People blocking charging stations.

[JeffKeryk]

Lots of opinions here. Personally, I thing those blocking charging stations should be fined and towed, but there is likely no legal power to do so.
It is easy to blame EVs; EV blaming is clickbait to many stories. Maybe those vigilantes could help those in need to vent their anger?
I also find it strange that people post politics on BITOG when we have agreed to not do so.
We have been asked to conserve electricity between 4PM and 9PM to help the overstressed grid. This includes EV charging, AC, clothes dryers, ovens, etc. All contribute.
AC is the biggie, of course, We have been advised to cool to 70* and then set to 78* at 4PM. I can also tell you many smaller air conditioners have trouble keeping up with demand during high heat conditions.

Regardless, people with health issues, the homeless and thise without cooling are at risk. Another issues not reported are the animals in our state. Remember, CA is a huge agriculture state. Pigs and others need shade and cooling. Even our skunks, opossoms, etc are suffering.

I would like to see more information regarding the source of the heat, but science can be another controversy for many.

Los Gatos will be about 7* cooler today, which is welcome. 100 or 101* forecast. Tomorrow about the same then high 80's to low 90's until next Tuesday.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Not condoning this driver's actions in blocking the charging station.

Just taking issue with the statement that the owners of EVs had "nothing to do with the problem".

100% agree. Of course, the problem is deeper than an overstressed grid.

 

[Vil_Riker]

Yup, take your anger out on people that have zero to do with this problem.

Isn't that one of our best traditions?

 

[JeffKeryk]

Californians being Californians…….

I resemble that remark!

 

[Hall]

When we have water shortages and they tell us not to water grass or wash cars, people can get fined if they're caught. Maybe the same should apply to EV charging stations, and while they're issuing fines they can fine or arrest people for blocking the charging stations.

If they're issuing fines, that means they have passed a law that's being enforced. In California, to my knowledge, there's no law saying "no charging EVs during" specific times. It was a request. Those blocking the charging stations are breaking a law, trespassing.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I wonder how this would go down if a bunch of Teslas encircled and blocked a gas station. Perhaps a remote one without another around for many miles.

 

[JeffKeryk]

If they're issuing fines, that means they have passed a law that's being enforced. In California, to my knowledge, there's no law saying "no charging EVs during" specific times. It was a request. Those blocking the charging stations are breaking a law, trespassing.

FYI, the recommended time to charge is early, or at least before 4PM as to take advantage of solar generation and to stop to allow for AC use afterwards. People tend to charge during off peak anyways because rates are lower.

 

[incognito_2u]

According to the CA Governor, 16 percent of vehicles registered in Cali are EV’s.
Wonder what it gonna be like when it goes to the 35% “wanted” in 2026 and the 68% in 2030?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Zero? Everyone is being asked to minimize their electricity use - and charging a car is a heavy use of electricity, so, while they might have a need, they are, in fact, part of the problem.

Of course but within the context of the OP the energy restrictions in Calif are limited to early evening hours only. If the owner of an EV was attempting to adhere to that request then there's no harm/no foul correct?

 

[sohccammer427]

We all got a msg on our phones last night telling everyone to conserve electricity and to not charge your electric cars.
Assuming from the utility company? Had not given it much thought, but charging ev's must really draw an enormous amount of current.

Can't imagine the rate increases the people of Cali are going to be facing. Or in time everyone will be facing as more ev's come on line.

Perhaps some day in the not too distant future ICE cars will become more economical to drive.

 

[OVERKILL]

Only if you want to discuss technicalities.

Like I said earlier, it’s easy to take out your frustrations on others, and it creates a divide in people that have zero say in how the grid is run.

Weren’t some EV drivers doing something similar at gas stations when gas was hitting all time highs during the last recession over 10 years ago? I thought I read something on it.

People should be using this opportunity to take those accountable to take action, not be pitted against each other.

I don't agree that people have zero say in how the grid is run. People steeping themselves in ignorance and propaganda and then looking gobsmacked when the policies that arise from this don't deliver is a failure with plenty of blame to go around, and all involved, either directly, but pushing it, or indirectly, by voting for it and not exercising their critical thinking skills, are responsible.

GreenPeace, The Sierra Club, people like Lovins, Jacobson, Dorfman...etc. They have made careers out of opposing effective solutions while often being bankrolled by fossil fuel interests. People that push "conservation and efficiencies" have exactly what is happening here in mind, and consider it a success. Was the rhetoric misleading? Perhaps, but it doesn't take a lot of critical thought to understand that if you restrict and minimize supply, when demand surges for whatever reason, it isn't going to be "fine" or "comfortable".

What is perhaps the most depressing is that despite all of this, many believe that the solution is simply doubling-down on what got us here. That we can just make an ever more elaborate Rube Goldberg and that this will somehow be cheaper in the long run, despite the track record of that clearly not being the case.

 

[demarpaint]

If they're issuing fines, that means they have passed a law that's being enforced. In California, to my knowledge, there's no law saying "no charging EVs during" specific times. It was a request. Those blocking the charging stations are breaking a law, trespassing.

OK then pass a law if charging EV's is going to be a problem during a heatwave, or whatever other problem that might arise. If that's too much of a problem, then enforce the "trespassing law" which should already be on the books for those stupid enough to violate it. Either way I don't see this being very difficult. The transition to the EV should be smooth, people not cooperating when there's a problem, jackasses taking the law into their own hands and blocking charging stations are not making the transition smooth. Messing with the oil industry isn't making the transition smooth either.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

We all got a msg on our phones last night telling everyone to conserve electricity and to not charge your electric cars.
Assuming from the utility company? Had not given it much thought, but charging ev's must really draw an enormous amount of current.

Can't imagine the rate increases the people of Cali are going to be facing. Or in time everyone will be facing as more ev's come on line.

Perhaps some day in the not too distant future ICE cars will become more economical to drive.

An average level two charger pulls about 45-50 amps. An average residential air conditioner, about half that. I am going to assume there are way, WAY more AC units than EVs in California.

 

[Trav]

The future is going to be great! Take a lawn chair, some beer and a few stogies and head off to the charging stations for the Saturday night rumble.

 

[KrisZ]

I agree that my statement about people having zero say in how the grid is run was wrong. After all people of Ontario did make some progress in that regard, and Ontario was headed in the same direction as CA did and still does.

What is perhaps the most depressing is that despite all of this, many believe that the solution is simply doubling-down on what got us here. That we can just make an ever more elaborate Rube Goldberg and that this will somehow be cheaper in the long run, despite the track record of that clearly not being the case.

That I agree 100% and it is probably the scariest thing about the issue.

 

[Hall]

those blocking charging stations should be fined and towed, but there is likely no legal power to do so.

Where are the charging stations located ? If they're on private property and the owner says "leave", when they don't, they're now trespassing. California has trespassing laws, do they not ?

FYI, the recommended time to charge is early, or at least before 4PM as to take advantage of solar generation and to stop to allow for AC use afterwards. People tend to charge during off peak anyways because rates are lower.

Irrelevant. Since you're in California and own a Tesla, I presume you know more specifics but you use the word "recommended". That's not a law and has no legal repercussions.

 

[Pew]

I'm surprised that truck doesn't have an equally sized "don't tread on me" flag on it either.

 

[The Critic]

An average level two charger pulls about 45-50 amps. An average residential air conditioner, about half that. I am going to assume there are way, WAY more AC units than EVs in California.

My 4-ton condensing unit requires a 40A breaker, so its max draw is 32A. That is the same draw as a Tesla Mobile Connector. If we want to talk about saving juice in residential HVAC applications, I think the new Mitsubishi mini-splits show a lot of promise.

 

[alarmguy]

When we have water shortages and they tell us not to water grass or wash cars, people can get fined if they're caught. Maybe the same should apply to EV charging stations, and while they're issuing fines they can fine or arrest people for blocking the charging stations.

I don’t agree. The people of California vote for this, majority rules.
If they run out of power it’s the voters fault
No politics just simple facts.
I’ll never let anybody tell me what to do, what to cut back on, etc. if I can pay for it and it’s sold I’ll buy it on my terms.
I’m not changing my standard of living because of the poor choices of other people.

 

[DirectRejection]

Mother Nature is taking her course.