EV parking priority

[Robert.Boston]

@vfx: Sounds like it's still in the planning stage. I'm always happy to see business owners exercise their freedom to set prices in a competitive market. I don't think that SUV-owners are a protected class, so as long as their pricing policy is clearly posted, I'm all for this.

There's even a general reasonableness about the approach, from a cost perspective: as the photo accompanying the article points out, there's a correlation between vehicle size and energy consumption. In a postage-stamp-sized parking lot like this, I'm sure that space is at a premium, and parking an F350 or an H2 may cause problems.

[spatterso911]

What if you drive a Chevy Traverse? Big SUV, but gets >15 mpg.

[bonnie1194]

What if you drive a Chevy Traverse? Big SUV, but gets >15 mpg.

There are always going to be outlying examples, but this seems like a good approach. Big vehicles take up more space than small vehicles. They should pay for the real estate they use in a small parking lot.

I grumble at work every morning because the spots outside the front door are clearly marked 'compact only' and filled with large SUVs that don't understand the concept of 'between the lines'. Twelve compact spots will be filled with 7 or 8 large vehicles. So I have no sympathy if they're actually (the horror!) asked to pay a little more for their fine parking skills, irregardless of mpg.

I would definitely patronize that parking lot, if it were a little closer.

[Dan5]

Those SUVs should pay more, in all actuality, the infrastructure had to be modified for those- larger parking spots, increased height of garage in some extreme examples.



In terms of EV parking priority, I'm wondering what the protocol would be:
Lets say you have 6 EVs and PHEVs and 3 spots, lets say the 6 cars are as follows

Roadster or Model S
Volt
Leaf
Fusion EV
PIP
MiEV

Who gets the spots? I say the Volt or PIP don't, but it still leaves 4 cars and 3 spots. I would think it would be interesting if you had to enter your phone number or something in the charge station and when someone else wanted to charge the station would alert you. I can see the MiEV/Leaf/Fusion EV owner calling the Tesla owner names for charging when they need to charge their more limited range vehicles.

[NigelM]

I can see the MiEV/Leaf/Fusion EV owner calling the Tesla owner names for charging when they need to charge their more limited range vehicles.

And' I'd let them have priority if I was able.

[Lloyd]

All the more reason for higher amperage Level II charging to 80 amps. They need to start producing these units!!! To date Clipper Creek is the only one!!

[vfx]

There's even a general reasonableness about the approach, from a cost perspective: as the photo accompanying the article points out, there's a correlation between vehicle size and energy consumption. In a postage-stamp-sized parking lot like this, I'm sure that space is at a premium, and parking an F350 or an H2 may cause problems.

And as the article points out heavier cars give more wear and tear to the pavement to mention dripping oil softening the asphalt.

I'd be interested in any followup on this site and how it's working. BEVs would get priority and that's a good thing. The lot may end up being a "safe have" for efficient vehicles.



Anyone else amused the company is called "Dinosaur"?

http://www.bostonherald.com/business...&position=also

BTW the article says CA HOV lanes allow one passenger when it's actually BEV's OK with no passengers.

[Robert.Boston]

BTW the article says CA HOV lanes allow one passenger when it's actually BEV's OK with no passengers.

I expect that the author meant "one occupant" rather than "one passenger and the driver". And, yes, I agree that the "Dinosaur" name was a fun, ironic twist.

As to priority among the list of EVs/EREVs/hybrids -- first come, first serve.

[SByer]

It's going to be an interesting experiment at work. Rolf is determined that any vehicle that plugs in should be able to. Parking at Google is, uhm, competitive. Until the PiPs and ActiveEs started arriving, I felt secure getting in past 11 knowing there would be an EV-only spot waiting. Not so much anymore, but I'm trying to embrace the attitude. I plug-in every day I drive to work to try and raise the usage stats earlier (moar plugs pleez!).

(I still want to castigate the PiP owners for buying such a lame lack-of-effort come-up-short vehicle - I'm hoping that will pass, but after reading the Toyota double-speak FAQ where they try and justify wimpy-ass sized batteries, I doubt it).

[Robert.Boston]

(I still want to castigate the PiP owners for buying such a lame lack-of-effort come-up-short vehicle - I'm hoping that will pass, but after reading the Toyota double-speak FAQ where they try and justify wimpy-ass sized batteries, I doubt it).

John Petersen thinks the PiP's battery is just the right size -- or maybe too large by about 8kWh.