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A dishonest EV owner’s scheme to scam the system is foiled in spectacular fashion.
Fed up with an EV driver’s selfish charging scheme, a Tesla Model 3 owner took matters into his own hands and created a viral parking standoff.
It’s a story as old as time—or at least as old as the public charging station. A driver pulls up, eager to top off their electric vehicle’s battery, only to find the spot occupied by a car that has no business being there—a Nissan Sentra. In the world of EVs, this practice is known as “ICEing,” short for blocking an EV charging spot with a car that has an Internal Combustion Engine.
While the culprit is typically an electric-powered vehicle, a recent story from the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page highlights a new, more audacious form of charging abuse. The protagonist of this tale, Michael Hodde, recounts his long-standing frustration and ultimate triumph over a very cunning “charger pirate.”
Michael Hodde on the popular Facebook page says,
“I keep seeing this guy have his girlfriend park her Nissan and ICEing at the last free public charging station while he is out in his EV. So when he was ready to charge in a few hours, he would have her move the gas car. I’ve noticed this pattern for months.”
“Finally, it got to where I said, you know what, I’m going to park my Tesla Model 3 on the opposite side, extend out the charger, and make sure when he comes back, he realizes that’s not going to work anymore.”
“So, I fixed his little scheme. When he arrived to find my car, he wasn’t happy and stopped my charge as he couldn’t unlock it. I called ChargePoint’s 24/7 customer support and got them to kick the power back on all from the comfort of my own home.”
The scheme was simple, yet infuriatingly effective.
A man, owning both an EV, would have his girlfriend park her Nissan in the sole public charging spot. The car would sit there for hours, a metallic sentinel reserving the space. When the man was ready to charge his own EV, his girlfriend would move the Nissan. It was a perfectly executed, albeit highly inconsiderate, strategy that monopolized a public resource and left other drivers—like Hodde—out in the cold. It’s a textbook example of the kind of public EV charging problems and conflicts that are becoming more common as the EV market expands.
Michael, a man of patience, witnessed this pattern for months.
He observed the routine, the blatant disregard for the common good, and the systemic inequity of the situation. Finally, his patience wore thin. As Hodde put it, “I said, you know what, I’m going to park on the opposite side, extend out the charger, and make sure when he comes back, he realizes that’s not going to work anymore.”
This decisive move wasn’t just about getting a charge; it was a firm stand against a persistent and selfish behavior.
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It was Hodde’s way of demonstrating a practical approach to addressing the ongoing challenges of shared infrastructure. His solution was a stroke of strategic brilliance, a real-life lesson in the creative ways to deal with EV charging station abuse. He wasn’t just angry; he was proactive.
When the man and his girlfriend returned to find their little scheme foiled by Hodde’s Tesla, the confrontation was immediate and predictable. The man, no doubt surprised and agitated by the unexpected roadblock, attempted a rash move. In an act of pure frustration, he reached for the charging cable and stopped Hodde’s session. It’s a question many EV drivers ponder when faced with such a situation:
Is it legal to stop someone’s EV charge?
While the legality can be murky and dependent on local jurisdiction—some view it as tampering, while others consider it a civil dispute—it’s almost universally considered a hostile and unacceptable act within the EV community. The charging port on most EVs, especially Teslas, locks when a session begins, so forcibly removing the plug can damage the vehicle’s port or the charging station itself. In this case, the man couldn’t unplug the car, but he was able to stop the flow of power through the ChargePoint app.
This is where the story takes a turn from a simple parking dispute to an exercise in consumer advocacy. Michael Hodde didn’t escalate the confrontation or get physical. Instead, he calmly retreated and put his trust in the system. From the comfort of his own home, he called ChargePoint’s 24/7 customer support.
This is a crucial detail, as ChargePoint customer support for charging issues is designed precisely for scenarios like this. The representatives, equipped with real-time data on their network, could see the interruption to his session and, with a few keystrokes, override the rogue action. They were able to remotely restore power, effectively neutralizing the man’s attempt at retaliation. Hodde’s story offers invaluable advice for other EV drivers, demonstrating the importance of understanding and utilizing the support systems in place.
The entire incident is a microcosm of the challenges facing the burgeoning EV community. As more drivers make the switch, the demand for public charging infrastructure is growing faster than the supply can meet. This places a premium not only on the infrastructure itself but also on proper electric vehicle charging station etiquette.
In The End
Stories like this, shared on platforms like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page, serve as both cautionary tales and sources of knowledge. They highlight the need for a collective understanding of unspoken rules: use a spot only when you’re charging, move your car when a session is complete, and never interfere with another driver’s charge.
While the “charger pirate” thought he had a system worked out, Michael Hodde proved that ingenuity and proper protocol will always triumph over selfishness. It was a win for fairness, a win for the EV community, and a win for the principle that public resources should be available to everyone, not just those clever enough to game the system.
We Want To Hear From You
Do you have a public charging story for your Tesla Model 3 or another EV? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.
Check out my Tesla Model 3 story: I Was a Tesla Hater Saying It’s a Microwave, Has No Soul, and It’s Boring, But I Just Picked Up a Model 3 Performance, and Man I’ve Been Missing Out
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Michael Hodde
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Source: torquenews.com
