mbender
Well-known member
I stopped in my local dealer on the way home because I knew I was calling it close. I drove in the lot and right up to a wide open Level II charger attached to the building with its inviting green light on. Then, maybe about five minutes into charging, a rent-a-cop approaches me and says I have to leave.
I'm sorry, but I nearly lost it, because 1.) I was never told it was not available after the dealer closed; 2.) The lot was wide open, there were no signs, no cords and no obstacles (eg cars) blocking the path to or location of the charger; 3.) other dealers do offer Level II 24/7; 4.) I could have been granted a one-time exception, or at least the full thirty minutes he did promise, but he came back in five and unplugged and evicted me.
Of course, like certain war criminals, he said he was "just doing his job", which was predictable but still ticked me off. However, he's also not a Nissan employee and knows little-to-nothing about EVs, so my anger is/was probably misplaced. (Although, his refusal to give me his name does merit some wrath (imho)).
I'm curious to know what others think and if anyone has had a similar experience. It doesn't seem like Nissan is doing itself any favors "PR-wise" to have dealers enforce these kinds of absolutist rules. But quite likely Nissan has no say in which dealers do what, which is yet another strike against that antiquated model.
And even though it's still a bit raw (this just happened earlier tonight), all's well that ends well: I made it back probably just before earning my first Turtle. I got the Very Low Battery about 8 miles before limping home at about 25mph (in 50mph zones). Was anticipating having (and almost hoping) to call Nissan Roadside Assistance for a half-mile tow -- way out in exurbia.
I'm sorry, but I nearly lost it, because 1.) I was never told it was not available after the dealer closed; 2.) The lot was wide open, there were no signs, no cords and no obstacles (eg cars) blocking the path to or location of the charger; 3.) other dealers do offer Level II 24/7; 4.) I could have been granted a one-time exception, or at least the full thirty minutes he did promise, but he came back in five and unplugged and evicted me.
Of course, like certain war criminals, he said he was "just doing his job", which was predictable but still ticked me off. However, he's also not a Nissan employee and knows little-to-nothing about EVs, so my anger is/was probably misplaced. (Although, his refusal to give me his name does merit some wrath (imho)).
I'm curious to know what others think and if anyone has had a similar experience. It doesn't seem like Nissan is doing itself any favors "PR-wise" to have dealers enforce these kinds of absolutist rules. But quite likely Nissan has no say in which dealers do what, which is yet another strike against that antiquated model.
And even though it's still a bit raw (this just happened earlier tonight), all's well that ends well: I made it back probably just before earning my first Turtle. I got the Very Low Battery about 8 miles before limping home at about 25mph (in 50mph zones). Was anticipating having (and almost hoping) to call Nissan Roadside Assistance for a half-mile tow -- way out in exurbia.