Posted on 01/02/2019 3:09:13 PM PST by 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.
“She added, “Who do you report activity like this to? It was really uncomfortable.””
The police. Duh.
I don’t get the point.
One wouldn't think there'd be a need for such a law, but then along comes a few jack wagons who decide to hassle some stranger so they can't refuel their car. These same morons would take offense if someone barricaded the diesel pumps. God, people can be such idiots.
Here's a real simple rule for living; if you can't help someone, at least leave them the f*** alone.
“Rolling coal” good for scattering Antifa protesters.
You are correct sir!
FINALLY, some Push-Back.
This whole thing smells like a fake hate-crime to me but I agree with you, why would a reasonable person do this. I think electric cars are stupid. So I don’t buy one! I do my thing, they do their thing, everybody’s happy, that’s how it should go.
"...if you can’t help someone, leave them the f*** alone..."
I get the feeling that this author is going to develop a Der Spiegel problem in the near future. I'd like to hear what the locals have to say about this.
It's telling that one of the people leading the charge is HERE. What the hell is a child-free biology grad? Sounds like a participation medal for being alive (or what passes for it as a lib).
Sorry but every Tesla owner I know, and I work in tech, Are not conservatives.
Sure some are, but doubt the demographic claims “most are”
The light Tesla would just spin its tires.
Tesla super chargers are exclusively for Teslas. You need I think a special coupling to hook it up. Some of the stations are solar powered. They are free to use if you have a Tesla. Tesla has this network of super chargers to help Tesla owners travel. Normally as an owner you’re supposed to charge at home but of course some take advantage and use the free service for everyday driving. This has caused congestion at some stations.
Now that the economy is going well in N. Kalifornicator land, parking places are often in high demand.
It seems like the electric vehicle charging units are taking over a lot of close and desirable parking spots. Only about 10 % of them are being used. Often many have zero vehicles.
A friend with a service connected disability has the disabled driver plates on his vehicles. He says the damn electric charging stations are taking some near by disabled parking spots and making the disabled park past the electric charging spots.
"...vehicle generalities..."
How stupid do Tesla buyers have to be to buy a vehicle that requires them to spend that much time on an 80% "fill up?" And as for saving the environment by preventing "global warming," where do they think the electricity comes from? Rainbows and unicorns? Renewable's are not all that reliable especially solar in winter, and windmills that slice and dice birds and bats do more immediate damage to local ecosystems than any fossil fuel plant burning natural gas for power.
I was working in Fort Stockton, Texas a couple of weeks ago and the Flying J station next to I-20 was full of pickups, mostly oil field trucks, and there was no room to park after filling up except at the unused Tesla chargers. Going inside to use the restroom or get a hot cup of coffee and a sweet roll meant blocking a charger. But out there I've never even seen a Tesla anywhere in the oil patch let alone at a service station.
I have parked my SUV in charging spaces when it is the only spot available, or the closest spot. Often times they are very close to the store, maybe to “reward” people for being green.
I think the location of the terminals is dumb. Why not have them set up like gas pumps but on the other side. I see diesel and regular gas split up in some gas stations. Having them as part of parking is asking for these immature theatrics.
Yup. The batteries are toxic and every Tesla component and part derives from a process requiring fossil fuels at every step.
"...having them as part of parking is asking for these immature theatrics..."
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