Installing a Model-S Charger on a Public Right-of-Way

[tdelta1000]

Congrats on the S and welcome. Question... Where would you prefer to charge the S??? If it's near the garage then have an licensed electrician run wiring to the exterior wall of the garage nearest the house park there at night to charge the S. Another idea is to have an electrician run wire to both sides of the house near the sidewalks in weather proof housing so that you will be able to run the charge from there over to the Model S. I hope my ideas spark other ideas for your final solution.

[Robert.Boston]

Remember that, with the Model S, there is no need for an EVSE. All that's needed is a NEMA 14-50 plug, which can be mounted nearly at ground level in a small weather-proof box. You could even put a decorative stone or planter around the housing to make the plug less conspicuous.

[smoothoperator]

Tunnel a conduit under the sidewalk imho. There are certainly allowances made for drainage, so you should be able to get by with a cord conduit under. ... Ok, so that's my "Redneck" solution but it prolly wouldn't make the city happy.

Park in the garage is the 'make the city happy' solution though.

Could ask engineering to put their brains on it though. Rather than tell them they must do X or Y because it will become a common thing, just toss ideas at them ... make it collaborative. They'll say what the issues are and maybe there is a way around the issues.

For instance: I see a nice light-pole across the street. It has power from somewhere. You could replace that nice tree by your house (that'll become a sidewalk hazard in a few years) with a light-pole that happens to have a NEMA14-50 plug on it. You do a quid pro quot with the city and provide an attractive pole powered by solar or LED with your home power and get a plug on the street with a lock on it. ... But that certainly isn't a cheap route to take.

Problem with charging on the street is that it is possible that another car may occupy the space which will make it difficult to charge, better to charge within the envelope of the property rather than depend on a specific street space, always being available to charge.

[Sig698]

I agree with the carport and locking cabinets choice, seems like the cheapest/lowest risk of fines way to go.

If you REALLY are on a budget and don't mind an eyesore, though, just get some of these: Yellow Jacket Cable Protectors - Product Line with the ADA ramps and call it a day.

[doug]

Hard to tell how long the driveway is, but could you park on a diagonal to avoid blocking the sidewalk?

[smoothoperator]

Hard to tell how long the driveway is, but could you park on a diagonal to avoid blocking the sidewalk?

From the picture (using the bush as a reference point probably in the range of 3 feet long) I would guess about 6-7 feet from the garage door (longest part of the driveway) to the sidewalk, and probably 15 feet diagonally, so I do not think that will work

[drees]

There's a few of Blink L2s in Mission Valley here in San Diego on the street in a right of way in front of an apartment complex.

My Nissan Leaf Forum View topic - San Diego - Current List of Public Charging Stations



My personal comments (similar to others already):

Trenching isn't cheap.
Figure out how to slightly lengthen your garage so your car will fit. Might be more affordable than your think compared to trenching (assuming you're paying someone to do it).
Use porous/permeable pavers to allow parking car on the "triangle" that allows the grass to grow through. When the car isn't parked there the pavers will barely be visible.

[Lloyd]

Plant a hedge around the pavers (great idea) to keep prying eyes in Culver City from your car! Add a security light.

Use porous/permeable pavers to allow parking car on the "triangle" that allows the grass to grow through. When the car isn't parked there the pavers will barely be visible.

[neroden]

Legally, something obscure is going to make a difference: do you own the land under the street or not?

In some places, it's a public right-of-way, but the neighboring landowner has fee title up to the center of the road. In this case, you have a strong legal case that you have to be allowed to do it, becasue as long as you aren't obstructing the right-of-way, you aren't interfering with the city's rights.

In other places, the city actually owns the land under the road and even between the road and the sidewalk. In this case, you're frankly begging permission and have to buy an easement from the city.

Sidewalk rules also matter. If you're responsible for sidewalk maintenance (which is usually a bad position to be in), you have a perfect right to rip up the sidewalk, trench under it, and replace it. If the city is, they probably won't let you do that.

There is no way it will be an "attractive nuisance", any more than a streetlight is, and I think the city engineer is giving you crap. Do you have an alderman or equivalent to go to?

Of course, even if all the issues with permitting are solved, it's going to be expensive. There is no way around that. It might, indeed, be cheaper to lengthen the garage.

[markb1]

Sidewalk rules also matter. If you're responsible for sidewalk maintenance (which is usually a bad position to be in), you have a perfect right to rip up the sidewalk, trench under it, and replace it. If the city is, they probably won't let you do that.

There are tools to tunnel under concrete, so the sidewalk probably wouldn't need to be ripped up.