The etiquette of “Don’t plug in if you don’t need it” would probably work but is unlikely to happen. People are selfish, particularly with free stations . They don’t want to give up free juice just in case somebody else might come along …
Ah, the joys of apartment living! It’s a unique experience, full of shared spaces, communal decisions, and the occasional existential dread about your neighbors. But for those of us who are lucky enough (or perhaps unlucky, depending on your perspective) to own an electric vehicle (EV) in an apartment complex, there’s a whole new layer of complexity to navigate: the EV charger. Let’s dive into the mildly infuriating world of shared EV chargers and why some residents just don’t seem to grasp the concept.
So, here’s the scene: you come home from a long day of work, exhausted and possibly questioning your life choices, only to find that your apartment complex has four shiny ChargePoint level 2 chargers. Great, right? You plug in, feeling a sense of accomplishment as you begin to juice up your electric chariot. But wait! Just as you settle in for a cozy evening of Netflix and snacks, someone else decides to plug into the other charger on the same pylon.
Now, if you’re not familiar with how these things work, let me break it down for you: when two vehicles plug into the same pylon, they split the kilowatt load. So instead of getting the full power you were promised, you’re now sharing it like it’s a pizza at a college dorm party. And let’s be honest, who wants to share pizza?
But here’s the kicker: there’s another pylon right next to you with two unused chargers! It’s like watching someone choose to sit next to you on a nearly empty bus. You can’t help but feel a mix of confusion and mild irritation. Why? Why would someone choose to share a charger when there’s a perfectly good one available just a few feet away? It’s a classic case of the human condition at its finest.
You’d think that in this day and age, with all the technology and information at our fingertips, people would have figured out how to utilize shared resources effectively. But alas, it seems that some residents are blissfully unaware of the existence of that other pylon. Maybe they’re just not paying attention, or perhaps they think it’s some sort of unspoken rule that you must always plug into the charger closest to you, regardless of the consequences.
It’s like the age-old debate about whether to use the last bit of the toilet paper roll. Some people will just ignore that it’s empty and go about their business, while others will take the initiative to replace it. The moral of the story? Not everyone is on the same page when it comes to basic human decency.
Now, if you’re sitting there thinking, “Why not just talk to them?” Oh, my dear friend, if only it were that easy. Approaching a neighbor about their EV charging habits can feel like preparing for a high-stakes negotiation. You might get the side-eye, or worse, they might think you’re the EV charger police. And let’s be real, nobody wants that kind of reputation.
So, what’s the solution? Perhaps a little education is in order. A friendly flyer in the common area explaining how the chargers work could go a long way. Or, maybe a community meeting to discuss EV etiquette? Just imagine the awkwardness as everyone sits around, sipping lukewarm coffee, discussing the finer points of kilowatt sharing.
In the meantime, we EV owners will have to keep our cool and perhaps invest in a good pair of noise-canceling headphones to drown out the sound of our shared frustrations. After all, if we can’t change our neighbors, we can at least change our perspective. And who knows? Maybe one day they’ll figure it out and we can all charge peacefully. Until then, let’s just keep laughing at the absurdity of it all. Cheers to shared living and the great EV charger mystery!
Inspired by: “Other residents don’t seem to get how EV chargers work” (r/mildlyinfuriating)