his week’s question (Have your own? Submit it here.):
I’m thinking of getting an electric car even though I don’t have a driveway. I’ve seen some of my neighbors run the cords out of their rowhouses across the sidewalk to charge their cars. I’m intrigued! What’s the etiquette?
Mike Newall, Life & Culture Reporter
Hey, Intrigued-by-Electric! I think it was Emily Post who wrote in her foundational 1922 text on manners and etiquette: “Don’t be a bozo and run electric chargers out of your rowhome!”
Zoe Greenberg, Life & Culture Reporter
The etiquette is you must secure the wires to the sidewalk, but I have a stroller these days and the sidewalks are like an obstacle course.
Mike Newall
Do you want this young mom and her babe to jump rope over your car charger?
Zoe Greenberg
But electric cars are better for the babe’s future...
Mike Newall
It’s a tripping hazard and probably a city violation (and if there is one thing the city excels at, it’s enforcing violations).
Zoe Greenberg
Would you say electric cars are a no-go entirely?
Mike Newall
I love electric cars! (Disclaimer: I know nothing about electric cars except they are better for babies’ futures.)
But when you live in a city, you have to think of your neighbors.
Find a neighborhood charging station. If they’re filled up, you can always reserve one with a cone or folding chair (kidding... maybe).
Zoe Greenberg
I say you can run the cords from the rowhouse, but you have to REALLY secure it to the sidewalk. Make it like a ramp!
Mike Newall
Intrigued-by-Electric, you are making me and a wonderful new mom who has to jump over cables put on our public service hats.
There aren’t enough public stations, but don’t run it from your house.
If you have a garage, there are companies that will come out to your house and install a charger the right way so you don’t have parents and kids playing double dutch over your new plug-in wheels.
But a little Googling has led me to another possible solution.
Zoe Greenberg
Look at you.
Mike Newall
The city seems to be planning a new program called ChargePHL where they will be installing 800 new charging ports across city neighborhoods by 2027.
Zoe Greenberg
Wow! So wait until 2027 to get your electric car.
Mike Newall
Like so many of these questions, the answer comes down to that famous passage at the end of Grapes of Wrath when Tom and everyone are walking on the road and someone talks about being part of a bigger collective struggle (they were driving a jalopy, not electric).
When you live in a shining city like Philadelphia, you’re part of that collective struggle. You don’t thrive if your neighbor struggles.
If you want to go electric (see above about babies futures) then be smart and responsible and do it in a way that doesn’t have everyone tripping.
Zoe Greenberg
In solidarity.
Mike Newall
Your heart is in the right place, Intrigued-by-Electric. Do it smart. Safe. Look up the private installations. Check out current neighborhood options, and possibly go gray waiting for the city. You came to us looking for help, so you obviously got your head on right. I trust you in this endeavor.
Zoe Greenberg
We’re in it together. Godspeed.
