Charging Rudeness?

[Stoaty]

I think Stevens Creek made a mistake and largely as a result of bad PR on this forum either changed their policy or committed to make their employees follow their policy. Thus I list them in the dealer charging list (http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3749) as one of the "good guys" who promote LEAF and EVs. Two reasons: 1) The list is intended to show where you could charge today. If you're out of range today it doesn't matter if you couldn't have charged there yesterday. 2) We want restrictive dealers to change their policies and allow charging, so we want them to have the incentive of being listed as a "good" dealer.

That's the way to go. It doesn't matter if one person had a bad experience, as long as the dealer has rectified the problem and promises to do things differently in the future. Now if they don't follow through with that promise, that's another story...

 

[linkim]

I am a LEAF specialist and would like to invite ANYONE, regardless of where you purchased your vehicle to come use our chargers at Stevens Creek Nissan. I know that there are range issues for people coming to San Jose from Gilroy and such and you are welcome to drop your LEAF off here. I know there was a misunderstanding with a nice lady at our establishment, but we believe that we have remedied any misunderstanding. I encourage you to come see for yourself. My name is Aaron de Priest from Stevens Creek Nissan.

I purchased my LEAF at Stevens Creek Nissan, so was very pleased that the dealership recognized the misunderstanding regarding the use of the L2 charging dock by all LEAF owners. I am not trying to defend Stevens Creek Nissan here, but I think Aaron’s statement indicates they want to be receptive to all LEAF owners, and we need to acknowledge it.

The MNL forum has played an important role in expressing negative comments about Nissan dealers who do not welcome all LEAF owners to use their L2 charging facilities. This ground swell of responses may change attitudes/policies to the help the EV community. I don’t think the intent of LEAF owners is to abuse the privilege of charging at any Nissan dealer. Instead, the access to charging docks for emergency charging is reassurance to LEAF owners that a welcoming charging network is available at a local Nissan dealer.

Thanks Aaron and Stevens Creek Nissan for your positive response. Now I will get off my soapbox and go for a drive in my LEAF.

 

[tps]

Employees will misbehave in really strange ways if management allows them to.

Not only employees, but often management behaves in strange ways at times, too. I don't think I'll even try to bring up the subject of charging at work. If I really need a charge, the dealer from whom I am planning to buy my LEAF is 0.5 mi. from the office, I would think they might let me leave it over there for the day if it needed to be topped off.

 

[occ]

I am a LEAF specialist and would like to invite ANYONE, regardless of where you purchased your vehicle to come use our chargers at Stevens Creek Nissan. I know that there are range issues for people coming to San Jose from Gilroy and such and you are welcome to drop your LEAF off here. I know there was a misunderstanding with a nice lady at our establishment, but we believe that we have remedied any misunderstanding. I encourage you to come see for yourself. My name is Aaron de Priest from Stevens Creek Nissan.

Thank you Aaron63.

Only time will tell, but thank the management for making the policy change, and letting us know.

 

[walterbays]

ICEing the charge stations.

I'd like to see a YouTube video. It would have the be made with the cooperation of a gas station owner, which probably means not until some BP/Arco stations get their quick charger stations. (If even then.)

Open with a LEAF pulling up to an L2 charging station only to find it blocked by an ICE car. "What's the problem? A parking space is a parking space, isn't it? Why should you get a special parking space?" Cut to a gas station. A LEAF pulls up and parks at one of the pumps. The driver gets out and walks away. It's followed by another and another, until finally every pump at the station is occupied by a LEAF. The ICE car pulls in and drives around looking for an open pump. The driver tries to stretch a hose over but it won't reach. He asks the station attendant where all the LEAF drivers are, but he just shrugs. "But I'm out of gas! What am I supposed to do? Why are all these cars parked here? They don't even use gas!"

 

[Jimmydreams]

ICEing the charge stations.

I'd like to see a YouTube video. It would have the be made with the cooperation of a gas station owner, which probably means not until some BP/Arco stations get their quick charger stations. (If even then.)

Open with a LEAF pulling up to an L2 charging station only to find it blocked by an ICE car. "What's the problem? A parking space is a parking space, isn't it? Why should you get a special parking space?" Cut to a gas station. A LEAF pulls up and parks at one of the pumps. The driver gets out and walks away. It's followed by another and another, until finally every pump at the station is occupied by a LEAF. The ICE car pulls in and drives around looking for an open pump. The driver tries to stretch a hose over but it won't reach. He asks the station attendant where all the LEAF drivers are, but he just shrugs. "But I'm out of gas! What am I supposed to do? Why are all these cars parked here? They don't even use gas!"

FANTASTIC!

 

[TRONZ]

Very Nice. This should be Plug In Americas next public service video.

 

[Herm]

As has been stated before, the solution to the ICE car hogging the charging spot is to put those spots in the most inconvenient places, as far away from the entrance to the buildings as possible, no shade etc.. either that or put a parking meter on that spot

As green ecowarriors on the frontlines, we dont mind walking a few more steps.

 

[PaulScott]

As has been stated before, the solution to the ICE car hogging the charging spot is to put those spots in the most inconvenient places, as far away from the entrance to the buildings as possible, no shade etc.. either that or put a parking meter on that spot

The EVSE needs to be installed in the most cost effective location for the service. Cutting concrete and asphalt is very expensive. Running conduit and wire to remote locations in a parking lot increases costs substantially. The ICEing problem will sort itself out over time as more people get EVs and demand policing of the spots. If we are constantly ICEd at a private location, we can stop trading with that business. If it's a public location, we need to make sure there are regulations, municipal or state, that cover the infraction and level a fine or towing. Then we lean on our government to enforce them.

There will be fits and starts to the roll out of EVSE infrastructure, but we should all keep our eye on the ball of making it as cost effective as possible and trouble-free for the users.

 

[jcesare]

I just wanted to repost this response from another thread. I asked my PD about EVSE accesibility at Mossy Nissan in San Diego. His last sentence sums up the current situation. Hopefully more dealers will get on board to help successfully launch this product.

For the time being until there are other options I am not imposing a restriction based on hours of operation to my 2 chargers in my customer parking. At this time the lot is not obstructed and there is access to the chargers from 6am until 12 midnight. Won't say it will be this way forever, but right now Nissan dealers are the infrastructure.

 

[adric22]

The EVSE needs to be installed in the most cost effective location for the service. Cutting concrete and asphalt is very expensive. Running conduit and wire to remote locations in a parking lot increases costs substantially. The ICEing problem will sort itself out over time as more people get EVs and demand policing of the spots.

Well, here's my opinion on the matter. I've actually thought about investing some of my own money into charging infrastructure in my local town, with the thought of payback years down the road. I haven't approached any business owners yet, but my main concern would be how many parking spots that business has. For example, if they are often completely full or near to capacity, that would be a bad place for an EVSE. That would only give incentive to ICE drivers to park there. However, if they have plenty of extra parking, then I would suggest a spot that is most cost-effective, just like Paul said here. Then I would add an extra sign that says "all others will be towed."

I believe in that scenario you would probably limit the problem a lot and there would be fewer battles between EV and ICE drivers.

Let me give you a recent example. My brother sent me a photograph a few weeks ago where he had parked his giant Tundra pickup in a spot that said "fuel efficient vehicle only." It was at a Chick-Fil-A somewhere in Ft.Worth. He thought it was funny because there was no clear definition for what "fuel efficient" meant. But also the main problem was that this business has 5 of these spots labelled in this manner, and yet their parking lot was full. He had to choose between parking in that empty spot, or not doing business with them.

I would never want this situation to occur with an EVSE installation.

 

[earther]

ICEing the charge stations.

I'd like to see a YouTube video. It would have the be made with the cooperation of a gas station owner, which probably means not until some BP/Arco stations get their quick charger stations. (If even then.)

Open with a LEAF pulling up to an L2 charging station only to find it blocked by an ICE car. "What's the problem? A parking space is a parking space, isn't it? Why should you get a special parking space?" Cut to a gas station. A LEAF pulls up and parks at one of the pumps. The driver gets out and walks away. It's followed by another and another, until finally every pump at the station is occupied by a LEAF. The ICE car pulls in and drives around looking for an open pump. The driver tries to stretch a hose over but it won't reach. He asks the station attendant where all the LEAF drivers are, but he just shrugs. "But I'm out of gas! What am I supposed to do? Why are all these cars parked here? They don't even use gas!"

well, I think the BayLeaf users group has their first video project

 

[padamson1]

If you read the comments to the Plug-In cars article, you can see a comment by someone who believes they witnessed the the exchange between earther's girlfriend and the Stevens Creek employee. Needless to say he has a starkly different intrepretation of the events and whom was rude to whom. He may have only seen the tail end of the conversation, but he definitely makes one think about there being two sides to every story. Search for 'indignant' on the article linked below.

http://www.plugincars.com/being-leaf-owner-doesnt-necessarily-give-you-right-charge-your-local-nissan-dealership-107139.html

 

[earther]

If you read the comments to the Plug-In cars article, you can see a comment by someone who believes they witnessed the the exchange between earther's girlfriend and the Stevens Creek employee. Needless to say he has a starkly different intrepretation of the events and whom was rude to whom. He may have only seen the tail end of the conversation, but he definitely makes one think about there being two sides to every story. Search for 'indignant' on the article linked below.

http://www.plugincars.com/being-leaf-owner-doesnt-necessarily-give-you-right-charge-your-local-nissan-dealership-107139.html

I'm pretty certain that poster either invented their comment out of pure mischief, or was witnessing a different event.
My girlfriend waited in the car (ostensibly reading a book, but also trying to hide in embarrassment) not standing around indignantly (I thought about replying to it on the plugincars board, but then decided it was best not to feed the trolls).

 

[Coffee_Slurry]

My brother sent me a photograph a few weeks ago where he had parked his giant Tundra pickup in a spot that said "fuel efficient vehicle only."

A local mall has premium parking "For Hybrid Vehicles Only".
Do I park there or not? Does anyone sell a fake tailpipe I can stick on? :twisted:

 

[TRONZ]

If you read the comments to the Plug-In cars article, you can see a comment by someone who believes they witnessed the the exchange between earther's girlfriend and the Stevens Creek employee. Needless to say he has a starkly different intrepretation of the events and whom was rude to whom. He may have only seen the tail end of the conversation, but he definitely makes one think about there being two sides to every story. Search for 'indignant' on the article linked below.

http://www.plugincars.com/being-leaf-owner-doesnt-necessarily-give-you-right-charge-your-local-nissan-dealership-107139.html

The person (Jeff) that posted on that site obviously holds contempt for electric vehicles and their drivers. Hence the sarcastic "great EV driver" stab. His story is clearly BS.

 

[Leafittome]

I told my wife about this story and she asked me which dealership. Turns out she had picketed this place years ago for poor/dishonest service! She is not one to make a fuss normally, so this place must have really pushed her buttons.

If my wife had been treated this way by a dealership employee or in this case, "Leaf Specialist", he and I would have had a very emphatic conversation in person, where listening would have been the best approach from his side.

The good news is my wife loves her Leaf and we are extremely happy with our dealership experience at Northbay Nissan.

Nissan made a point of touting the requirement of two chargers be installed by dealers who sell Leafs, therefore I fully expect to be made to feel welcome by those dealers as a Leaf owner, regardless of where I bought my Leaf. I believe Nissan is culpable, as the public sees their brand on the dealership sign.

 

[solarman]

So my only recourse is to run a space-heater in my office. Yes, I know it is crazy. But I'm trying to keep the peace in the office and it seems the best and easiest way to do that.

Oooh no, there goes all CO2 savings from driving your LEAF

 

[elbowelbein]

I checked in with Baker Nissan in Houston - they welcome all LEAF owners if anyone needs a charge. They have two locations, and each has two Level 2 chargers available. Hopefully the dealers who don't believe in customer service will eventually suffer the fates.