I've heard of EV owners offering up their home charger to other EV travelers.
Does anyone know of an app or site that maps or identifies participants?
Does anyone know of an app or site that maps or identifies participants?
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PlugShare.comI've heard of EV owners offering up their home charger to other EV travelers.
Does anyone know of an app or site that maps or identifies participants?
Yes, and I highly recommend not being shy of it. I got my Tesla in Spring of 2014, and it was in the electric car wasteland of Idaho, so there weren't any Superchargers within driving range for the first 14 months I had the car. I have gotten to be on both ends of Plugshare--as a host and guest, and it was great. Since I was in Boise, and it's the only route through on I-84 from Oregon to Utah, I got to meet Tesla owners from Seattle, New Mexico, and Reno Nevada who charged at my garage as they were traveling through. I was super excited to get to meet other Tesla owners, so we went out and had lunch or dinner and got to talk about our Tesla obsession. And then when I went on a trip down into Utah to a little town called Heber City. There still weren't Superchargers in Salt Lake City at that point, so charging was scarce. I found that there was an owner of a non-Tesla electric car who lived there in Heber City (only one) who was offering his garage 14-50 outlet on Plugshare. I charged there at his garage for a couple of hours while my wife and I were at a concert about a mile away, so it was a walkable distance. I did also contact someone else who was glad to offer, but I ended up not needing it on that trip.I've heard of EV owners offering up their home charger to other EV travelers.
Does anyone know of an app or site that maps or identifies participants?
Yes, and I highly recommend not being shy of it.
I think it is usually considered more like a doing a favor type of feeling, so per hour is pretty unusual. That might feel a little greedy/impersonal, so something that is more like a thank you gift would usually be more like it. Electricity would generally be less than $10. If they are only hosting someone once every few months, most people wouldn't care for any payment. It feels good to do a favor for another electric car traveler. I did have someone give me a couple of little jars of jam they made that they had brought with them. I heard an easy idea that I used on a trip. Pick up a few $10 Starbucks gift cards. They are usable in most places, and they are easy to leave for someone, even if schedules don't overlap to meet the host. I've also heard of a bottle of wine as a thank you gift.What is the etiquette? Do you pay so much per hour? Even if they offer it as free? I've thought about putting my house on as well, but I live away from town a little so I doubt I would be useful to anyone.
I have a rental house on the beach road here on the Outer Banks - thinking strongly of making the parking spot next to the road into an EV charging station. Not many public chargers right now. Going to work with a Tesla rep to get some of my restaurant friends to add charging as well.
I went home and added myself to the network hoping to return the favor to someone someday.
By all means, list your charging station on PlugShare. We visited the OBX this past summer by using the Virginia Beach SC and Plymouth SC but would have delighted to stay at your place.
I have a vacation rental in Lake Tahoe and getting a charger put in for guests, wondering if I should be snobby and just put in a Tesla one or if I should put in a J1772 for everyone (I know, I know, be nice....)
I remember first getting the app and being shocked at home many people were offering up their home charges for a drop in shot of juice but it really shows what a great EV community is out there.
What is the etiquette? Do you pay so much per hour?
I feel embarrassed to ask to plugin at friends houses when we stay over ... but the friends seem to expect it, so maybe its me that is out of step. We take bottles of wine etc. for the stay-over, so I'm sure my host is not out of pocket, just feels like an imposition to me (I'm talking about non-EV houses, I imagine IF I was staying over with friends who had an EV Socket it wouldn't be an issue). I'm reminded that my kids plug into electricity for their Phones and other devices whenever they see a spare socket - can't remember them asking permissions much, if ever! so maybe that will be the new way.
I read a story on Plugshare where the driver needed at least a couple of hours charge so he took the Host and his partner out for a meal - in the Hosts car of course
To them, it could be $1.. could be $30 to $40
Might give a negative perception of EV convenience if their only interaction with an EV is someone bumming electricity.
I suppose you could offer to pay, out of courtesy; but to me, payment for using a home charger would make little sense, because it would just be pocket change. Typical home charging (NEMA 14-50, running at 40 amps) pulls 10 kw; so even if you charge for 2 hours (a lot, when sitting in someone's driveway), at 11 cents per kwh, would amount to $2.20.What is the etiquette? Do you pay so much per hour? Even if they offer it as free? I've thought about putting my house on as well, but I live away from town a little so I doubt I would be useful to anyone.