Pickup drivers block Tesla chargers in widening trend

E&E News ^ | 01/02/2019 | Maxine Joselow

[Responsibility2nd]

Forget "rolling coal." A new trend called "ICE-ing," in which pickup truck owners purposefully block electric vehicle charging stations, appears to be gaining ground around the country.

The practice, whose name is derived from "internal combustion engine," was observed over the holidays at a Sheetz gas station in Hickory, N.C.

Reddit user Leicina shared a photo on Dec. 23, 2018, of three large pickups blocking access to Tesla Inc. charging stations. The drivers apparently chanted "----Tesla."

"I've never had a supercharging experience like this one," wrote Leicina, who owns a Tesla Model 3. "These trucks blocked all the chargers, chanted 'F' Tesla, and were kicked out by a Sheetz employee."

She added, "Who do you report activity like this to? It was really uncomfortable."

It joins the similar practice of "rolling coal," in which people modify diesel engines to spew black clouds of soot. It's used as a way of protesting environmental regulations.

The political affiliations of the pickup truck drivers are unknown. But Hickory is located in Caldwell County, where 74.1 percent of residents backed President Trump in the 2016 election.

The trend has garnered the ire of environmentalists. Dan Becker, executive director of the Safe Climate Campaign, called it "mean and stupid."

"I'm sure that pickup truck drivers wouldn't want someone to slash their tires just because they're driving a pickup truck that guzzles a lot of gas and pollutes their children," Becker said in an interview. "And I think it's almost a form of vandalism because it's preventing someone from being able to drive their vehicle."

He added, "Does it insult their manhood that they pollute more and therefore they want to attack vehicles that pollute less? I don't understand their motivation."

ICE-ing has recently been observed in other parts of the country, as well.

In Bristol, Tenn., Reddit user freckletan shared a photo on Dec. 23, 2018, of a white pickup blocking Tesla chargers, saying, "Driving through Tennessee and see these 'cool guys' icing a supercharger."

The user added, "These guys parked in a Tesla charging spot with their gas (or diesel) truck, unhooked the charge cable, and laid it into their truck bed for 'comedic' effect. ... It would be the equivalent of a Tesla parking at a fuel pump at a gas station and walking away."

The trend has also been documented in Texas, South Carolina and Delaware.

The practice appears to primarily target Tesla rather than other automakers. Tesla's Model 3 has become a top-selling EV despite a year of self-inflicted drama by CEO Elon Musk (Energywire, Dec. 21, 2018).

Nine states and several cities have enacted laws prohibiting gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles from parking in front of EV charging stations, including Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.

Rolling coal remains illegal throughout the country. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) last year introduced the "Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act," S. 203, in an effort to decriminalize the practice. A co-sponsor was Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), one of Congress' most vocal climate skeptics.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) introduced a companion bill in the House. But the measure ultimately failed to gain traction.

[Responsibility2nd]

I post this as I see more and more instances of this happening.

 

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[Responsibility2nd]

 

In one incident on Sunday in Tennessee, a Tesla owner spotted a truck backed into a supercharger station and pretending to get a charge.

[DesertRhino]

Jackasses. Take photos, let the company sue them. That’s like going to Taco Bell and parking in the drive up lane.

[DesertRhino]

Pull up and block them in so they can’t move. Say it’s out of electricity. F- em.

[Rebelbase]

Does Tesla pay the metered electricity for the chargers?

[Responsibility2nd]

I’ve got no dog in this fight. I do not own a diesel or a Tesla.

I would, however, advise Tesla owners to man up and grow a pair and “handle” situations like this as they should be handled.

Then leave before getting caught.

[Hazwaste]

Childish behavior knows no bounds, or political philosophy.

[Bell Bouy II]

Talked to a big rig driver the other day at a station on I 84 and he said they have jumped on board too, Funny

[JoSixChip]

I would, however, advise Tesla owners to man up and grow a pair and “handle” situations like this as they should be handled.

That would be like pajama boy attacking Chuck Noris!

[Blue Jays]

"...ICEing / Rolling Coal..."

---

Both of those things are moronic.
Nitwits in diesel trucks have “rolled coal” on my cycling group while yelling “0bama Fagg0ts” out the open window.
Maybe they should speak with us to learn many of us voted for President Trump...
The presence of a charging station does not threaten their access to diesel fuel. Diesel will be available for many decades to come.

[Blue Jays]

Forgot to close my italics font. Oops.

[Celtic Conservative]

My dad lives a few towns over. NC has yet to be “Califonied”. Not a good idea to piss off the truck drivers down there, as they are in the majority.

CC

[rottndog]

Do you have to pay to use those charging stations?

Seems like it wouldn’t be to difficult to make an adapter to a large battery that you could drive around and charge up...then drive it home and power your house...

Just a thought...

[vpintheak]

People are so flipping dumb sometimes. Who gives a crap about what someone else drives. Idiot truck drivers.

[HamiltonJay]

A handful of idiots and the press tried to pretend it’s a major thing... stupid.

200000 show up for a conservative cause and it’s a small crowd... 10 liberals do something it’s a movement... 5 people do something to stop liberals from doing something and that’s a movement too apparently

[Celtic Conservative]

Prewar hi-power, or post war? (or during as the Germans used ‘em too)?

CC

[McGavin999]

Stupid idea. Liberals deserve it, but I wish these guys would think of a better way.

[Lee'sGhost]

“I’m sure that pickup truck drivers wouldn’t want someone to slash their tires just because they’re driving a pickup truck that guzzles a lot of gas and pollutes their children,” Becker said in an interview. “And I think it’s almost a form of vandalism because it’s preventing someone from being able to drive their vehicle.”

I don’t condone the practice, Becker, but the answer to your confusion lies in your misplaced sanctimonious attitude and false moral equivalencies. You righteously oppose coal and nuclear power that makes your stupid pious car go while simultaneously demonizing those who are being penalized for not buying into your junk science. You don’t give a shi’ite about kids except to use them as symbols of fake health threats and you wonder why people would do this. Dude, go look in the mirror and see the flashing neon sign on your forehead that says, “I’m a sanctimonious @sshole, ICE me!”

[Celtic Conservative]

Wrong thread. Disregard.

CC

[DoodleBob]