karen

Had an interesting run in with a Karen earlier.

Us Brits are generally quite polite in most situations. We avoid confrontation and would rather find an amicable solution in an argument.

Not this time.

Was charging my car at a public charger this morning. There are four chargers, with 2 parking bays on either side - only 2 are fast chargers. When I arrived, one of the fast chargers was already taken. I parked in a bay that was closest to my car’s charging port. Had to plug it in in the fast charger situated in the opposite bay. All the chargers are about 4ft from each other in a square, so it’s not like it matters which one you plug into. 

I go get a coffee and begin the waiting ritual. As I stood by my car, enjoying my morning brew, another car arrived and a delightful old biddy popped out of the driver’s door. She parked in the bay with the charger I was plugged into. As she came round to her boot, she immediately said:”You’re not supposed to plug into this one.”

Karen proceeded to pull out her charging cable huffing and puffing. I, of course, apologised and mentioned that I won’t be there much longer and politely asked if she wouldn’t mind waiting 5mins. She huffed and puffed some more about how our cables are going to cross. Perhaps she was an electrical engineer and was concerned about interference, but I doubt it. I stayed stern and asked politely if she could wait for 5mins. 

5mins went by. Karen plugged and unplugged her car into the slow charger about 3 times. Finally I receive a “fully charged” notification and proceed to unplug my car. Karen wails: “Don’t do that again!”

Slightly bemused I quipped: “Do what?”

Karen goes on tirade how I’m parked in an opposite bay from the charger that “belongs to her”.

I asked: “What difference does it make which charger I am plugged into? Am I creating some sort of a hazard?”

She had no answer of course.

Put my cable away, and as I was getting in I observed something quite spectacular. Karen proceeded to dousing a kitchen towel in some sort of liquid from a spray bottle. I thought, OK, it’s pretty hot outside, let’s see what happens next. Karen wrapped the said damp kitchen towel around the plug end of her cable, covering the port. This is all happening in a shaded area, so I’m sure her concern wasn’t over overheating. I scratched my head and wanted to say something, but realised there’s no helping this one. 

I drove away, fingers crossed she doesn’t cause an electrical fire. Will find out tomorrow. 🤭

So…a wet towel on a car charging cable is apparently a thing. 🤣

I’m not an engineer or anything (not anymore anyway), but I’m fairly sure that’s how you melt your cable and set car on fire.

Do people follow everything they read online? 🤦‍♂️

So…a wet towel on a car charging cable is apparently a thing. 🤣

I’m not an engineer or anything (not anymore anyway), but I’m fairly sure that’s how you melt your cable and set car on fire.

Do people follow everything they read online? 🤦‍♂️

https://insideevs.com/news/728170/tesla-wet-towel-charging-ends/