Residents of a suburban area in NSW were outraged after a car driver ran an extension cable across their suburban footpath to charge his vehicle.
According to Keith Bensley, he saw the cable as he walked in Sawtell, on the Mid North Coast. He said it was a trip hazard and surprised him.
According to Bensley, the cable went from the gutter to a nearby flat. An electrical engineer said the method of charging was both dangerous and unorthodox, and it posed a fire hazard.
He also noted that there was no attempt to cover the cable, as it had been raining the previous night.
He noted that if the water got in between the cable and the socket, it could cause a fire.
Mr Bensley posted the photo on his Facebook page, which quickly sparked a debate among the community. Some people said that the car owners were desperate.
Some people said that it was a dangerous idea, especially since it came from an electrical hazard.
Others asked why the council should be involved when people with mobility devices, such as walkers and wheelchairs, were not being considered.
Others suggested that Bensley unplug the extension cable to avoid further hazards.
Some people, however, didn’t see the issue and said it was just another thing to whinge about.
According to an electric vehicle council report, the number of electric cars on Australian roads doubled in 2023.
Most of these are sold in regional and outer metropolitan areas.