Every receptacle is a potential charging station.

[SpaceEVDriver]

I'm on yet another road trip and I noticed the hotel I'm at for the next couple of days has a pile of 120v outlets in the back lot. I asked the hotel staff if I could plug in. After consulting with the owner, they said, “sure."

I'll be here for about 34 hours. At 1.1 kW, that's about 37 kWh, which is about 28% charge. It's not what some people would consider ideal. But it's 28% while the truck is just sitting. There's no reason not to charge if it's an option. It will get me out of town and about 90 miles toward the next destination.

I run the extension cord into the frunk, where the L1 EVSE sits. The charge cord runs through the low-voltage battery access panel out through the wheel well. The charger isn’t visible. I looked for the best, lowest-traffic outlet, but there really wasn’t one that was going to see the least traffic. I am most uncomfortable with the extension cord crossing the sidewalk.

 

[J Alynn]

I'm on yet another road trip and I noticed the hotel I'm at for the next couple of days has a pile of 120v outlets in the back lot. I asked the hotel staff if I could plug in. After consulting with the owner, they said, “sure."

I'll be here for about 34 hours. At 1.1 kW, that's about 37 kWh, which is about 28% charge. It's not what some people would consider ideal. But it's 28% while the truck is just sitting. There's no reason not to charge if it's an option. It will get me out of town and about 90 miles toward the next destination.

View attachment 8058


I run the extension cord into the frunk, where the L1 EVSE sits. The charge cord runs through the low-voltage battery access panel out through the wheel well. The charger isn’t visible. I looked for the best, lowest-traffic outlet, but there really wasn’t one that was going to see the least traffic. I am most uncomfortable with the extension cord crossing the sidewalk.


View attachment 8059

I love that you continue showing us real life examples of using EVs to their fullest potential. And the fact that you are conscious of others is great. I may have told this story before but a former A-hole I worked for used to pull his Denali into the EV spots closest to wherever he was going and would open his gas cap and hang the charger in it. He had such an ego. Always wished someone would have “taught” him a serious “lesson”

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I love that you continue showing us real life examples of using EVs to their fullest potential. And the fact that you are conscious of others is great. I may have told this story before but a former A-hole I worked for used to pull his Denali into the EV spots closest to wherever he was going and would open his gas cap and hang the charger in it. He had such an ego. Always wished someone would have “taught” him a serious “lesson”

One thing I really don't like is when EV chargers are up at the front of a parking lot. Most of us don't need to take the space from ADA accommodations, we just want to plug in. (I generally won't use a charging station in/with an ADA spot and if I do and someone with a need for that spot arrives, I'll move so they have access.) Now, please don't put the chargers in the unlit back alley, but they don't need the premium parking spots either.

 

[dreamweaver]

One thing I really don't like is when EV chargers are up at the front of a parking lot. Most of us don't need to take the space from ADA accommodations, we just want to plug in. (I generally won't use a charging station in/with an ADA spot and if I do and someone with a need for that spot arrives, I'll move so they have access.) Now, please don't put the chargers in the unlit back alley, but they don't need the premium parking spots either.

And while they are at it can we make them pull-through.

 

[Chaz26]

One thing I really don't like is when EV chargers are up at the front of a parking lot. Most of us don't need to take the space from ADA accommodations, we just want to plug in. (I generally won't use a charging station in/with an ADA spot and if I do and someone with a need for that spot arrives, I'll move so they have access.) Now, please don't put the chargers in the unlit back alley, but they don't need the premium parking spots either.

I always prefer them a little out the way as well. I see a lot of the time when they’re right at the front of stores or hotels people with ICE cars just park in them since they’re more convenient. If they’re out the way they’re more likely to be only used by people who need them.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

And while they are at it can we make them pull-through.

That would be nice.

My ideal is that cars move to induction charging and every parking spot is made into a charger. When a non-EV is parked, there’s nothing happening. When an EV is parked, the driver can engage the charger. Sadly, this is terribly inefficient, so probably will never happen.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I always prefer them a little out the way as well. I see a lot of the time when they’re right at the front of stores or hotels people with ICE cars just park in them since they’re more convenient. If they’re out the way they’re more likely to be only used by people who need them.

Exactly.

 

[J Alynn]

That would be nice.

My ideal is that cars move to induction charging and every parking spot is made into a charger. When a non-EV is parked, there’s nothing happening. When an EV is parked, the driver can engage the charger. Sadly, this is terribly inefficient, so probably will never happen.

There is a mental movement that way. I’ve priced more induction cooktops for homes in the past 6 months than I have my entire (almost) 30 year career. But we’ll see how those things translate in time

 

[nolen]

There is a mental movement that way. I’ve priced more induction cooktops for homes in the past 6 months than I have my entire (almost) 30 year career. But we’ll see how those things translate in time

I absolutely love our induction cooktop. My mom was astonished at how fast it boiled a huge pot of water. Just a little sad that I can't use one of my grandmother's pans (aluminum) but the cast iron ones work great.

 

[oldgeeksguide]

That would be nice.

My ideal is that cars move to induction charging and every parking spot is made into a charger. When a non-EV is parked, there’s nothing happening. When an EV is parked, the driver can engage the charger. Sadly, this is terribly inefficient, so probably will never happen.

This would solve a lot of problems; accessibility, mechanical durability, vandalism, aesthetics. I’ve seen a view articles and videos over the last few years of one company or another trying to jump start inductive charging, but no real momentum yet.

 

[J Alynn]

This would solve a lot of problems; accessibility, mechanical durability, vandalism, aesthetics. I’ve seen a view articles and videos over the last few years of one company or another trying to jump start inductive charging, but no real momentum yet.

It’s just expensive and unless you get it under asphalt it can still be vandalized-though I guess it would take some work . But love the idea.
Also made me realize that IKEA should add more chargers too

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Whelp.
I got a call from my sister early this morning. "Hey, my ride to the airport fell through. Can you give me a ride?"

If I hadn't charged on that L1 120V outlet, the answer would have been, "Yes, but... We have to stop to charge."

Having added ~20% charge over the past couple of days meant I could do the airport run (110 miles away) with exactly 20% remaining.

Always be charging is a good way to be in your EV life.

 

[chucchinchilla]

Whelp.
I got a call from my sister early this morning. "Hey, my ride to the airport fell through. Can you give me a ride?"

If I hadn't charged on that L1 120V outlet, the answer would have been, "Yes, but... We have to stop to charge."

Having added ~20% charge over the past couple of days meant I could do the airport run (110 miles away) with exactly 20% remaining.

Always be charging is a good way to be in your EV life.

This is why I'm really looking for an EV with a range figure in the 300's. It's not because I'm driving 350mi every day, it's those unplanned events that fall outside normal charging schedules that can be problematic.

 

[strider]

I always prefer them a little out the way as well. I see a lot of the time when they’re right at the front of stores or hotels people with ICE cars just park in them since they’re more convenient. If they’re out the way they’re more likely to be only used by people who need them.

The problem is that the power is typically in the building. Heavy electrical lines are expensive and priced by the foot so most people choose the lowest-cost install which tends to be close to the building.

Personally, I have more of a problem with the 10 curbside pickup spots that are also right up front. I never see more than 1 or 2 cars in those spots.

Regarding the OP's post, I love it when people try to challenge me about the lack of charging stations. I just look at them and say there are way more electrical outlets in the world than there are gas pumps. One example I like to give is going to the lake and towing a boat. People worry about having enough range to tow a heavy boat round trip. A lot of public boat ramps are in State parks that also include campgrounds with RV spots. You could rent an RV spot for the day and with that comes a 240V/50A outlet. You can get a lot of charge in the time that you're out on the water. Yes, it may cost you $40 for the spot but that is still WAY less than the cost of a tank of gas.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

This is why I'm really looking for an EV with a range figure in the 300's. It's not because I'm driving 350mi every day, it's those unplanned events that fall outside normal charging schedules that can be problematic.

I think that’s fair. I won’t buy a primary-use EV that has less than about 300 miles range either. Mostly because I do a LOT of road trips (about 20k miles a year in road trips). I would buy a secondary, around-town EV, but if I could only have one vehicle it would have to have enough range to make it 250 miles without worry, often at the drop of a hat.

 

[Chavannigans]

ABC


Always
Be
Charging

 

[chucchinchilla]

I think that’s fair. I won’t buy a primary-use EV that has less than about 300 miles range either. Mostly because I do a LOT of road trips (about 20k miles a year in road trips). I would buy a secondary, around-town EV, but if I could only have one vehicle it would have to have enough range to make it 250 miles without worry, often at the drop of a hat.

In a way that's how the family fleet is set up today (not counting fun cars). My gas A6 has a range of 500mi on a tank of gas and our ID.4 has a range of 255mi when charged to 100% (but more like 200 when charged to typical 80%). Audi is the road trip car, ID.4 mostly just packs on local drives. Assuming the final product meets expectations and life doesn't get in the way, I see a Scout taking that road trip slot w/added benefit of more space for bigger local trips.