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Caught on tape! Gas cars parking in electric vehicle spots
EV charging spots are conveniently located near the entrance, but gas cars sometimes hog them. What can be done about that?
Thu, Jul 05 2012 at 5:11 PM
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RESERVED: Some people aren't getting the message. (Photo: Aaron Anderer/Flickr)
I was surprised during a recent visit to my local Whole Foods to see a non-electric car parked in front of (and blocking) one of the two chargers — right near the entrance — that the environmentally minded grocer provides for its customers. And it got me thinking.
Is there some kind of enforcement to ensure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen? Meaning fines and tow-aways ... or worse? With a little research, I found a raging debate about proper EV etiquette, and some fairly tough local laws. The bottom line, though, is that people should learn to respect EV parking. The gas guzzlers can park somewhere else, even if it’s further away; the electrics are counting on plugging in.
Since the beginning of the year in California, it’s not enough just to have an electric car in an EV space — you also have to be plugged in and actively charging. Any battery electric (the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i) or plug-in hybrid (Toyota Prius plug-in, Chevrolet Volt) may use a space, but if the car's not actively charging, they can get towed.
Not every Californian loves this, and Plug In America opposed AB 475 because it prevents plug sharing — two or more EVs parking near a single charger and sharing it.
In Davis, Calif., the city’s municipal code makes it quite clear that electric parking spaces “are reserved for parking electric or car share vehicles only as marked.” I’d hate to know what they do to scofflaws in that green mecca.
I feel the pain of EV owners who can’t charge because somebody took their space. Brian Hines took his newly acquired electric blue Nissan Leaf to the Chemeketa Parkade in downtown Salem, Ore., and found a row of spaces with EV chargers — nearly all of them filled with gas cars. “This is irritating,” he wrote. “Most people respect designated handicapped parking spaces. Why don’t they respect electric vehicle-only parking spaces?” That's Oregon's signage at right.
Hines notes the city of Salem doesn’t have any fine for miscreants, and neither do most states or municipalities. Whether people respect handicapped spaces or not, they know they risk a ticket. In Hawaii, they’re getting tough. EV spaces — which are actually required, along with charging stations, for parking lots with more than 100 spaces — will be clearly marked, and reportedly enforced with fines. The same basic plan has been approved in Portland, Ore.
In Maryland, SB 340 imposes fines on people who park gas cars in EV spots. But state Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Cecil) is incensed. “I think the idea we’re going to create a preferential class for expensive vehicles is wrong,” he said. “We’re using the power of the state to further one particular private business. I think that is not appropriate.”
But Leaf owner Doug Kornreich, who’s had to fight off gas cars in front of his local Walgreens’ charging station, thinks of the matter as “refueling rights.” He says, “I can’t park anywhere else and charge.” I hear him.
And so we come back to my Whole Foods and the gas car parked in the space. The owner came out while I was shooting, and opined that he didn't "believe in" electric cars and, in any case, none were around. But if any showed up, of course, they'd have no way of getting around his car. Here's the video I shot:
MNN tease illustration: Shutterstock
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Its now a ticketable/towable offensive in Washington state to park any vehicle in an EV charging station parking spot and not be charging. Good progress forward, but it still does not address the issue of plug sharing, or what happens after the charging car becomes fully charged.
I created a note to leave on the windshields of gas cars parked in EV spaces that reads:
"Aloha, this is a friendly note from an EV owner letting you know that your non-electric car is parked in a stall reserved for charging electric vehicles.
Electric cars cannot be “refueled” at most gas stations and we often rely on charging stations like this one. Thank you for your cooperation!"
Common occurrence in SoCal -- ask the store manager to cone off the space.
Most places that have EV parking that are coned off are always un-ICEd.
Even at 110V charging, it does NOT take 16 hours to charge my LEAF. Most of these public charging stations are 240V (level 2 charging). A fully discharged LEAF will take about 5 hours to charge fully at level 2. But, people aren't using these stations to completely charge their cars. In most cases, they are just replenishing the power it took to get to the store.
The Hawaii State EV parking law from 2009 was amended this year - no longer requiring a designated EV parking space near the building entrance. If you're a non-EV parking in such a designated spot -- you just get a warning from Jan 2013 onwards.
I suggest placing the EV-only spots further away from the front door, preferably in a quiet, shady corner. I don't mind walking, keeps me healthy! I'm just there to do my business and leave, not get on a soapbox.
Absolutely. EV spaces do not need to be close to the door, unlike Handicapped spaces. They generally are close to the door however, because it costs more to install one farther away from the building.
Hmm... siphon their gas?
Since we're in the beginning of the transition to electrics and away from internal combustion, we'll see all manner of disrespectful people parking in designated EV spots blocking access to those who need to charge. It's a shame, but to be expected due to the abysmally poor character of most Americans. We need better people.
Thanks for catching that. It is now corrected.