Talking to a gas station clerk about charging etiquette made me feel like a jerk

I was at a ChargePoint station in downtown Austin last Tuesday and this older guy in a Prius Prime (the plug-in kind) was just sitting there after his car hit 100%. I got out and asked if he could move, and he got all defensive. But then the station clerk, this kid named Marcus, came out and said the guy had been there for 45 minutes past full. He told me that some people legit don't know they're supposed to move once they're done, especially with older models that don't send push alerts. That hit different because I'd been annoyed at slow chargers before without considering the human side. Marcus also mentioned that same guy tipped him $20 once for watching his car while he ran into the store, so he wasn't a total jerk. Now I try to assume ignorance before rudeness when I see an idled car at a charger. Has anyone else had a chat with a store employee that changed how you see other EV drivers?

2 comments

2 Comments

brooke48427d ago

That part about "some people legit don't know they're supposed to move" really got me... I've been guilty of just walking away from a charger myself without thinking about it. Honestly, when I first got my car I didn't realize there was even an etiquette rule about moving right away, I just thought you parked and walked off. It's easy to assume everyone's being rude when really they just don't know the unwritten rules yet. The clerk mentioning the guy tipped him $20 totally changed the picture though, shows how quick we are to judge people on one moment. Makes me want to be more patient next time I see someone plugged in after they're done.

simonmoore27d ago

Wait did Marcus actually say the guy tipped him $20 just to watch his car? That's wild to me, makes you wonder how many times that Prius guy has gotten roasted for sitting there when he might just be a decent dude who spacey about the charging thing. Did the clerk give you any hints on how to tell the difference between someone who's clueless versus someone who's just taking advantage of the free spot? I feel like that's the real trick, figuring out which person you're dealing with before you walk up and make it awkward for everyone.