Tesla is continuing to develop technology to prevent its charging ports from being blocked by third-party vehicles that cannot use the chargers. In China, spot blockers are popping up at more and more spots to keep them open for customers.
The term ICEing refers specifically to vehicles with internal combustion engines blocking charging spots. Although this is sometimes done out of simple expediency, it is also occasionally done intentionally to inconvenience the owners of electric vehicles.
In China, Tesla has been using devices that sit in the middle of the spot and pop up to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the spot since 2019, reports Electrek. The devices, though, required Tesla owners to use a separate app to unlock it, complicating the charging process.
Read Also: Why Are Truck Owners Blocking Tesla Superchargers Across America?
New Tesla Supercharger: Yangquan – Yangquan Hotel (4 stalls) https://t.co/W5sFdyE1V9 pic.twitter.com/rNH02AOMzi
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New Tesla Supercharger: Tianjin-Shanghe City (6 stalls) https://t.co/09LWPDdHgD pic.twitter.com/xUGuEE88HK
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In recent weeks, however, the devices have been popping up at more and more locations around China and are seemingly being implemented at every new charging station the automaker deploys in the country.
Along with the ramp-up in deployment, Tesla has also integrated the unlocking mechanism into its mobile app, which makes the process a little less unwieldy. Whether or not Tesla will expand the use of the function into other markets now that it has been made easier to use remains to be seen but it could be an effective way to combat ICEing.
With a number of Superchargers hosted within larger parking lots, though, it raises an interesting question about who actually owns the spot. While needlessly inconveniencing a stranger is obviously bad, should that also mean preventing every other car from using the spot under any circumstances?
Tesla China Software Update:
Tesla App 4.3 update
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— 42HOW (@42how_) November 18, 2021