I wasn't sure if I should put this under batteries, charging or EVSE threads… but as the reasoning behind it is mostly about PR/perception, maybe this is the best sub-board.
My company is moving to a new building. As five of us drive EVs I've taken up the drive to get charging stations in the parking garage (thus my trip to Coulomb earlier last week). The biggest challenge is with the building management as this is the first time my company is renting someone else's building instead of owning it. The building folks have been fed a ton of FUD about electric vehicles and are afraid of being on the hook for all kinds of costs and risks. Finally, though, we were able to educate and convince them, securing the rights to install two spaces (with a single, dual-headed charge point mounted between them) with the possibility of adding another pair in six months "if it all works out".
All that's left now is choosing the spaces within the garage. While there is the limitation of "has to be within (x) feet of certain conduit locations", the choice is otherwise left to me.
After thinking about it a while I'm going to pick two spots up on a higher level, farther in the back -- the "undesirable spaces". This is directly opposite the other campus locations we have where the EV spots are front-and-center, el-primo parking. Since I'm curious what my fellow Leafers think of this, here are my reasons for picking non-prime spots for our EV chargers:
* Some people use the spaces because they are "rockstar parking", even though they don't need a charge. Similar to someone using a not-yet-expired handicap tag long after they've healed up and don't need it. Making these be off in the back eliminates that temptation.
* Similarly, less chance of being ICEd as the ruder take-any-space types tend to go for fancy/close parking first.
* If us EV drivers are being green anyways, what's the harm of walking a little when we need a charge? When we don't we can use the more desirable parking up closer to the building. It gives us incentive to only charge when we need.
* Helps reduce the EV-Hate a little. We already get government rebates, carpool stickers and (in some cities) preferred parking downtown. For every person who goes "hey, cool, EV parking!" at seeing a front-and-center charger location, 10 more will grumble about more freebies to "those damn EV drivers who think they're so special". Combination of out-of-sight/out-of-mind, and being lower-key about getting our free fuel-up at work too.
* The building management has no interest in 'appearing green'; they're more worried that their precious garage (it's a rather fancy site) will get uglied up by cords and electronics. Keeping it in the back makes the building happier. Similarly, part of our contract states that the chargers cannot be made available to the public; employees only. So if they're to be locked down, why put them out front?
I'm thinking this will keep the angst down about the chargers enough that at the six month review point they'll let me install more. I'm thinking this is a good idea because if these reasons apply to other sites maybe if it'd help get more chargers approved/installed overall. I mean, hey… what would you rather have? If a mall could only have, say, 4 chargers... would you want them right at the front door, rock-star-parking, where they would commonly get ICEd, parked in by EVs who don't need a charge or used as political shouting points? Or would you rather they'd be way up in the parking garage or the back lot of the mall where only the folks needing a charge would go seek them out, giving you a much better chance of having a spot when you need it? And, since the "back 9" is probably cheaper for the mall to re-engineer, could they maybe put more chargers there than the could up front?
Dunno about you, but I'm willing to put in the extra legwork and lose a little privilege to get more charger access.
My company is moving to a new building. As five of us drive EVs I've taken up the drive to get charging stations in the parking garage (thus my trip to Coulomb earlier last week). The biggest challenge is with the building management as this is the first time my company is renting someone else's building instead of owning it. The building folks have been fed a ton of FUD about electric vehicles and are afraid of being on the hook for all kinds of costs and risks. Finally, though, we were able to educate and convince them, securing the rights to install two spaces (with a single, dual-headed charge point mounted between them) with the possibility of adding another pair in six months "if it all works out".
All that's left now is choosing the spaces within the garage. While there is the limitation of "has to be within (x) feet of certain conduit locations", the choice is otherwise left to me.
After thinking about it a while I'm going to pick two spots up on a higher level, farther in the back -- the "undesirable spaces". This is directly opposite the other campus locations we have where the EV spots are front-and-center, el-primo parking. Since I'm curious what my fellow Leafers think of this, here are my reasons for picking non-prime spots for our EV chargers:
* Some people use the spaces because they are "rockstar parking", even though they don't need a charge. Similar to someone using a not-yet-expired handicap tag long after they've healed up and don't need it. Making these be off in the back eliminates that temptation.
* Similarly, less chance of being ICEd as the ruder take-any-space types tend to go for fancy/close parking first.
* If us EV drivers are being green anyways, what's the harm of walking a little when we need a charge? When we don't we can use the more desirable parking up closer to the building. It gives us incentive to only charge when we need.
* Helps reduce the EV-Hate a little. We already get government rebates, carpool stickers and (in some cities) preferred parking downtown. For every person who goes "hey, cool, EV parking!" at seeing a front-and-center charger location, 10 more will grumble about more freebies to "those damn EV drivers who think they're so special". Combination of out-of-sight/out-of-mind, and being lower-key about getting our free fuel-up at work too.
* The building management has no interest in 'appearing green'; they're more worried that their precious garage (it's a rather fancy site) will get uglied up by cords and electronics. Keeping it in the back makes the building happier. Similarly, part of our contract states that the chargers cannot be made available to the public; employees only. So if they're to be locked down, why put them out front?
I'm thinking this will keep the angst down about the chargers enough that at the six month review point they'll let me install more. I'm thinking this is a good idea because if these reasons apply to other sites maybe if it'd help get more chargers approved/installed overall. I mean, hey… what would you rather have? If a mall could only have, say, 4 chargers... would you want them right at the front door, rock-star-parking, where they would commonly get ICEd, parked in by EVs who don't need a charge or used as political shouting points? Or would you rather they'd be way up in the parking garage or the back lot of the mall where only the folks needing a charge would go seek them out, giving you a much better chance of having a spot when you need it? And, since the "back 9" is probably cheaper for the mall to re-engineer, could they maybe put more chargers there than the could up front?
Dunno about you, but I'm willing to put in the extra legwork and lose a little privilege to get more charger access.
