Apparently, Getting Locked in a Carpark While Charging Electric Cars is a thing

Charging EVs is hard enough at the best of times, especially for those of us who need a public charging station for lack of facilities at home. Such was the case recently. Regular readers will remember the ordeal, late on a cold rainy night here in Sydney.

Let me refresh your memories:

I set out around 11-ish on a mid-week night freeway headlight test. An innocuous pastime for a car reviewer, but it what came after that caused things to go badly tits-up.

I took the little Mini EV to East Village Shopping Center (aka Victoria Park) in Zetland, an inner eastern suburb of Sydney. To properly set the scene, it is cold, and the evening was given b-grade atmosphere with a rather spooky fog, Hitchcock-style.

The carpark proudly displays the gouging, sorry, charging rates for day use, up until half past midnight (free if entering after 6pm). There is an overnight rate of $50, which surely doesn’t apply to someone only wanting a few hour’s charge.

I entered about 12.05am. It felt rather like a spy movie, and I expected a black Range Rover to flash its lights from a darkened corner at any moment. EV charging is over 2 levels, slow charging on the lower level, and faster Chargefox 50kw and 350kw chargers on the upper floor. Anyone using Chargefox for any amount of time know how stupidly unreliable the outlets are.

The app gives precious bugger-all information, and even that is often wrong. The Mini charges at 50kw dc maximum. There is no point paying for faster 160kw or 350kw at 60c/kwh, and as it turns out, the 50kw charger is broken. Despite the app saying it is awaiting parts for its router, so is set to charge for free, this is not the case.

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ABOVE: 2022 Mini EV and the East Village Shopping Centre, Zetland Sydney NSW AUSTRALIA

After 45 minutes of unsatisfactory slow charging at the 22kw units, I’d had more than enough. I glided back toward the exit, and after climbing several ramps, I approached the exit gates. As usual, a stay under 2 hours is free, and the time was nearing 1 PM. The gate swung up, and I passed through, round a corner and climbed the last ramp to the street. Alas, my path was blocked by a roller door.

The poorly signed car park has no after-hours numbers listed, nor indeed does it have any other numbers. After Googling the shopping centre, I got the after-hours security number, being the mobile of a snarky night watchman. He was determined not to let me out, which would have required the mere swiping of a key card. FYI, there is no fee listed for getting out of the car park between midnight and 5 am.

He eventually relented, appearing through the gloom with a face of doom.

He said that “everyone knows car parks locked after midnight” (utter bullshit). I said that wasn’t so, and asked where signage stated car park hours mentioned the  door was closed after hours. He pointed me to the centre’s T&C’s, and the fee table. When I returned the following day, no such information exists. No where does it state the car park is locked. The fee structure on the website says $50 applies to vehicles that entered after 5pm, stayed overnight, and were out before 10am the following day. In other words, the car park operates 24 hours.

Locals know the chargers are there so there is no need to use the location apps. The apps, upon checking, state “available until midnight”, but “after which car park is locked” is nowhere to be found.

After a long conversation, I was released into the night. As every gay man knows, if the security guard is hot,  talk for a bit, otherwise a hissie fit would have ensued.

Conclusion:

Information is hard to find, and contradictory. It says car park operates until 12am, but lists fees up to 12.30am, and an overnight charge. Clearly, the car park operates 24 hours. Neither shopping centre nor app T&Cs list a locked door. Importantly, no where does it tell a trapped driver how to get out of the now abandoned car and on to the street.

Apparently you have to use the fire exits but if you can’t find them when locked in the car park, how would you find them in a fire?

SINCE THEN:

Mirvac operates the shopping centre, and an inquiry there directed me to Wilson Parking. Mirvac refused further comment.

Wilson parking have been contacted several times but have not replied.

One wonders why carparks aren’t 24 hours. It isn’t as if any extra care is taken or given over car parks available during shopping hours.