The electric vehicle market has already become significantly more mainstream, but this does not mean that EVs are no longer polarizing. As could be seen in recent ICE-ing incidents, there are still a good number of combustion-powered car owners who tend to be very unhappy about the presence of electric vehicles and their charging stations.
ICE-ing involves a combustion-powered car unintentionally or intentionally blocking an electric vehicle charging stall. This results in difficulties and inconveniences for electric vehicle owners, especially those who are relying on Superchargers for long-distance travel. Being North America’s premier rapid charging network, it is unsurprising that Tesla’s Superchargers are subjected to ICE-ing incidents.
This month alone, two incidents that were reported by Tesla community members stood out. One incident, which was reported by a member of the r/TeslaLounge subreddit, showed three diesel pickup truck drivers taking up three spots at a Supercharger in Pleasanton, Texas. Seemingly as a joke, the pickup drivers even placed the Tesla charging cables on their vehicles’ beds.
Yesterday in Pleasanton, TX. pic.twitter.com/JoGxseAPpS
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) August 23, 2024
There is some irony in this ICE-ing incident, as one of the biggest points of criticism directed at EVs is their long charging time. By blocking the Tesla Supercharger spots, the three pickup truck drivers ended up also wasting their time. Then again, one could probably state that the owners of the diesel pickup trucks in the Texas Supercharger at least did not confront anyone. The driver of a pickup truck in an ICE-ing incident in Glendive, Montana, was not as subtle.
As shared by a member of the r/TeslaModel3 subreddit, a driver of a large GMC pickup truck that was pulling a trailer seemingly tried his best to block all the chargers at a Tesla Supercharger in a hotel. Hotel management reportedly tried to address the situation, but they were unsuccessful. As per u/ncwv44b, a Model 3 owner, the pickup truck driver reportedly shouted some expletives and told him to “buy a gas car.”
Diesel GMC owner tells a Tesla owner “to go buy a gas car” as he blocks all the superchargers.
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) August 24, 2024
Nuts.
(Via Reddit u/ncwv44b) pic.twitter.com/8jzCpG2X8P
Aggressive ICE drivers who block Superchargers seem to be rare, at least, but the practice of blocking electric vehicle charging stations still shows that the animosity against electric vehicles is still alive and well, at least to a fringe group of drivers. One could only hope that this would change soon, especially as electric vehicles become even more prolific and popular.
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