It’s not uncommon for smartphone apps to send drivers to “public” electric vehicle chargers in the back lot of a closed car dealership, an empty corner of a big-box store parking lot, or otherwise tucked out of sight.
Early in the current wave of EV adoption, one charger was in such a daunting spot that some women involved in the project called it “the rape charger” because the location felt so unsafe. The charger was eventually moved, but that spotlights problems that continue today.
“Visibility and safety are the table stakes,” EV advocate Chelsea Sexton said. “Nobody’s going to use a charger that doesn’t feel safe. Lighting, amenities, restrooms, things to do while you wait are important.”
Read the article at Detroit Free Press.