Charger etiquette, what do you think?

[HarryD]

My better half was at the local shopping center in our M3 the other day. She drove around to check if any of the 4 charging spots were available.
There was some issue with who was first to the only remaining charge spot so she let another non Tesla into the spot and parked along side.
When she got back, about an hour later, the other car had left. That driver had plugged our M3 into the charger when they had driven off.
Is this the right thing to do?

 

[moa999]

Absolutely. Nice and polite.
But don't expect it.

Removing a charger from someone's car however is another matter (generally not possible on Australian Tesla's)

 

[Hairyman]

I think it was a kind gesture, but I understand why you might feel like it is a bit of an invasion of your private space. I‘d look on it as a random act of kindness rather than somebody creeping on you.

 

[leonk]

Sorry, I'm in the "you don't touch other peoples stuff" camp.

Seems harmless enough, but what if something were to go wrong and you were the one that plugged it in?

 

[bcarp]

When she got back, about an hour later, the other car had left. That driver had plugged our M3 into the charger when they had driven off.

How? The Tesla charge flap closes and locks. It will only open when the car is unlocked or there’s a phone key next to it.

 

[CCopperpot]

How? The Tesla charge flap closes and locks. It will only open when the car is unlocked or there’s a phone key next to it.

thats what I was wondering

 

[gsmith123]

How? The Tesla charge flap closes and locks. It will only open when the car is unlocked or there’s a phone key next to it.

Strictly speaking, this isn't true. At a Supercharger at least the button on the Supercharger handle can open the flap of a locked car. Useful for plugging in people who block Superchargers. Plug them in and hope they get some expensive idle fees!

Anyway, in this case - was it a Tesla destination charger? Maybe the Model 3 wasn't locked?

 

[rlsd]

Impossible.

 

[fholbert]

My better half was at the local shopping center in our M3 the other day. She drove around to check if any of the 4 charging spots were available.
There was some issue with who was first to the only remaining charge spot so she let another non Tesla into the spot and parked along side.
When she got back, about an hour later, the other car had left. That driver had plugged our M3 into the charger when they had driven off.
Is this the right thing to do?

Not sure if your complaining or thanking.

The other driver knew your wife needed a charge and she was parked in a charging stall. I’d say the other driver was performing a courtesy. Assume your wife got a text when charging started?

Had you wife racked up a couple hours of idle fees… Well, she was parked in a charging stall.

 

[HarryD]

She was parked next to a Tesla destination charger, not in the marked space.
The car was locked. The charging flap can be opened from the charger lead.
No harm done but be aware that you can be plugged in by others.

 

[B3AU]

She was parked next to a Tesla destination charger, not in the marked space.
The car was locked. The charging flap can be opened from the charger lead.
No harm done but be aware that you can be plugged in by others.

Hopefully the destination charger billing rolls out more widely!

 

[bcarp]

The car was locked. The charging flap can be opened from the charger lead.

Well, you learn something new every day. I just tried it with my Tesla WC Gen 3 at home. Locked the car then turned BT off on my phone. The Wall Connector button does indeed open the charging flap and plug straight in. However, once plugged in it can’t be removed without unlocking the car via card or Bluetooth or app.

 

[moa999]

If you are parked at a spot next to an EV charger where you can be easily plugged in, even if it isn't marked, there is somewhat of a tacit request to be plugged in.

Otherwise there is the whole rest of the carpark.

 

[dronus]

Well, you learn something new every day. I just tried it with my Tesla WC Gen 3 at home. Locked the car then turned BT off on my phone. The Wall Connector button does indeed open the charging flap and plug straight in. However, once plugged in it can’t be removed without unlocking the car via card or Bluetooth or app.

interesting indeed, i would have thought that a RFID or BT device associated with that car would have to be nearby to open the charge port to prevent vandalism etc. Im pretty happy my ICE fuel cap cant be opened (without excessive force) by passers-by

 

[bcarp]

i would have thought that a RFID or BT device associated with that car would have to be nearby to open the charge port to prevent vandalism etc

I think it's unlikely to happen since you have to be parked within plugging in distance of a Tesla-branded charger.

 

[dronus]

I think it's unlikely to happen since you have to be parked within plugging in distance of a Tesla-branded charger.

Yeah what I was saying is that I would have thought that the owner would have to be close by to be able to unlock and open the charge port, but obviously not..

 

[B3AU]

I think it's unlikely to happen since you have to be parked within plugging in distance of a Tesla-branded charger.

Or anyone with an RFID thingy like a Flipper Zero

 

[dronus]

Or anyone with an RFID thingy like a Flipper Zero

Bit neater than capturing with the hackrf in a portapack

 

[moa999]

Or a cheap 433mhz button from Ali.
(Note different frequency 315mhz in US/Japan for anyone from those regions)

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006171672396.html

 

[rlsd]

She was parked next to a Tesla destination charger, not in the marked space.
The car was locked. The charging flap can be opened from the charger lead.
No harm done but be aware that you can be plugged in by ot

Well, you learn something new every day. I just tried it with my Tesla WC Gen 3 at home. Locked the car then turned BT off on my phone. The Wall Connector button does indeed open the charging flap and plug straight in. However, once plugged in it can’t be removed without unlocking the car via card or Bluetooth or app.

I cannot do that with my mobile connector.