[mikeg3]

Isn't it about time we adopted universal highway and street signage for public charging stations? They could be qualified by letters like T for Tesla, H for high speed, and $ for fee based. The important things are to make it clear to ICE motorists that public charging is available and to guide depleted EV vehicles in a pinch to the nearest EVSE. The symbols for gas stations, restaurants, parking, and restrooms are well-established.

Here in San Antonio, I got determined push-back from the very people that rolled the EVSEs out. Perhaps they're afraid of stirring up the sort of locals who reject Obamacare mainly because of the first three syllables. I know that President Obama did not create the Volt, but many people live on ALT-facts.

With Volvo going all electric and Tesla there now, I think we are at a cusp. I would hate to see a profusion of different signs. This doesn't necessarily require federal government regulation. The standards governing the public Internet are embodied in RFCs, Requests for Comments. The standards were designed by people lending their time to the effort. Manufacturers follow the RFCs because it is in their interest.

Standardizing street and highway EVSE signage is far less intellectually demanding than Internet design and is equally win-win.

What would be the proper structure and how to we get this thing off the ground?

 

[ClarksonCote]

With the exception of Tesla, this is all (mostly) standardized by the national MUTCD.
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_charging_station_signage.html

 

[Norton]

Nice link! Didn't know this was a thing.
I wish this sign was enforceable in my town:



Even though I live in EV Heaven, I'm told that most charging sites are on private property and violators can't be ticketed and towed....

 

[Taser54]

Isn't it about time we adopted universal highway and street signage for public charging stations? They could be qualified by letters like T for Tesla, H for high speed, and $ for fee based. The important things are to make it clear to ICE motorists that public charging is available and to guide depleted EV vehicles in a pinch to the nearest EVSE. The symbols for gas stations, restaurants, parking, and restrooms are well-established.

Here in San Antonio, I got determined push-back from the very people that rolled the EVSEs out. Perhaps they're afraid of stirring up the sort of locals who reject Obamacare mainly because of the first three syllables. I know that President Obama did not create the Volt, but many people live on ALT-facts.

With Volvo going all electric and Tesla there now, I think we are at a cusp. I would hate to see a profusion of different signs. This doesn't necessarily require federal government regulation. The standards governing the public Internet are embodied in RFCs, Requests for Comments. The standards were designed by people lending their time to the effort. Manufacturers follow the RFCs because it is in their interest.

Standardizing street and highway EVSE signage is far less intellectually demanding than Internet design and is equally win-win.

What would be the proper structure and how to we get this thing off the ground?

already done.

 

[srmarti]

I'm guessing the Tesla already can tell the owner where the Tesla chargers are. I don't know why the rest of us would care. I know I don't.

 

[Lanny]

I'm told that most charging sites are on private property and violators can't be ticketed and towed....

Private property owners can tow "unauthorized vehicles" from their parking facilities in many jurisdictions as long as they follow the consumer protection provisions of any applicable state and local trespass tow laws.

 

[edk-austin]

There's this proposal:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...e-best-electric-car-idea-youve-never-heard-of

 

[hellsop]

There's this proposal:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...e-best-electric-car-idea-youve-never-heard-of

Hmm.... might be challenging for those that can't see color well. Based on the arrangement of pins, Blue pentagons, green diamonds, and red triangles, with the appropriate numbers, might be a better idea.

 

[El Dobro]

Hmm.... might be challenging for those that can't see color well. Based on the arrangement of pins, Blue pentagons, green diamonds, and red triangles, with the appropriate numbers, might be a better idea.

Sounds like a box of Lucky Charms.

 

[hellsop]

Sounds like a box of Lucky Charms.

Still, it matters to about 3% of the population. If you want CLARITY, go for clarity regardless of how fruit-loopy it may be.

 

[mikeg3]

I'm referring to what is called wayfinding signage as opposed to signs at the EVSE site itself. There may be proposed standards, but I have never seen an actual wayfinding EVSE sign. Has anyone else seen one?

 

[Ladogaboy]

Hmm.... might be challenging for those that can't see color well. Based on the arrangement of pins, Blue pentagons, green diamonds, and red triangles, with the appropriate numbers, might be a better idea.

Still, it matters to about 3% of the population. If you want CLARITY, go for clarity regardless of how fruit-loopy it may be.

Exactly. The format, as Chargeway has proposed it, plays into all of the most common types of colorblindness. I'm writing up a response/alternate take to the ChargeWay proposal, which I still think is valid in several aspects. A friend, colleague, who is a graphic artist helped me with a couple of aspects.

Regardless, I think this issue might start to solve itself as more businesses are associated with providing EV charging. If, for example, In and Out decided to install a couple of DCFC stations at each store location, you wouldn't just be looking for an EV charging sign. You'd be looking for an In and Out sign knowing that you could stop there both for food and charging.