Page 6 | Electric vehicle parking spaces

CanIExtend · 2023-10-25T19:37:13+00:00

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.

321user123 · 27/10/2023 15:15

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?

I can almost 100% guarantee that those chargers are 7Kw chargers , which in reality often only do 1-3Kw.
For the majority of today’s EVs to fully charge the car on that speed it would take anywhere from 8-11+hours.
So the likelihood is that those cars are, in fact, charging the whole day.

Secondly, you can in fact tell if a car is charging or not by looking at the charger or at the port of the car either one or both will have lights.
POD point chargers have a blue light when idle, green when charging and red when not charging or if there’s an error while charging.
Blue/red flashing the charger may be broken.

321user123 · 27/10/2023 15:39

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 26/10/2023 03:36

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.

Ah, thanks - interesting. I didn't know that (well, I don't own an EV and thus never use those spaces, so wouldn't have any reason to know).

So what happens in the scenario that I mentioned, when you need to both charge your EV AND you need to park somewhere where the spaces quickly fill up all day? Do you resign yourself to having to pay a huge fine for leaving your car there long after it is charged, so that you can enjoy the day doing what you actually came there for (and being hated by other EV owners with flat batteries in the meantime); or do you have to cut short your day and drive straight home immediately after charging?

Is there any way to 'nobble' the settings for your car, so that it only trickle-charges extremely slowly - if unwanted fast-charging is going to effectively wreck your day and force you to go home far too early, once you no longer 'need' your space as much as somebody else might?

Is this potentially like a high-tech version of 'is man made for the Sabbath or is the Sabbath made for man?' - with 'EV' here taking the place of 'the Sabbath'?

I'm already personally strongly deterred by EVs and their many apparent disadvantages - and knowing that you could risk a hefty fine if you don't strictly fulfil both of the required purposes in occupying an EV space (in contrast to the one straightforward purpose that you pay for with an ICE vehicle using a normal space: parking only) is hardly helping to sway me.

I suppose all of these issues are going to be eventually obsolete by the time we're all forced to have EVs and all but a handful of ICE vehicles have finally been chased out of town - once the remaining ICEs have all worn out and/or the price of petrol and diesel is comparable to that of cinema pick 'n' mix - as presumably every single space will be either for an EV to park, an EV to charge or both, so no driver would be at any advantage or disadvantage in using any one dual-purpose space; unless the charging facility was out of order, I guess.

Edited

Realistically, this is simply a perception issue.
Those who don’t own an EV see them as parking spaces.

These are chargers which have allocated space because your car cannot be suspended in space while charging so needs to occupy a physical space.

So the only criteria is charge your EV and move when you’re done as you do at a gas station.

321user123 · 27/10/2023 15:41

LiquoriceAllsort2 · 26/10/2023 00:58

I have done this a couple of times, I have an extension cable for the charger and I have parked in front plugged in and blocked the offending car in and did my shopping.

Show quote history

… what happened when you got back? 🫣

BumpyaDaisyevna · 27/10/2023 15:49

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?

You do usually know if it's charging and how close to fully charged it is. The machine display tells you.

LiquoriceAllsort2 · 28/10/2023 00:28

321user123 · 27/10/2023 15:41

… what happened when you got back? 🫣

Show quote history

Unfortunately both times I was back before the offending owners due to not wanting overstay charges.

The problem is this should have been sorted out and foreseen by the government before pushing electric cars. It needs to be made illegal to park in a charging bay and not be charging.

DiscoBeat · 28/10/2023 00:36

I mostly charge at home but occasionally I've had to charge en route and it's infuriating when I can't because someone has parked their non EV in an EV space. It's marked for a reason!

DiscoBeat · 28/10/2023 00:41

I’m guessing if a BB holder did park in one of those spaces and fought a fine they would win.

As an EV driver I would absolutely not mind seeing a BB holder in an EV space.

LameBorzoi · 28/10/2023 00:52

@DiscoBeat Same. It never is BB holder, though - it's usually one of those big, noisy, pedestrian killer things.

DiscoBeat · 28/10/2023 01:04

@LameBorzoi very true!!

MabelQ · 28/10/2023 01:16

I have no solutions but I wanted to jump in with sympathy. Our library got a grant and added two EV chargers to EXISTING parking spaces, thereby turning FOUR parking spaces into “EV charging”.
It just so happens that those are the four easiest-access + closest parking spaces outside of the “reserved” spots right by the entrance.
And every time my extremely pregnant self waddles up from afar with a heavy bag of books, past four EMPTY spaces, or three + one charging vehicle, I confess to being ticked off. Especially because after putting in the chargers, they realized that the cords were a tripping hazard across the sidewalk… so they did a sidewalk loop around the backside of the chargers.

I am no EV-hater; my husband drives a hybrid and I love how much they save in gas. But why we had to take the four most accessible spots - again, outside of the spots already reserved for those with mobility issues - and turn them into refueling stations that sit unused 90% of the time baffles me.

Tiredandgrumpy31 · 28/10/2023 01:52

MabelQ · 28/10/2023 01:16

I have no solutions but I wanted to jump in with sympathy. Our library got a grant and added two EV chargers to EXISTING parking spaces, thereby turning FOUR parking spaces into “EV charging”.
It just so happens that those are the four easiest-access + closest parking spaces outside of the “reserved” spots right by the entrance.
And every time my extremely pregnant self waddles up from afar with a heavy bag of books, past four EMPTY spaces, or three + one charging vehicle, I confess to being ticked off. Especially because after putting in the chargers, they realized that the cords were a tripping hazard across the sidewalk… so they did a sidewalk loop around the backside of the chargers.

I am no EV-hater; my husband drives a hybrid and I love how much they save in gas. But why we had to take the four most accessible spots - again, outside of the spots already reserved for those with mobility issues - and turn them into refueling stations that sit unused 90% of the time baffles me.

Having had to rely on pubic transport whilst heavily pregnant I can sympathise with the struggle to carry books/shopping etc while waddling. It also does seem annoying for the EV spaces to be the closest to the building as for most users there is no need for them to be closer but I wonder if it is maybe logistically easier/cheaper to install the charging stations closer to the building. And of course some EV drivers may also be disabled and maybe that might be behind their location.
Looking forward to getting my first fully electric car next week but fortunately due to the type of distances I do and it having a good range, I’m hoping to not have to use public charging stations.

LameBorzoi · 28/10/2023 03:21

As an EV driver, I wish they wouldn't put the charging spots in prime places - it just creates drama! I think it is about cost, at least sometimes - high capacity cabling is expensive.

Maleficentient · 28/10/2023 10:03

They're often close to the front for the safety of women who are charging. They need to be well lit and in a visible place.

MrsAvocet · 28/10/2023 14:18

I suspect it's the logistics/cost of installing the chargers that is the most important determinant of where they are put in public places. 2 of our localish supermarkets have chargers. One has couple of oldish and fairly useless 7kw chargers quite close to the store but the other has a bank of brand new 150kw ones that are right at the bottom of the carpark. I can't say I noticed them being installed so not sure where the cables run but there's an electricity substation a bit further down the road at that end of the carpark which I assume isn't a coincidence.

321user123 · 28/10/2023 15:32

MabelQ · 28/10/2023 01:16

I have no solutions but I wanted to jump in with sympathy. Our library got a grant and added two EV chargers to EXISTING parking spaces, thereby turning FOUR parking spaces into “EV charging”.
It just so happens that those are the four easiest-access + closest parking spaces outside of the “reserved” spots right by the entrance.
And every time my extremely pregnant self waddles up from afar with a heavy bag of books, past four EMPTY spaces, or three + one charging vehicle, I confess to being ticked off. Especially because after putting in the chargers, they realized that the cords were a tripping hazard across the sidewalk… so they did a sidewalk loop around the backside of the chargers.

I am no EV-hater; my husband drives a hybrid and I love how much they save in gas. But why we had to take the four most accessible spots - again, outside of the spots already reserved for those with mobility issues - and turn them into refueling stations that sit unused 90% of the time baffles me.

Someone mentioned it up thread.
Its because they have to retrofit the chargers and that means they have to connect them to the main electrics of the building and that involves a lot of digging to lay cables and obviously very expensive, so they often get them as close to the building in a straight line for cables as possible.

I don’t disagree with you, I hate when disable spots are being moved because of them. Those shouldn’t be touched.

I haven’t seen that too often to be honest as most the ones I use tend to be at the farthest point away in the car park in places like Tesco Extras, Sainsbury's or Lidl car parks…
Maybe this is more common in “older places”

321user123 · 28/10/2023 15:34

Maleficentient · 28/10/2023 10:03

They're often close to the front for the safety of women who are charging. They need to be well lit and in a visible place.

Sorry.. but that’s definitely not the reason.

in Major supermarkets they are at the farthest back possible of their car park. The corner where no one parks. So not exactly what I would call… safe

SkiingIsHeaven · 28/10/2023 17:09

They are positioned where there are electric cables already in the ground. Otherwise they would have to pay to dig vast trenches to put them somewhere else.

Generally the cables are near the store entrance.

It is to keep the cost of installation down.

user1477391263 · 29/10/2023 09:49

Exactly! Or else have cable trailing all over the place.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/10/2023 09:52

If this becomes a thing them I’m parking my ev at a petrol pump

Sirzy · 29/10/2023 09:54

Ds is a blue badge holder and I fully get why sometimes the existing disabled parking bays need to be used from a logistical POV. But when that happens the same amount (or ideally more!) of new disabled parking bays should be assigned.

SkiingIsHeaven · 29/10/2023 10:46

Sirzy · 29/10/2023 09:54

Ds is a blue badge holder and I fully get why sometimes the existing disabled parking bays need to be used from a logistical POV. But when that happens the same amount (or ideally more!) of new disabled parking bays should be assigned.

I totally agree

mondaytosunday · 29/10/2023 10:55

I think no one should park there unless they are charging their vehicle. I think you can get a ticket near me if you do.

potatoheads · 30/10/2023 08:45

MabelQ · 28/10/2023 01:16

I have no solutions but I wanted to jump in with sympathy. Our library got a grant and added two EV chargers to EXISTING parking spaces, thereby turning FOUR parking spaces into “EV charging”.
It just so happens that those are the four easiest-access + closest parking spaces outside of the “reserved” spots right by the entrance.
And every time my extremely pregnant self waddles up from afar with a heavy bag of books, past four EMPTY spaces, or three + one charging vehicle, I confess to being ticked off. Especially because after putting in the chargers, they realized that the cords were a tripping hazard across the sidewalk… so they did a sidewalk loop around the backside of the chargers.

I am no EV-hater; my husband drives a hybrid and I love how much they save in gas. But why we had to take the four most accessible spots - again, outside of the spots already reserved for those with mobility issues - and turn them into refueling stations that sit unused 90% of the time baffles me.

Of course they will convert existing spaces. What else would they do? Dig up a building to create spaces?
They are located where the cables are. That's obviously going to be nearest the buildings.
They may be under-utilised now but they won't be. People are constantly staying the infrastructures aren't there to charge EVs but then when the infrastructures are being put in people like you complain that they aren't needed. Of course they will be needed and the expansion of charging places is part of the change to EV

PosteriorPosterity · 30/10/2023 08:50

I regularly report non EVs in EV spaces and have seen many get a ticket as a result.

It’s hard enough to run an EV without other non EV users making it harder.

Allaboutme2 · 30/10/2023 10:34

PosteriorPosterity · 30/10/2023 08:50

I regularly report non EVs in EV spaces and have seen many get a ticket as a result.

It’s hard enough to run an EV without other non EV users making it harder.

Good luck to people reporting them round here..............In my town, they created EV spaces/charging points and they were massively under used, to the point where local traders complained about loss of parking and therefore trade.
Now anybody can park in them as long as they pay the parking charge.
Quite handy for locals as people out of town (and a lot of local people) just assume they can't park in them.