[Paul]

Depends entirely where it is. I'd gladly park all day in a space in certain areas of Milton Keynes, or park and rides and other long term car parks.

 

[Paul]

Even if there was only a single charger or reasonable demand?

What does that mean? If a park and ride had one charger and I was the first one there, I wouldn't plan to go back before my day was over, or expect anyone else to do the same for me if I arrived 2nd, 3rd or whatever.

 

[Paul]

Yes. But it really does depend where it is and what I'm doing. But honestly when it comes to charging away from home I'll park as I would whether plugged in or not, so shops for as long as I'm shopping, office for how long I'm working and so on.

Unless I know someone else needs it more than I do and I can get back sharpish.

 

[Paul]

Then I'd just not go to that place.

If it's not a literal "no brainer" to slow charge at a destination then I won't charge there. I'll either park in a regular spot, or just go somewhere else and park and charge.

 

[Paul]

You don't. Why put a charger in an all day or overnight spot if it's only for short term usage?

And if the parking space limitations don't match the most common usage patterns, then they're far less likely to be used at all (eg a park and ride with short term parking only).

 

[Paul]

The good thing here is we all own and drive different EVs in different ways... And we all get a chance to see how the other half lives, as it were. We all seem strange to someone.

 

[Paul]

Perhaps we can put off this day by common sense and courtesy, putting ourselves in the other persons shoes when we can...

This works both ways.

I wouldn't and don't expect an EV driver to have to go out of their way, to change their behaviour or be inconvenienced for me, just because I arrived at a charger after them. If they can buy an all day parking ticket for that spot, or there's no restriction, it's fair game and I'm not upset or angry someone is taking advantage of it.

The only type of "charger blocking" I find can be annoying is ICE cars in marked EV bays or rapid chargers blocked for long periods of time by non-charging vehicles of any kind.

Then again, even I blocked one side of a rapid once when a short meeting went in a very unexpected direction and went on for over an hour, and I totally forgot about the car. It happens, and I think we should be accepting of that too.

And yes I felt bad when I realised what I'd done so I don't pre-judge "charge blockers" and assume they're arrogant and selfish somehow.

 

[Paul]

I don't think people are as selfish or have as much time to spare "stealing energy" as some seem to think they do/will.

For example I have free energy locally, I can take enough to fill my battery within 60 minutes including the journey and it could last me a week or more.

I don't, because I just want to drive my car like a regular car and get on with my life. That hour is worth more to me than a few quids electricity, and a day is worth much more than that. I'm sure most EV drivers are in a similar situation and would sooner charge to fit their routine rather than go out of their way to grab free fuel.

 

[Paul]

It all feels like a good reason to charge by something. What that is we disagree about, but we do agree that 'free' is broken.

Not in all cases. "Free" could (and possibly does) work very well as an incentive or loss-leader to get EV owners to your venue instead of someone else's.

 

[Paul]

Yep. So long as they factor the true cost in - not some fantasy version.

You'd hope any non-subsidised business would be based in reality. It's some of the heavily subsidised ones we have now who appear to have their heads in the clouds (or somewhere less polite).