DOTPL: Electric Company

"Aremmes" (aremmes)
02/19/2020 at 14:00 • Filed to: HEY YOU GUYS!, dotpl, Volvo XC60, Volt, e-golf

A Volvo XC60 Polestar and a Chevy Volt share a charging station in the office park where I work. THE charging station, assamattarofact, as there exists no other for the arseload of parking spaces here.

Meanwhile this e-Golf parked right behind them gets left out in the cold.

Bonus trash keyboard stashed where it belongs, seen as I was walking out from lunch.

DISCUSSION (18)

Sovande > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 14:22

It’s interesting, I just finished a building with high end finishes, two yoga studios, a gym, rooftop bar and 260 apartment units. It’s a mecca for the type of upwardl y mobile folk who are likely to purchase an EV. There is a 3 level below- grade garage and not a single charging station. Hard to believe that you can get away with that in this day and age. Maybe DC doesn’t care.

That said, I don’t think there is any reason an employer should be providing charging stations at it’s parking lot for employees . Why should an employer cover the cost of your electricity? My company doesn’t cover any of my $260/month parking fees, for instance.

Spanfeller is a twat > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 14:25

It seems like Spanish people in general believe that PHEV==B EV... which is not the case... and they take up BEV spots with PHEVs that have no business there... It must be infuriating for a Twizzy owner to arrive with 10 km of range to a parking garage with EV parking just to see a fucking BMW X5 in the space.

lone_liberal > Sovande
02/19/2020 at 14:33

Employers also don’t have to provide coffee or snacks but some choose to as an employee benefit. My company provided discounted parking when our office was located where there was no free parking for the same reason. Also, just because they provide charging stations doesn’t mean that they have to be free.

Aremmes > Sovande
02/19/2020 at 14:40

This is a ChargePoint charging station, not a free service for employees.

Sovande > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 14:56

I don’t know what that is? Does that mean it’s a pay station?

I wonder what the ratio of registered EV’s to ICE cars is? 1:250? 1:500? If there is are 200 spots in the lot, what’s a reasonable number that should have charger access? Obviously this number will always be on the rise as we transition to EV.

Aremmes > Sovande
02/19/2020 at 15:19

Yes, it’s a pay station. You get an account with ChargePoint, put their app on your phone (or get a card from them), and use that account to activate the charger and pay for the energy delivered.

As for the ratio, I can’t tell what the proper ratio should be, but obviously there’s good demand here given the various other electric/plug-in hybrid vehicles I’ve seen parked at that charging station .

Aremmes > Spanfeller is a twat
02/19/2020 at 15:20

To side with the Twizzy owner, seeing an X5 parked anywhere is infuriating enough.

SiennaMan > Sovande
02/19/2020 at 15:28

I'd say there's a good chance that the person making decisions for that building project is of a mindset to not even comprehend that his clients might want EV charging, especially if he's been kitting out such projects for a number of years..

facw > Spanfeller is a twat
02/19/2020 at 15:37

Either way it’s helpful for them to fill up on electricity. Sure city car EVs need it more, but the real problem is that they don’t have enough chargers to meet demand in the first place. It’s perfectly desirable for a PHEV to charge up its battery so it can do its next trip without gas.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sovande
02/19/2020 at 16:08

My company has 2 level 2 chargers that are free for employees. It’s an easy benefit for the company to provide, it didn’t cost much to install and doesn’t cost much to operate. the people who have PHEV or EV are responsible for scheduling/sharing. We also have a Gym/locker rooms and a full time barista staffed coffee bar which is free.

Perks keep employees. Best when they can find those perks for cheap (like putting in 2 chargers).

Sovande > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/19/2020 at 16:50

I think perks are great. They are a distant second to salary, for me, however . I’d rather pay for my cheese crackers and make more cash than the other way around.

Sovande > SiennaMan
02/19/2020 at 16:51

My guess is that it there were spaces designated during the design phase and that they were value engineered out as the $80 million price tag spiraled out of control. I'm just surprised the code doesn't dictate EV charging.

Sovande > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 16:53

I guess I don't really pay attention. I am probably pretty blind to the whole EV thing. I can’t afford one and don’t fully buy into the premise.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 18:04

I saw a guy getting out of one as I was leaving my favorite coffee shop yesterday. It had clearly summer tires :facepalm

ClassicDatsunDebate > Aremmes
02/19/2020 at 18:56

My co-worker has a T8. It’s pretty swank.

Spanfeller is a twat > facw
02/20/2020 at 05:42

I understand, but a PHEV charging on a 50kW charger is downright criminal....

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sovande
02/20/2020 at 09:04

Personally, I agree. The trends seem to go against our philosophy on that.

My point was though, it’s not outlandish or shocking for a company to provide charging services.

His Stigness > Spanfeller is a twat
02/20/2020 at 21:56

It’s not just Spanish people, it’s every asshat with a PHEV. They’ve all deluded themselves into thinking they’re driving an EV and I swear when they buy the car they promise to use whatever plug they see, it drives me nuts.

Disneyland has a lot of chargers, and they're almost always taken by PHEV drivers, despite the high rates Disney charges. I did the math and these people are playing the equivalent of $5 a gallon for gas.