Am I wrong to be angry?

[Publius]

I have a question about charge cord etiquette and workplace charging. I agreed to teach a few classes this semester at a college that requires a 70-mile round-trip commute (note my location: it was -12 one morning a couple weeks ago). I knew that it would be difficult, but I only plan on making this a regular thing. Before the semester started I asked if I would be allowed to use an outlet on campus until the weather warmed up. I was told that there aren't any outside outlets. However, in a moment of desperation (on a day when my typical fallback location was iced) I walked around campus and found a 20 amp outlet on a large paved surface near a courtyard. Perfect. I received permission before trying to use the outlet. I offered to pay for electric and provided my phone number in case of a problem. Security was notified that this was to be a recurring thing. Everything seemed good, although I knew that it may not last when the right-- or wrong-- people got wind of it. Fast forward a few days to today, I received a visit from security around Noon informing me that I would not be allowed to charge on campus anymore. The officer was nice about it and said I did not have to move my car today. Fair enough. However, when I went out to my car I found that it had been unplugged while charging (from the outlet, not the car) and the cord was sitting in a snowbank next to the outlet. There was also a lock on the outlet, as if I was trying to steal something. My phone tells me that the car was unplugged this morning, so I didn't get much charge and barely made it home. When I stop at charge stations en route I leave early to charge in the AM because I have to be home in the afternoon for my daughter. Am I wrong to be angry that my car was unplugged without calling me and that my cord was left sitting in the snow?

[desiv]

Am I wrong to be angry that my car was unplugged without calling me and that my cord was left sitting in the snow?

You're not wrong to be angry / frustrated.
Whoever did that should have called or at least left a note, but as for who to be angry at??
It wouldn't surprise me if you aren't allowed anymore because someone complained, and that it might have been that same someone who unplugged you... Or they might have been the ones who pressured security to unplug you if they did..

I'd look for someone driving a really big pickup truck.. Kidding about that.. (although..)

Someone probably assumed you were taking the electricity that "they" pay for...
Probably wouldn't even matter to them that you offered to pay..

People..



Just don't be too frustrated / angry.. Not worth it in the long run..

desiv

[Publius]

Am I wrong to be angry that my car was unplugged without calling me and that my cord was left sitting in the snow?

You're not wrong to be angry / frustrated.
Whoever did that should have called or at least left a note, but as for who to be angry at??
It wouldn't surprise me if you aren't allowed anymore because someone complained, and that it might have been that same someone who unplugged you... Or they might have been the ones who pressured security to unplug you if they did..

I'd look for someone driving a really big pickup truck.. Kidding about that.. (although..)

Someone probably assumed you were taking the electricity that "they" pay for...
Probably wouldn't even matter to them that you offered to pay..

People..



Just don't be too frustrated / angry.. Not worth it in the long run..

desiv

Thanks, it is a rural college with a lot of big trucks...

[davewill]

No, you're not, but there's also not much point to it. Yes, the one who unplugged you on the spot was being a jerk, but he probably doesn't know just how much of a jerk he was.

[jpadc]

Okay I have to ask what college campus (I'll stereotype too), especially in NY, would be so unfriendly to EVs? Most college campuses raced to get charging stations and special parking on their campus to promote hybrid and electric vehicles. If you note my location at least one (some might argue both) of them is not in a "blue" state. I'm just a bit surprised by such an attitude on a college campus.

[LeftieBiker]

New York, while often viewed by people in other states as a "Blue" state, is actually "Purple", with more conservative folks occupying most of the land area, and the Liberals concentrated in a few large cities. Even SUNY Albany installed exactly one charging station, and then blocked it for outside use for months. SUNY Cobleskil (sp?) could be dropped right into Kansas and would fit nicely.

[Turnover]

I have done several hundred hours of volunteer trail work at a nearby state park. Occasionally, my wife and I had been going up and picking up trash in the park for a couple of hours at a time while plugged in to one of the seldom used RV 14-50 outlets leaving a sign that it is okay to unplug. I recently introduced myself to the new ranger at a trail volunteer recognition function. He said the outlets were for RV's only and that I was never again to use one. Pretty much a letter of the law man.

I am a spirit of the law type. He can pick up his own trash.

You might see the person who signed off on your contract with the college and see if you can get an addition or amendment to it allowing you to use an outlet. Its my understanding that community colleges have a need for competent part time instructors and you have some clout here.

[Publius]

Okay I have to ask what college campus (I'll stereotype too), especially in NY, would be so unfriendly to EVs? Most college campuses raced to get charging stations and special parking on their campus to promote hybrid and electric vehicles. If you note my location at least one (some might argue both) of them is not in a "blue" state. I'm just a bit surprised by such an attitude on a college campus.

The rural communities of Upstate NY are often quite conservative. Let's just say that the college is in one of those areas. My car is also the first EV on the campus-- they may have a couple hybrids, though (and I'm not talking about the Volt). However, it's not just rural colleges that have failed to embrace EVs, few in my area have. Upstate NY might as well be on a different planet than NYC.

[smkettner]

I think you should have talked to your boss as soon as security brought up the issue.
Just explain the job is not going to work out as well as you thought.

[johnrhansen]

I think the person who unplugged you was probably the same person who complained to security about it.