To the editor:
Re: “Lonely times for electric chargers,” Oct. 31.
EV chargers (EVSE) are like flowers: they need to be there for bees, butterflies, and humming birds to sip from, whether you see one using it or not. Similarly, where you plant your flowers will determine how often they get used.
If the logs of an EVSE show it is getting less use than other local EVSE, there are factors that were not considered in the planning of the EVSE installation.
Is the EVSE location where plugin drivers want to go? If no one wants to go there, do not install EVSE there. Favored locations are just like fuel-cars: at shopping centers, theaters, restaurants, airport/train/bus stations, etc.
Is the cost of using the EVSE too high? If some bean counter set the use fee too high, plugin drivers will go elsewhere. What should have been done is to use an EVSE finder website or app (i.e.: plugshare.com ) to know what plugin drivers use, how often and how much it costs, etc. Then set the EVSE use fee accordingly competitive.
The location of the installation in the parking lot should not be preferential spaces. If possible, side or rear parking spots are fine. Obstinate fuel-car drivers will park in EV spots, thus blocking access. A blocked EV spot is a waste of tax dollars too, so the violator should be both ticketed and towed away.
Lastly, because it is likely that the people who made all the incorrect decisions do not drive electric, there is a solution: relocate the EVSE to where it will be used.
Too many times, the media complains about EVSE being under or over used, written by writers who do not drive electric and do not know of what they write about. When the real problem is the people who originally spent the money to install the EVSE also do not drive electric, thus did not know what they were doing.
It isn’t the EVs, nor the EVSE at fault here. There are just too many people that are too ignorant to make simple common sense decisions.
EVs are not rocket science, they are actually easier to know than fuel cars, they are just new to people’s minds.
Bruce Parmenter,
Vancouver
