I'm bummed...

[Eli]

As the story goes..

After installing the block heater a couple of months ago, I asked my boss for permission to plug my car in at work. Both the block heater and the grid charger. I told him how much electricity it would be using, and he gave me a resounding thumbs up. His son is electrician, he knows the basics and he knew that the power my car would be drawing is insignificant compared to the many space heaters heating cubes around the building.

My commute to work is only 2 miles. This absolutely destroys my fuel economy in the winter. In 2010, I averaged 42MPG through the whole winter.

After 2 weeks of plugging my car in and being super happy that I could now get ~65-70MPG instead of 42MPG just from the block heater alone, I was suddenly told that I cannot do it anymore. When I inquired why, I found myself in a meeting with executive management. I was told to get back to them with more information.

So I did. I broke down my electricity consumption into excruciating detail, and offered to pay for the whopping $9/month in electricity I would be using. They finally reached a decision today, so I was pretty happy as I couldn't imagine they would be cold hearted enough to turn down my offer of paying for the electricity I would be using.

I was wrong. They told me that they would not allow me to plug my car in, citing liability and OSHA concerns. Basically ignorance. I really couldn't believe it. I asked them how it was any different than plugging christmas lights in, or our maintenance person using power tools outside. I pointed to the fact that the outlet I was using is a proper outdoor GFCI outlet. They didn't care. I seriously almost told them that I didn't want to work for such a closed minded company, but that would just be hurting myself, not them.

Blah. I've been looking forward to this for months, and now that Mike's grid charger has finally arrived, I get this. Really sucks. I hate corporate bureaucracy.

[Balboa]

Seriously? 2 miles? Ride a bicycle or take a brisk walk. What are you doing even driving to work?

[Cobb]

I was told I couldn't for security reasons at the bank I work for. Security reasons????


Sent from my Autoguide iPod touch app

[Eli]

Originally Posted by Balboa

Seriously? 2 miles? Ride a bicycle or take a brisk walk. What are you doing even driving to work?

Really, from that post this is your response?

1) Do you have any idea how cold it gets in Santa Fe?
2) Do you have any idea how hot it gets in Santa Fe?
3) Do you have any idea how long it takes to walk 2 miles?
4) Do you have any idea what Santa Fe is like? It's a 400 year old city. There's barely enough room for 2 cars on many roads here; this is not a bike friendly city. There's no way I would ride a bicycle on the roads here.
5) I drive 8 miles a day. I come home every day and have lunch with my fiancee. I would not be able to do this if I walked or biked.

[jeff652]

Fail!! .

[dirty hippie]

You have pics of the grid charger? I have no clue what one looks like. I like riding my bike to work, but knowing that parking the gen1 for more than a week isn't good for the battery, so I try to drive it at least once a week (if I'm not feeling lazy or finding some excuse not to ride). I'm in southern California, so the temperature isn't very extreme. Where can I buy a grid charger and how much?

[aisbell]

Originally Posted by dirty hippie

You have pics of the grid charger?

Originally Posted by dirty hippie

Where can I buy a grid charger and how much?

http://99mpg.com/Projectcars/gridcharger/

[boogetyboogety]

They're not being cold-blooded or unfair to you. The legal department more than likely put the kibbosh on your request.

Their thinking goes along the lines of "if we let him do it, it's a precedent" and others will do the same somewhere down the line, absent your thoughtful assessment, and will plug in something that will not play nice with their circuits, cause damage, burn down the building, or introduce a wobble into Earth's rotation. Whatever. The point is, they're insulating themselves from a possible peril or claim by denying your most-reasonable request.

A friend who teaches elementary school has a young student in a wheelchair. Somehow or other, the hard-rubber tire came off the rim, and because it was so tight, he was unable to put it on by hand... so on his lunch hour, he took the wheel and tire to a tire place and had them put the tire back on (with a couple of strong guys using screwdrivers and tire tools). Guess what: The principal called him to his office a couple of weeks later and berated him for exposing, not just the school, but also the tire place, to future liability claims, should any damage or injury result from this simple repair. I kid you not. And guess who started that? The legal department for the district found out about the incident and went ballistic.

Ahhh, lawyers...

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by boogetyboogety

Ahhh, lawyers...

I'm with Shakespeare on this one!

[Dakine]

There are progressive employers and companies and then there are the late adopters or companies that eventually disappear. Imagine Apple or Google responding like your company chose to. If your work location has adjoining structures perhaps you could reach an agreement with one of the other property owners to lease you a powered spot for $10 a month.

With a 2 mile/8 mile daily commute does the Insight actually need to be charged most of the day? I only drive about twice a week around 20-30 miles total in a moderate climate (25-90 degrees outside with vehicle garaged in 40-55 degrees). I will be obtaining a maintenance charger but I was planning on only performing the charge every couple of weeks. Am I missing something on the charging cycle? Given my driving pattern what would be the best charging schedule?

Good luck in finding a powered spot or perhaps a new employer. At least you'll have another question to ask any prospective employer.