Lessons Learned on Range Anxiety

[LastDayScout]

Yep, very true

I should add that many public chargers (level 2 or fast) have a feature that starts charging an extra fee for idle time. The chargers are in communication with the vehicle and know when you have reached a certain percentage. If you just leave your car overnight and it is charged within an hour or so you will get hit with idle fees. Fast chargers are usually the same. So, a carryover from gas/diesel refueling should be get what you need and move so someone else can go.

 

[Rampy]

I should add that many public chargers (level 2 or fast) have a feature that starts charging an extra fee for idle time. The chargers are in communication with the vehicle and know when you have reached a certain percentage. If you just leave your car overnight and it is charged within an hour or so you will get hit with idle fees. Fast chargers are usually the same. So, a carryover from gas/diesel refueling should be get what you need and move so someone else can go.

Did not know this, wonder if hotels will have this feature

Flip side, who’s getting up out of bed to run down and move your vehicle when it’s charged?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

We just spent a couple days in a hotel with 3 EV chargers in use when we checked in

Around 11:45 when we got back (went to a Broadway production) there was a very very angry (almost hostile) guest throwing a temper tantrum as he is a diamond member and can’t charge his Tesla since the chargers are all in use

It was actually shocking to see this & the next morning the hotel said they have lots of complaints about people parking in the EV charging stations all night instead of moving the vehicle after it’s charged

On roadtrips we tend to eat hotel breakfast & get gas/coffee (hate hotel coffee) before hitting the road

My arms-length interpretation of the angry "diamond member" is that it has more to do with self-entitlement than to do with EVs.
I've seen very few angry EV drivers, but have seen a lot of EV charging stalls blocked by gas vehicles. Most of us just move on. If we can't charge at the hotel, then there's little to no difference between that and having to go get gas and breakfast in the morning.

My SOP is that if my car is finished charging before I'm going to bed, I'll move the car. If it's later (early in the morning), I'm asleep. I will move it at 06:00 or so when I wake up.

We're going on a 3,000+ mile road trip sometime this winter. We'll stop at a several hotels and a vacation rental or two during this trip. I have zero concerns about whether any of them actually have functioning charging options. It'll be nice if they do, but it's just a bonus to me. I did once book a resort in an out-of-the-way location specifically because it advertised chargers. None of them worked. I was annoyed with that and gave them a less-than-perfect rating. But I was still able to get a good charge at a nearby fast charger the morning we left. We had breakfast while charging. It was a non-issue other than an unmet expectation.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Recommendations? Are the Lectron and A2Z ones good? I have a Lectron 120v charger and it seems like it's pretty good quality (although it's really only for emergency charging at home or at a family members house/etc.)

I have the original A2Z fast charging adapter. No problems.
I also have a Lectron L2 adapter. Also no problems.

 

[LastDayScout]

Did not know this, wonder if hotels will have this feature

Flip side, who’s getting up out of bed to run down and move your vehicle when it’s charged?

I have seen some hotels that do and some that do not. Most often I see it in parking garages.

 

[Rampy]

My arms-length interpretation of the angry "diamond member" is that it has more to do with self-entitlement than to do with EVs.
I've seen very few angry EV drivers, but have seen a lot of EV charging stalls blocked by gas vehicles. Most of us just move on. If we can't charge at the hotel, then there's little to no difference between that and having to go get gas and breakfast in the morning.

My SOP is that if my car is finished charging before I'm going to bed, I'll move the car. If it's later (early in the morning), I'm asleep. I will move it at 06:00 or so when I wake up.

We're going on a 3,000+ mile road trip sometime this winter. We'll stop at a several hotels and a vacation rental or two during this trip. I have zero concerns about whether any of them actually have functioning charging options. It'll be nice if they do, but it's just a bonus to me. I did once book a resort in an out-of-the-way location specifically because it advertised chargers. None of them worked. I was annoyed with that and gave them a less-than-perfect rating. But I was still able to get a good charge at a nearby fast charger the morning we left. We had breakfast while charging. It was a non-issue other than an unmet expectation.

Entitlement is a large problem no question about it, see it now more than ever

Have a 3k mile roadtrip down and back to SPI for IFT6 launch Monday & will we looking for chargers & paying way more attention

We travel quite a bit, try to avoid freeways & use secondary roads so we can see and enjoy America and meet amazing people

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Entitlement is a large problem no question about it, see it now more than ever

Have a 3k mile roadtrip down and back to SPI for IFT6 launch Monday & will we looking for chargers & paying way more attention

We travel quite a bit, try to avoid freeways & use secondary roads so we can see and enjoy America and meet amazing people

Take a look at "a better route planner" for your planned route (And PlugShare). Very few charging stations advertise the way we're used to seeing gas stations advertise with giant, bright signs. The stations are also often simply hidden from view.

 

[Rampy]

Take a look at "a better route planner" for your planned route (And PlugShare). Very few charging stations advertise the way we're used to seeing gas stations advertise with giant, bright signs. The stations are also often simply hidden from view.

Have downloaded the apps & been playing with them to get comfortable using them

 

[dtothek]

Talking to real owners has been a huge help. Look at your needs and apply some logic. I have an old Xterra that barely gets 280 miles but I don’t have anxiety (gas stations are everywhere). Many EV’s are going over 300 now.
1. If 99% of your driving is done with less than 250 miles in a day around town, EV’s could be a choice (charge up every night).
2. A little planning (3 extra minutes) on a short road trip might be all it takes. Try it out on a map, you might find there was no reason to get anxious.
3. Keep a ICE vehicle if you really want to have a “back up” plan until you’re sold on total EV ownership.
4. If you are still anxious about the rare (maybe once or twice a year) long road trip, get a rental ICE vehicle for the trip. You aren’t married to the EV, utilize what’s works for YOUR situation.

 

[LastDayScout]

Talking to real owners has been a huge help. Look at your needs and apply some logic. I have an old Xterra that barely gets 280 miles but I don’t have anxiety (gas stations are everywhere). Many EV’s are going over 300 now.
1. If 99% of your driving is done with less than 250 miles in a day around town, EV’s could be a choice (charge up every night).
2. A little planning (3 extra minutes) on a short road trip might be all it takes. Try it out on a map, you might find there was no reason to get anxious.
3. Keep a ICE vehicle if you really want to have a “back up” plan until you’re sold on total EV ownership.
4. If you are still anxious about the rare (maybe once or twice a year) long road trip, get a rental ICE vehicle for the trip. You aren’t married to the EV, utilize what’s works for YOUR situation.

Thank you! You are digesting this wealth of knowledge and making a positive statement! I will also add that you should use navigation everywhere. You may be surprised how it routes you differently than your regular trip due to real time traffic. It saves your battery. You can often select an “efficient”route.

 

[Harris005]

It’s kinda like pulling up to the pumps when the station is busy and some jerk left the vehicle with the nozzle in while he or she is lollygagging inside buying lottery tickets and a big gulp. It’s inconvenient, inconsiderate and rude.

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

 

[J Alynn]

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

It would be nice to have it and offer a reserve mode. Say 1-1/2 to 2 hour time slots. Bill or offer for free but as soon as fully charged if you don’t jump off they go to a billing rate of like $1.00 per minute. Would allow multiple guests, offer a bit of a time window in case you are late and would be motivation to charge and get out of space.
Even nicer if they’d designate 2-3 spaces (enforced) with central charge port and longer cord. Then three guests could park and you could just move charger from car to car. Nice perk from Hotels to those driving EV. Could still charge me-do t expect free but knowing spaces are monitored and people are using respectfully is the better perk

 

[LastDayScout]

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

Many hotels do nowadays as a guest amenity.

 

[R1TVT]

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

Most of the hotel chargers I have used are first come, first serve - and there are no idle fees, b/c there is no transaction or card authorization to initiate a charging session in most cases (at least that I have seen). People can leave their cars overnight without an issue - the hotel L2 charger is ideal for an overnight charge. This is also how charging works in some airports. Most of hotel guests that use chargers are considerate, and as EV owners they understand that if they have reached an adequate SOC, they just move their cars or trucks in the AM or when done. Its great that a lot of hotels now understand that they may attract more customers with free L2 charging, and use that to their advantage. I also view this as a bonus when reaching an overnight destination, since there is no guarantee that a charger might be free and unoccupied upon arrival. Chargers usually open up.

I'm sure there are other hotels that have agreements with 3rd parties (like chargepoint) that want to make money, and where the hotel outsources the charging. in that case, you may be required to pay for a session, and perhaps the 3rd party charges an idle fee.

If you are paying for charging, its always good to check charger details when you initiate a charge and check for how or when idle fees might apply.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

That's basically what they are set up as. The difference is that at home it's you, as the owner, who controls access. While on the road, just like most things, it's first-come, first-served. The real problem comes when some people---the entitled "diamond member" above---think they're more important than others and demand access to something that is community-use rather than personal-use.

It would be nice if there were more chargers at every hotel, but most hotels likely cannot afford to put in--and maintain--20 or more chargers for their sometime use. And as with anything nice, vandals will sometimes find them and destroy them or park their gas vehicles in the charging stalls. Sadly, there's going to be conflict about this for a long time to come.

 

[LastDayScout]

That's basically what they are set up as. The difference is that at home it's you, as the owner, who controls access. While on the road, just like most things, it's first-come, first-served. The real problem comes when some people---the entitled "diamond member" above---think they're more important than others and demand access to something that is community-use rather than personal-use.

It would be nice if there were more chargers at every hotel, but most hotels likely cannot afford to put in--and maintain--20 or more chargers for their sometime use. And as with anything nice, vandals will sometimes find them and destroy them or park their gas vehicles in the charging stalls. Sadly, there's going to be conflict about this for a long time to come.

I have had several front desk employees ask me to only charge what I need and then kindly move. Also, I have had valets charge what is needed and then move. I thinks it’s all education and experience mixed with a dash of consideration.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I have had several front desk employees ask me to only charge what I need and then kindly move. Also, I have had valets charge what is needed and then move. I thinks it’s all education and experience mixed with a dash of consideration.

I have had similar experiences--I always check the charge before I go to sleep and if it's high enough that I'm comfortable with my next-day range, I'll unplug and move the car.

I tend to avoid hotels with valet parking, so I've only had one experience with valet parking/charging. I got a full charge by the time I checked out, so whatever musical stalls they did worked out for me just fine.

 

[Rampy]

I think that is where my disconnect is. It seems to me that hotels should be setting up for overnight charging, simular to home charging.

Why??

You don’t see gas pumps at hotels, why should they get free electricity to power their car?

 

[OleScout]

Why??

You don’t see gas pumps at hotels, why should they get free electricity to power their car?

It's like having a continental breakfast, they don't need to offer it but it is a perk that for some may be the difference between booking or not booking.

 

[Rampy]

It's like having a continental breakfast, they don't need to offer it but it is a perk that for some may be the difference between booking or not booking.

Food is offered to everyone, free gasoline is not offered to everyone like how free electricity is offered to EV drivers

Someone has to pay for your free electricity & why should guests not driving an EV have to pay for it

It’s all about equality & treating everyone the same