Preventing Parking Misuse at Charging Stations

The ICE-ing Problem

ICE-ing refers to internal combustion engine vehicles parking in spots reserved for EV charging. It happens everywhere: malls, apartments, office buildings, and public lots. The driver either does not notice the signage, does not care, or figures they will only be a minute. For the EV driver who needs to charge, it means finding another station or waiting.

In apartment societies, ICE-ing is especially common in the early adoption phase when most residents still drive petrol or diesel cars and view charger bays as regular parking. The problem grows as more chargers are installed and more bays are designated.

Physical Deterrents

Physical barriers are the most effective first line of defense. Retractable bollards that only lower when a charging session is initiated keep non-EVs out entirely. Painted markings and clear signage make the designation unmistakable. Some installations use wheel stops or parking barriers that release via the charging app.

• Retractable bollards integrated with the charging management system
• High-visibility green paint and EV charging signage
• Ground-level LED indicators showing bay availability
• Physical barriers that unlock only via the CPO's app

App-Based Reservation and Penalties

Allowing drivers to reserve charging bays via an app reduces conflict. The reservation system holds a bay for a set window, and only the reserved user can start a charging session. In apartment settings, assigned bays with smart chargers eliminate the reservation problem entirely.

Penalties for overstaying work in commercial settings. Once charging is complete, a time-based idle fee kicks in. This encourages drivers to move their vehicles promptly. The fee shows up on their charging receipt, making the consequence clear and automatic.

Time-Based Charging Fees

Combining energy fees with time-based occupancy fees is the most effective economic deterrent against bay hogging. Charge a per-kWh rate for energy plus a per-minute rate after charging completes. Set the idle fee high enough to motivate drivers to move their cars but reasonable enough to avoid complaints.

This approach works especially well at high-demand locations like malls and commercial buildings where turnover matters. The charging platform handles the fee calculation and billing automatically. RIOD's backend platform supports configurable idle fees, reservation management, and real-time bay status for exactly these use cases.