Charging ettiquette - Unplugging another car

[Dee]

Have you tried that without the key present? (i.e. when the car is locked).
To my knowledge it's not possible to disconnect a cable or stop a charging session if you don't have the key.
If that was the case people would be able to steal your cable (only applicable for AC chargers of course, DC chargers have their own cable).

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[nickmdp]

We can agree to disagree on YOUR answer...not THE answer. Also, MANY models can be unplugged along with any Tesla using an 1772 adapter. (unless they bought the locking adapter for the 1772 adapter)

This is a weird example to make though, because now you're relying on the intelligence of others to know if the other person's car locks the charger or not. Too many people in the world are simply idiots incapable of understanding how to tell, and setting the example for them that it's okay to unplug others' cars in any situation is a dangerous precedent from that perspective because they will without a doubt get it wrong a decent chunk of the time. All of a sudden I've got Neanderthals standing next to my car charger because I'm over 85% and they feel entitled to use the charger, so they're trying to rip it out the second it gets to 100%.

Frankly, I don't really understand why DCFCs and car manufacturers are so enamored by displaying my charging status to everyone with a set of eyes in the first place. If my car is locked and charging without anyone in the car, I can check it on the app, or I can walk over and sit in my car to see how it's going.

 

[satchurator]

Frankly, I don't really understand why chargers and car manufacturers are so enamored by displaying my charging status to everyone with a set of eyes in the first place. If my car is locked and charging without anyone in the car, I can check it on the app, or I can walk over and sit in my car to see how it's going.

I think they do this to incentivize good behavior from the individuals who are charging. i.e. if one is a well adjusted person with a conscience, you will be a little shamed by being pants-down at 100% while you took too long at Walmart.

 

[DerekS]

I bought this kit and keep it in the trunk. I haven't used any of it yet, but will if I'm in a situation that merits it.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/240583087/ev-etiquette-survival-pack-hang-tags

 

[TYKHAAAN]

I wouldn’t do this at en EA charger, but at a level 2 charger at a hotel or something, absolutely would and I have. I left them a note as well. Their vehicle was clearly charged. I would have no problem with someone unplugging my car, if they could, from a level 2 charger either, no note needed. Charging is different than gas and when you are talking about hours to get charged up, everyone needs to be courteous and patient and allow people a bit of slack.
Yes, you run the risk of the person being a jerk about it, but most would understand. People at EA chargers however do need to learn some etiquette and not black chargers that are beyond their speeds, and not try to charge to 100% and not check to make sure someone else is around who needs to charge. Maybe someday we’ll get there.

 

[tomdfw1]

It is not my intention to be rude. If it comes across that way... my apologies. What I wanted to say is that it has been stated several times in this discussion by different people that without unlocking the car, you cannot take the charging cable out of the car's charging port.
However, no one comments about this.

I assume that nobody wants to damage someone else's car and that there is therefore no possibility of removing from a charger.
When asked if it is polite to leave your car hanging on a charger unnecessarily and thus to keep it occupied, everyone will agree that this is not polite and that no one will do this on purpose.

The Original post clearly states not all cars lock the charger when doors locked. Please read and understand the post before calling it stupid.

 

[Deleted member 6348]

We can agree to disagree on YOUR answer...not THE answer. Also, as stated many times above, MANY models can be unplugged along with any Tesla using an 1772 adapter. (unless they bought the locking adapter for the 1772 adapter)

Our Taycan, Mini, and LiveWire all lock the charging connector.

While we haven’t received our Lightning yet, I am pretty sure that all Ford’s require the presence of the fob or app to remove the charging cable if the car is locked. At least, the demo F150 that I had for a day required the fob nearby to unplug our Level 2 charger.

I think that the “many” assumption is incorrect. In the current crop of EVs, most lock the charging cable to the car.

If I walked up to anyone trying to remove my charging connector or another car that’s not their own, there would be a verbal warning followed by a call to police. You have no right to touch another person’s car.

 

[tomdfw1]

As I stated above and will again here, I spoke to two Ford MachE owners yesterday and they both said one could be disconnected while locked. But since you would rather accuse my "assumptions" incorrect and make false statements, perhaps you should do a little easy due diligence and check for yourself before being proven wrong. Here, let me do it for you since you don't want to be inconvenienced: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/coupler-handle-on-mach-e-doesnt-lock.11010/

Fact: MachE does NOT lock accordingly. Pretty easy to assume many others don't as well. Try reading this chain and it will validate it. And even if it were few that don't lock, that is irrelevant to the premise of the question.

And what grounds are you calling the police on? That someone disconnect a public charger from your fully charged car? That someone touched a button on your car? Don't think it is against the law to do either of these...but thanks for sharing how you think.

 

[TXAG]

Frankly, I don't really understand why DCFCs and car manufacturers are so enamored by displaying my charging status to everyone with a set of eyes in the first place.

I like seeing it. It gives me info to decide whether it's better to stay there and wait or drive on to the next charging station. When I drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas I usually pull into the EA station at the South Premium Outlets before checking in to my hotel. If the working chargers are busy with cars that just started charging, or if there are cars already waiting in line, it's easy enough for me to check my app and then drive ~six miles to the EA station on Flamingo Road or at Caesars Palace, both of which are closer to my hotel anyway. And there will be more choices once Tesla superchargers can charge Taycans.

 

[Jhenson29]

@tomdfw1 I think you’re missing a bigger point about the locking.

Regardless of which EVs do or do not lock, how is everyone supposed to know whether or not a particular vehicle locks? People get this stuff wrong about their own vehicles, let alone ones they don’t own.

And sometimes, the plug can be locked even when it shouldn’t be.

So, how much effort should someone put into trying to remove a plug they don’t know is locked? You or I may use reasonable effort, but what about every random person that may do this? Given enough time, this is bound to end badly.

I take the stance to not unplug other peoples cars more because I don’t want someone to unplug my car.

But even beyond that; what if the car charge port was either already or near broken when you unplug and something breaks even though you didn’t do anything else wrong? What if, their car, for what ever other unrelated reason, no longer charges properly after you unplugged it?

 

[DerekS]

If we had working 350s and the Bolts/Block-E's would stay off the damn things, we'd be in and out so quickly we wouldn't have to argue about unplug etiquette.

 

[gnop1950]

Personally I'd never unplug someone else's car especially at a DC fast charging station. If someone leaves it plugged in for an hour after it is completely charged that would be an extra $20 (10 minute grace period) at an EA station, if that doesn't discourage people from leaving their cars plugged in they should just raise the idle fee.

If it were using a destination charger I still wouldn't unplug someone else's car. At a hotel I'd just write down the license plate and ask clerk to take care of it.

While I wouldn't leave my car unattended at a fast charging station for more that a few minutes I still wouldn't appreciate someone that doesn't know my vehicle messing with my charging port.

 

[tomdfw1]

@tomdfw1 I think you’re missing a bigger point about the locking.

Regardless of which EVs do or do not lock, how is everyone supposed to know whether or not a particular vehicle locks? People get this stuff wrong about their own vehicles, let alone ones they don’t own.

And sometimes, the plug can be locked even when it shouldn’t be.

So, how much effort should someone put into trying to remove a plug they don’t know is locked? You or I may use reasonable effort, but what about every random person that may do this? Given enough time, this is bound to end badly.

I take the stance to not unplug other peoples cars more because I don’t want someone to unplug my car.

But even beyond that; what if the car charge port was either already or near broken when you unplug and something breaks even though you didn’t do anything else wrong? What if, their car, for what ever other unrelated reason, no longer charges properly after you unplugged it?

My response is that they should have been there to unplug the charger at or before it was fully charged to guard against someone unplugging it and the fraction of a percentage chance of damage. I don't believe people would use unreasonable force to disconnect the cord as they all work the same and require similar force.

I respect those that think it inappropriate to disconnect a fully charged car, even though I find it acceptable. To respond to the slight possibility of disconnecting someone else's car and possibly damaging it is why I choose to stay with my car or to be back before the full charge completes. I take responsibility for it.

I look at it similar to parking in a public parking lot. You most likely won't get a door ding but it could happen, so I choose to park safely and away from tight spots. I take reasonable actions to not put myself in that position. If I were to park 6" from an adjacent car's driver door, damage could happen and I put myself in that position.

Similar actions should be applied to public charging...If I leave my car parked an hour past full charge, I leave myself in a position for it to happen that someone unplugs the charger. In either case, damage likely won't happen but I try to take accountability for my actions by respecting others and not putting myself in that position to be damaged.

 

[Jhenson29]

I don't believe people would use unreasonable force to disconnect the cord

????….?‍?….??????

 

[tomdfw1]

Personally I'd never unplug someone else's car especially at a DC fast charging station. If someone leaves it plugged in for an hour after it is completely charged that would be an extra $20 (10 minute grace period) at an EA station, if that doesn't discourage people from leaving their cars plugged in they should just raise the idle fee.

If it were using a destination charger I still wouldn't unplug someone else's car. At a hotel I'd just write down the license plate and ask clerk to take care of it.

While I wouldn't leave my car unattended at a fast charging station for more that a few minutes I still wouldn't appreciate someone that doesn't know my vehicle messing with my charging port.

The key is the idle fees...this should be deterrent to prevent selfish people from being selfish. Unfortunately this does not apply at "free" stations like Top Golf and others that use it as an incentive to draw buyers in. In these cases, I would likely not disconnect fully charged cars, since that would likely mean I am playing golf or shopping and away from my car and the other car owner could be one of those that will be offended and take action like to key your car for disconnecting them, even thought they were full. I wouldn't risk it. I would only do this if I stayed with my car while I charged.

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