Electric vehicle parking spaces

[CanIExtend]

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.

I'm collecting my EV tomorrow 🥳 simultaneously grateful for the information on this thread (the idea of charging still fills me with worry) and holding my head in my hands at the absolutely entitled twats.

I drive an EV and I think it's terrible that EV charging spaces are often in the best parking spots. Out local shopping centre changed disabled spaces to EV charging spaces. Very unecessary IMO.
But please don't park in them. They aren't parking spaces, They are charging points and should only be used when the car is being charged.

I have an ev. I've got a parking ticket for being in a charging bay but not charging (i'd plugged it in and fiddled with the app etc and thought it was working... it wasnt).

That must be doubly annoying - to find that your car hasn't charged up and also that you've been fined for your inconvenience.

You think your car looks like an EV!!! Why? Have you covered over the front radiator? Or removed the exhaust pipe? You might think it looks like an EV, but I bet no one else does.

I've seen people do that. Thankfully my charge cable is long enough that I can park across the front of the bay and still plug in.

I suspect they may become more equal with ICE cars rather than more expensive.
As both with need to pay to park, 'fuel' more equivalent cost, and 'tax' more equivalent
The thing is atm for most current EV owners the expense of charging when out and about is balanced by cheaper charging at home which is what most people do the most - this is probably for many still going to stay cheaper than petrol and diesel costs even with increased demand due to the efficiencies of the newer system and that it can be used with smart charging to balance the grid and also tap into home renewables.

So yes I think the massive difference in running costs will drop but I suspect it won't become more expensive than ICE just more equivalent.

@Ohdearanotheryear No, but I started carrying the marker after coming across cars parked in charging spots when there were clearly other spots available. There used to be a contingent who seemed to think it was funny to do that.

Also, I can't necessarily tell by looking at the car if someone has a disability. Yeah, they may not have the badge, but they might have borrowed someone else's car or something. I can tell by looking if a car is an EV being charged.

You've managed to remove the exhaust? If not, then it doesn't, no matter how much you think it does. 😂

You'd have to be a special kind of cunt to park in an EV bay in either an ICE vehicle, or an EV that you don't charge.

Road pricing will be brought in eventually due to the need to fill in the fiscal black hole left by falling fuel tax and vehicle excise duty, and also due to the need to control the amount of driving that people do. It’ll be horribly unpopular (at least at first…eventually people will get used to it) which is why politicians keep kicking it into the long grass, but it will need to come in at some point.

ICE blocking? That’ll get you a ticket. Why do people always think rules don’t apply to them?

I don't drive an EV and I wouldn't dream of parking in one of the charging bays. I think it's very entitled and arrogant to park in one of the charging bays if you don't need to park a vehicle. That would be the equivalent of turning up to a petrol station to find some twat had left their EV parked next to the pump because there was no parking space in the car park. Rude and entitled.

So yes I think the massive difference in running costs will drop but I suspect it won't become more expensive than ICE just more equivalent.

Sorry, I didn't phrase that very well at all. I was meaning once (virtually) all ICE vehicles are gone and EVs are all that remain.

I do agree with you that EVs will end up costing (at least) as much as petrol and diesel cars do now; it's just that (imho) they've been promoted with a twin-pronged approach of environmental benefits and big financial savings.

I don't know if either one of these factors has had more of a bearing in people buying them than the other? If people have been largely swayed to switch by the much reduced running costs (after the initial outlay), I suspect they will end up quite disappointed.

It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually see a specific tax increase based on electricity used to charge EVs - even at home - to take into account the fact that generating the electricity for them still causes a load of pollution, which they may just 'discover' in the same way that they 'discovered' that diesel cars are a lot more polluting, just as soon as they'd told everybody to go and buy one.

Once EVs are all we have, they may even just add it on as standard, so that even non-car-owning households have to pay it too - a bit like everybody currently has to pay for the BBC, even if they only ever watch commercial telly (granted, it is possible to avoid it legally by watching no live TV at all).

However much governments try to make out that 'sin taxes' are there because they want to discourage you from doing/buying something, they frequently budget and plan based on people doing just that - and worry if enough of them stop.

Yes, how truly shocking and terrifying that governments actually need to raise tax revenue in order to pay for stuff. 🙄

It's very frustrating as an electric vehicle owner to find a space to charge being taken up by a car not charging...someone could be desperate for the charge...

Yes usually. Our car park says that you must be charging to park there. Tesla branded chargers start charging you for blocking 5 mins after charging complete

I suspect OP knows the difference very well but just wants to start a bunfight...

Yes, how truly shocking and terrifying that governments actually need to raise tax revenue in order to pay for stuff.

Absolutely fine when they do it fairly, honestly and transparently.

YABVVVU

And SELFISH

They are charging stations. They generate income for the CP. They aren't parking spaces. Do you park in petrol stations or people's driveways and trot off to do your shopping? Why would you expect to park in an EV charging station?

@CanIExtend This is where I’m coming from. I’m just trying to understand why people can get so outraged at someone using/abusing an EV space yet simultaneously get outraged at someone expecting a PC space to be used appropriately
Because as many people have explained THEY ARE CHARGING STATIONS not parking spaces. They generate money for the CP owners. Do you park in a stranger's driveway because it's close to the shops? Do you park in a petrol station and trot off to the shop? Then why think you can park in a charging bay?

The EV chargers connect to various apps so people with EVs can find a place to charge. If you park a regular car in that spot the charger will still show as empty and with navigate the person who needs to charge there. Whoever paid for the charger is a business. Parking in that spot is crap thing to do for everyone. Most places will ticket you and rightly so.

Well, in that case, we’re in agreement. Road-pricing is what we need. It’s transparent and fair, manages demand, makes externalities visible, and ensures that road maintenance gets paid for.

Well, in that case, we’re in agreement. Road-pricing is what we need. It’s transparent and fair, manages demand, makes externalities visible, and ensures that road maintenance gets paid for.

It would be nice if they can finally work something out so that the roads can be maintained - they haven't managed to find any way for the last few decades.

I know you always get somebody saying that there's no such thing as road tax - which is true - but afaia, all of the VED receipts just go straight into the general fund and aren't earmarked for mending roads at all, as most people would hope/expect; but maybe the government of the day will have a big change of heart once we're all paying per mile - especially as EVs tend to be heavier on average?

Hopefully yes, as my experience is that roads are better maintained in countries where you have to pay for major roads (I'm talking about things like expressway tolls, since as far as I know no country as yet has started true road pricing...although I think Singapore is currently quite close).