EV Charging station & RV use

Chum lee wrote:
OK, I'll throw a monkey wrench in here. At some Metrolink stations in the Orange County, CA area there are free EV charging stations that have a standard 120 Volt plug and they allow free RV (any vehicle really) overnight parking. Is it morally acceptable to use the plugs (4 available at each station) at night if no one else is using them? After all, I do have a vehicle that requires electric power, it's just that electricity doesn't directly drive the rear wheels.

Chum lee

Double posted, sorry

Chum lee wrote:
OK, I'll throw a monkey wrench in here. At some Metrolink stations in the Orange County, CA area there are free EV charging stations that have a standard 120 Volt plug and they allow free RV (any vehicle really) overnight parking. Is it morally acceptable to use the plugs (4 available at each station) at night if no one else is using them? After all, I do have a vehicle that requires electric power, it's just that electricity doesn't directly drive the rear wheels.

Chum lee

If I am reading this correctly, you feel it is OK to plug into any power outlet as long as it is not specifically listed as a prohibited use. I guess that would include running extension cords to the power outlets on the sides of any government or commercial building, and maybe even residential homes, if they don't post a sign saying you can't.

Chum lee wrote:
there are free EV charging stations that have a standard 120 Volt plug and they allow free RV (any vehicle really) overnight parking.

It seems you've answered your own question without knowing it. They're "free EV charging stations". Allowing an RV to park there doesn't turn the RV into an EV. Hence, no free electricity. Plugging in an RV would be no different than scamming a free dessert at a restaurant by falsely claiming it's your birthday.

What do you think the county would do if homeless camps built up around these sources of "free" power? Never mind, it's California, I think I know the answer.

OK, I'll throw a monkey wrench in here. At some Metrolink stations in the Orange County, CA area there are free EV charging stations that have a standard 120 Volt plug and they allow free RV (any vehicle really) overnight parking. Is it morally acceptable to use the plugs (4 available at each station) at night if no one else is using them? After all, I do have a vehicle that requires electric power, it's just that electricity doesn't directly drive the rear wheels.

Chum lee

2oldman wrote:
So now some good camper citizens are thinking about abusing a charging station? Yikes. Reminds me of "An RVer is someone who spends $250,000 on a motorhome and looks for a free place to stay."

one thing has nothing to do with the other.

Oh boy

PartyOf Five wrote:
Yeah that's the consensus I've seen- it's overly complicated, and also not suitable for usage patterns of most RV owners. We see these stations in malls and food stores around Chicago, so assuming it'd be nice to plug in & run the microwave, vac, etc. while DW is shopping, and before moving on. Thanks for the quick responses.

thats what generators and INVERTERS are for

Not all that different from the people who set up camp at Walmart who have ruined it for the rest of us.

Please don't ruin our ability to park RVs temporarily anywhere near ev charging stations. We'll be banned in no time just like we are at most Walmart locations.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
If you can figure out a way, I think the first thing you should power up is your moral compass.

Seriously.

So now some good camper citizens are thinking about abusing a charging station? Yikes. Reminds me of "An RVer is someone who spends $250,000 on a motorhome and looks for a free place to stay."

DrewE wrote:
The public EV charging stations I've seen are set up to charge money to charge the car. Powering an RV with one would not be stealing electricity; it's no different than buying drinking water and using it for some other purpose (maybe watercolor painting).

EV owners and the operators of the chargers may well not appreciate one taking up space by the chargers, particularly if none are available--just as everyone doesn't appreciate people who leave their cars at gas pumps when running in to buy a soda and use the restroom if there's a crowd at the pumps.

There are no charge EV charging stations primarily at commercial locations to encourage patronage by the vehicle owner. Also some governments have installed them as well.