JS
Jan Stevenson
Jan 19, 2026
I hardly ever use public charging stations, but my experience last night, late, in the cold was not a positive experience. There was no lighting to make using the equipment easier. Unfortunately, I have an EV that still uses CHAdeMO plugs, which are unwieldy, heavy, and cumbersome. Add to that low light, total darkness, cold temperatures, and a bum shoulder; all make for an unpleasant experience :( And on top of that, a 40-minute wait to use a charger, with one stall occupied by a car with no driver in sight, and the car was fully charged, with the charging station showing it as off on the screen. Between the wait and my time on the charger meant spending nearly 2 hours in the dark and cold in an unfamiliar area, with virtually no inside place to wait (the grocery store was open for part of my wait time, and none of my charging time, as I had waited near the charging station waiting for my turn). Next time I'll make sure my car is fully charged at home before heading out!