Guerrilla charging

[CliC]

Interesting comments. For the record, I don't have an ethics degree

For me, I suppose it depends on what the outlets are there for in the first place. They are in a relatively exposed location adjacent to a public restroom (whose water and power for lighting is freely used, and meant to be, by the public). They are not locked or switched off from some protected location. Therefore, I think one can logically assume that the outlets are for public use as well.

While I agree that it may be the best policy in general, and good PR for EVs in general, to ask before use, it isn't always easy to get the right or authoritative answer. People will tell you no out of risk-aversion, or just to feel powerful, or because they have had a bad day. They often won't let on that they are not the one to make the call.

liveforphysics, you're a generous guy. I'd happily share my wifi but can't here in the US, home of government by and for the content companies. I don't want to get cut off or throttled because one of my beneficiaries decides to do some file-sharing. And I do keep a gas can, but had to ditch the gas after it started smelling up my car

[Richard230]

OK, I solved the ethics issue of using a picnic shelter wall outlet to top off your battery pack while you are out enjoying nature at a public park. Most of our County parks don't man the check-in kiosk any more due to budget cuts (hence only one ranger patrolling a 2000 acre park), so instead they use a self-registration system where you fill out a tag and deposit your entrance fee into a box at the entrance to the park. It turns out that the registration envelope has a box where you can make a donation to the park, in addition to paying your registration fee.

So if you plan to suck up a few hours to power to help your ride back home after visiting the park, just drop in an extra dollar (or more, if you wish) donation, which should cover the cost of electricity for charging your battery while you are visiting the park. That should resolve any ethic concerns with guerrilla charging where no other charging option exists.

[podolefsky]

So if you plan to suck up a few hours to power to help your ride back home after visiting the park, just drop in an extra dollar (or more, if you wish) donation, which should cover the cost of electricity for charging your battery while you are visiting the park. That should resolve any ethic concerns with guerrilla charging where no other charging option exists.

Good call. On a similar theme, I go on long road bike rides and always have to refill my water. There are a few businesses along my routes that have water...you can just take it, but they have a little bucket for donations. If I have a buck, I give them one. If I don't, then next time I come through I give them two.

[Richard230]

Today I rode my Zero to the county park again and while there I buttonholed the park ranger and asked him if I could top off the charge on my bike at one of the picnic shelters while I was out hiking. He smiled and said that if I could find a hot outlet, have at it. After all I was a county taxpayer and my taxes helped pay for the park's electricity. Nice guy.

[podolefsky]

Nice!

[DaveAK]

Today I rode my Zero to the county park again and while there I buttonholed the park ranger and asked him if I could top off the charge on my bike at one of the picnic shelters while I was out hiking. He smiled and said that if I could find a hot outlet, have at it. After all I was a county taxpayer and my taxes helped pay for the park's electricity. Nice guy.

Glad you got an answer and were able to charge, even if the reasoning is highly dubious!

[liveforphysics]

Glad you got an answer and were able to charge, even if the reasoning is highly dubious!

Dubious reasoning? He pays for the park and all it's services and utilities to exist. He uses them when he wants to enjoy the park. The park ranger has a clue, that's awesome.

[Richard230]

The part about me being a taxpayer and that I help pay for the park's operation were the words of the ranger. I agree that is not the most logical reason, but that is what he said and I appreciated the comment.

[podolefsky]

Seems perfectly logical to me.

[Jim84]

liveforphysics, you're a reallly good guy...

What would be on my mind for shared internet is legal issues. Yes, my internet is supposedly capped so if I go over they charge more, but in reality they don't. What does worry me is if you wound up with someone using your free wifi to pirate movies or music and you were sued for it, or someone uses it to download or share child porn, etc, and you could wind up in some pretty serious legal dilemmas.