practical problem now, with today's lack of built-out infrastructure.

But theoretically, it is no worse than me taking my gasser on trips beyond its fuel range to get back to my neighborhood gas station without refueling.

 

It’s hard to say if others are talking about all charging stations in general, or separating them out into free, pay, and cases like the Tesla network, etc.

For some, the only reason to use a charger is to have enough range to get home. But from my experience, everyone I have talked to using free stations is there for the free electrons. Like a gas station that gives away free gas, it’s nice but nothing to depend on. Free anything station availability is much too unreliable to use for commuting and not fair to others who would use these stations and patronize local establishments.

It’s difficult to have pity on a BEV/PHEV driver who is looking for a free charge. All of these stations should be considered non-existent when planning a commute or trip as their reliability and availability is highly questionable. If one happens upon one that is available, great. Plug-in and one should then go in and support local stores.

A public pay charger may be more reliable, almost certainly more available. If a BEV driver shows up in an emergency and needs the charge, a PHEV driver should most probably yield.

But for those whose commuting and/or whose trips absolutely depends on charging away from home, the Tesla network is the closest thing to reliable out there.

In our Leaf, we would never commute or take a trip based on free or pay level-2 availability. It's much too risky and therefore not fair to expect other PHEVs to pay deference to us. AFAIK, at least here in the states, all DC fast chargers only work with BEVs, so there would be no competition with PHEVs there.

The Tesla network is not perfect. But until charging infrastructure is better for the rest of us, it’s a foolish gamble to expect excellent charging station availability with most non-Tesla charging stations.

 

i'm mostly referring to the o/p. anyone who is mad because the charging stations are taken has fallen into the trap of, 'it's someone's fault that i can't charge my car immediately'.

it is by all means a lack of infrastructure, and that is the current weakness. it's not a put down, it's a fact.

 

What if you want to take advantage of a free charge?

 

I wonder if there can ever be enough infrastructure? I mean if I pull into a gas station and gas up, it takes 5 minutes and the pump is then freed up for the next person. Charging ties up the equipment for hours, which also means I've gotta find something to do for that time.

 

I guess you have never filled up at a Costco gas station. I would say that 15 minutes waiting is line is about average. And then you get stuck behind some monster pickup with two fuel tanks. For many, the price differential is worth it.

 

You forgot about the Outlander PHEV, it has DC charging. Popular in Europe, not in the US, but it's only been here for a year.
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV -Plug-in Hybrid Electric Crossover | Mitsubishi Motors

 

i think we will, but it won't be like gasoline. charge time will continue to decrease, more people will leave home with a full battery, and infrastructure will continue to grow at shopping centers, hotels, and other places where people will park.
technology will help us to know when chargers are available, and force us to move our cars when complete.
at least, that's my hope. then bev's will have reached prime time.

 

BEVs will have reached prime time when the range anxiety of their owners (as a whole, not individual cases) equals range anxiety of the owners of gas burners. It is that simple.

 

Also the i3 REx.

Fast DC charging like Tesla Superchargers take 20 to 30 minutes to provide 150 to 200 miles of range. Completely 'filling' takes longer because of the nature of batteries and preventing damage to them. But Superchargers are spaced out so that 150 to 200 miles is all you need to reach the next one. Then virtually everyone with a plug in starts with a full charge everyday, which reduces the usage of public chargers.

Overall, DC fast chargers are cheaper and more flexible in installation location than a gas station. Stations have to conform to environmental laws, and require regular replacement of their tanks(IIRC, which is every 5 years).

 

For me, individually, it isn't worth it. The convenience of charging at home is just too great.
I have plugged in for grand opening events or other media events. I've also done so just to show people that EVs do exist and do use chargers, but that was in the early years when EVs were incredibly rare.

I would never use a public charger with limited space if I didn't need the charge. It is just basic courtesy.

 

Range Anxiety is felt most by people who don't own a BEV.
Most owners have less range anxiety than most non-owners imagine BEV owners have.

Sure, part of this is self selection. But the issue of range anxiety is largely psychological, not actual.

 

Bet many had mechanical break down anxiety during the early days of the ICE car.