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AIBU?

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Original poster

Electric vehicle parking spaces

153 replies

CanIExtend · 25/10/2023 20:37

Is it reasonable to park a non EV in an EV parking space?

the ones near me have quite a lot of extra space around them as they were previously disabled and parent and child parking. And are much more convenient than where the disabled and parent/child spaces have been relocated to.

are these spaces protected as per disability spaces? Or are they viewed as more of a courtesy as per parent/child spaces?

YABU - EV spaces should be for EV’s only
YANBU - EV spaces are a courtesy like P&C spaces and it’s just unfortunate if an EV is unable to use the space.

OP posts:
FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 25/10/2023 21:44

what if there was an electric car parked there but it wasn't being charged?

I've wondered this. Obviously, the answer is that you move your car once it's charged; but we go on holiday to a lovely seaside place where the car park (including three spaces for charging EVs) fills up really quickly, and people almost always park there for the whole day. The beach part of the town is in a valley, so there's absolutely nowhere else to park that isn't up a long, extremely steep hill.

If an EV owner pays to park for the whole day and then pays to charge their car, are they justified in not coming back from the beach and finding nowhere to move it to once it's charged, so presumably having to drive home?

I suppose, if you leave the charging cable attached, nobody would know that you weren't charging it - unless they've been watching your car all day; obviously, with a petrol/diesel pump, if there's nobody standing there, it's not being filled!

Not EV owners ourselves, but it's a bit of a quandary, surely?

JustTalkToThem · 25/10/2023 21:48

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 25/10/2023 21:44

what if there was an electric car parked there but it wasn't being charged?

I've wondered this. Obviously, the answer is that you move your car once it's charged; but we go on holiday to a lovely seaside place where the car park (including three spaces for charging EVs) fills up really quickly, and people almost always park there for the whole day. The beach part of the town is in a valley, so there's absolutely nowhere else to park that isn't up a long, extremely steep hill.

If an EV owner pays to park for the whole day and then pays to charge their car, are they justified in not coming back from the beach and finding nowhere to move it to once it's charged, so presumably having to drive home?

I suppose, if you leave the charging cable attached, nobody would know that you weren't charging it - unless they've been watching your car all day; obviously, with a petrol/diesel pump, if there's nobody standing there, it's not being filled!

Not EV owners ourselves, but it's a bit of a quandary, surely?

All of these systems are monitored - they know the minute you're at 100% charge. At work I get 15 minutes after I get to 100% to move my car, or I start getting a per-minute fine that's automatically removed since it's linked to my credit card. I usually move it at closer to 90% so I don't get stuck in a meeting.

The parking authorities should be enforcing something similar.

Madwomanuptheroad29 · 25/10/2023 21:48

They are charging bays and of you charge longer than permitted you get an automatic overstay charge (this payment is taken from your account at the same time as the charging fee).
EV drivers depend on those public chargers as if you get to the point od running low on battery you have to top up - if a car runs out of charge it cannot be moved , towed, pushed.
So you are not only unreasonable but also antisocial by even considering to park on those spots.
They are not parking spaces.

TBOM · 25/10/2023 21:49

JustTalkToThem · 25/10/2023 21:48

All of these systems are monitored - they know the minute you're at 100% charge. At work I get 15 minutes after I get to 100% to move my car, or I start getting a per-minute fine that's automatically removed since it's linked to my credit card. I usually move it at closer to 90% so I don't get stuck in a meeting.

The parking authorities should be enforcing something similar.

Edited
Show quote history

That’s how it works in most places near me in London. And the cost per hour after you’re charged is eye watering.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 25/10/2023 21:54

I don’t have a particular horse in this race but I think I understand the difference of opinion. (In other words don’t bother trying to argue with me).

Presumably regular parking spaces have been repurposed in EV charging enabled spaces. Unlike a fuel pump which would be purpose built for fueling cars. So the question becomes is it a space for parking with the bonus of charging capabilities or is a charging station with the bonus of car storage.

The answer is going to be as easy to answer as who should be using disability toilets…

And with that I’m ducking and running for cover.

WyrdyGrob · 25/10/2023 22:09

Some of us EV owners are also blue badge holders.
In my case, an EV is significantly easier to drive than an ICE. So it makes sense. I understand motability are funding EVs now as well.

though I agree that there shouldn’t be a net reduction in ordinary blue badge spaces. That is a bit shit.

AuditAngel · 25/10/2023 22:09

I don’t think anyone has mentioned that some EV spaces are charging places only, whilst some are parking/charging spaces.

in our local Costco there are 4 EV spaces per pair of chargers, so here you can clearly park without charging (which incidentally is free). Unfortunately a number of the chargers don’t work and sometimes you can’t charge.

in other places there may be signs that you can only park whilst charging, others don’t specify.

WyrdyGrob · 25/10/2023 22:10

Bum. That was meant to quote

TBOM · 25/10/2023 22:25

Sirzy · 25/10/2023 21:10

I have been annoyed recently at a few local places removing disabled bays for EV charging points without putting in any extra disabled spaces.

I have never used the EV parking spaces but there is an interesting argument with regards reasonable adjustment for those who have blue badges - I’m guessing if a BB holder did park in one of those spaces and fought a fine they would win.

That’s awful and absolutely shouldn’t be happening. My right to charge a car doesn’t trump my mother’s right to be able to do her grocery shopping using a BB space.

Lemoncurd · 25/10/2023 22:25

We have a EV but only park in the EV spaces when charging - which is next to never as most of them are so expensive compared to charging at home. Have only parked in one a handful of times, such as when on holiday.

BettyBunMaker · 25/10/2023 22:35

But if they have them in car parks, you still have to pay to park, which surely also makes them parking spaces.

I don't think there's a legal view on this anyway? Not like how disabled parking is protected. Private car parks can presumably set their own rules so it would depend on that individual car park/company.

Whammyyammy · 25/10/2023 22:37

I've noticed quite a few EVs in charging spaces but not actually charging, therefore fair game for anyone

Madwomanuptheroad29 · 25/10/2023 22:40

There is no such thing as ev parking spaces. They may look not unlike parking spaces - and it may look as if there were 4 "parking" spaces per charging station. But they are not. One charging station can charge up to four electric cars at any one time. They tend to have two cables attached and also have two sockets for type 2 cables that you would carry in your car which are for slower charging. So they are effectively refuelling stations for ev cars and ev owners depend on them to top up when the battery is low. I can assure you that it would not occur toe to park my ev car in one for convenience but I am aware of ev drivers who urgently need to charge and who park behind ICE vehicles and plug their type 2 cable in while they charge as there simply is no alternative. It is in no way comparable to parent child or disabiltiy parking spaces because they are not parking spaces. And as an ev driver you cannot simply plug your car in and leave for the day - the overstay fees are eye-watering and as you can only charge if you have the relevant app which is directly connected to your bank account there is no way around that.

DoooooWhoop · 25/10/2023 22:50

I needed to charge my electric car once and an electric car was parked in the space but not charging. Was so annoying.

The reason why the spaces are huge is for safety with the charging cables.

VisaWoes · 25/10/2023 22:52

bestofme · 25/10/2023 20:41

Huh? Surely they are charging bays not parking spaces for electric vehicles. I'd be royally pissed if I needed to charge an electric car and couldn't because a non electric car was parked there.

Depends on the car park I guess. My workplace car park has parking spaces for EVs, there are charge points there but they don’t get used. People park up and go into work leaving their EV there not charging. There is nothing in the signs or rules which says the car must be charging to be parked there and I have never seen a car actually charging. Even if someone did charge their car when they got to work they’d have to leave it there all day because by 9am all the parking spaces are full…..so they couldn’t move it anywhere else.

samupnorth · 25/10/2023 22:53

CanIExtend · 25/10/2023 20:55

But as people who complain about people using a parent and child spaces are often told - it was your choice to buy an EV have children and that’s the risk that you take

Show quote history

But 90% of the car spaces will be for all other cars that are not needing to be charged. Why on earth would you think it's okay to park in a charging car space when you have the choice of so many other spaces. EV cars do not have the choice to park anywhere if they need to charge, you do.

PeloMom · 25/10/2023 22:54

I drive an EV and can’t understand why a non EV would plonk itself there especially if there’s a charging station. UABVU.

Mumof2teens79 · 25/10/2023 22:57

AsWrittenBy · 25/10/2023 21:00

I suppose that if only ev can park in the ev spaces, they won't mind not parking in the non ev spaces?

Yes I know.... I'm being facetious but if spaces are being removed, or prioritised, then how is it fair for us who cannot afford to buy an ev?

Spaces are being purchased by the charge point company, who then charge a fee to charge the car. If non-ev wish to pay for priority parking then can suggest that to the carpark owner

Madwomanuptheroad29 · 25/10/2023 22:58

The crux of the matter is that they are charging stations, NOT parking spaces and the reason that they need to be bigger than parking spaces is the fact that there needs to be safe space for cables. And ev drivers depend on being able to use chargers.

AdobeWanKenobi · 25/10/2023 23:01

If I found OP blocking a charge space I needed you can bet your life I’d block her in as best as I could (dependent on space layout and distance) plug in the lead and bugger off for a few hours.

Jewelspun · 25/10/2023 23:02

I would steer well clear of electric charging points and electric cars -

facebook.com/groups/2333275880189834/?ref=share

Sk8erboi · 25/10/2023 23:02

My town car park has a sign on half of the charger spaces stating they are for any vehicle then the remaining half states they're for EV's only. It's not a massive car park so I think this is fair.
Without signage saying so I wouldn't park my non EV in a charger space.

avemariiiaa · 25/10/2023 23:03

They are not parking spaces they are charging points.

People should park electric vehicles there to charge, then move when done.

It's no different that some tit parking at a petrol pump and leaving it there to go shopping.

ValerieDoonican · 25/10/2023 23:05

CanIExtend · 25/10/2023 20:51

These spaces are part of the car park at the shopping/leisure center

would people with EVs be expected to move their car to a regular space once charging was complete even if they were still shopping for a few hours?

One would hope so. But sadly they often don't.

As an electric car user myself this thread has made me newly uncomfortable with the siting of charge points in the 'prime' spots. We are as mobile/notobile as everyone else!

I mean sure one or two for disabled EV drivers, but not at the expense of disabled peeps in fossil.fuel vehicles. (Though the big transformers charge points need may limit where they can go perhaps.?)

JayAlfredPrufrock · 25/10/2023 23:06

If you can’t appreciate the difference between P&C spaces and EV charging points then there really is no hope for you.