A Ford Ranger driver has been criticized by electric vehicle owners for blocking a charging station and hiding the battery cable.
The ute took up parking space at the Sylvia Parks shopping center in Mount Wellington, southeast of Auckland, in May.
A passerby uploaded a photo of the brazen act to Reddit with the image showing the charging cable placed inside the vehicle’s tray.
Hundreds of motorists criticized the driver for his selfish act.
“These guys definitely think they’re fun to annoy people with,” one wrote.
The Ford Ranger ute took up a parking space (pictured) outside the charging station at the Sylvia Parks shopping centre, in Mount Wellington, southeast Auckland, last month.
“He probably thinks he’s very clever taking a spot off an EV,” another wrote.
Others suggested the motorist could be carrying something in the covered tray.
‘There’s a chance he’s actually carrying something there. You can charge electric bikes (with motor) with those chargers, one wrote.
‘The LED (indicator lights) is GREEN. Something in the bed is charging. “Probably a large solar generator,” added another.
‘All those who jumped to conclusions and proposed vandalizing this person’s car or trying to publicly embarrass them, where are the apologies?’
Motorists criticized the driver’s act, but some defended him by saying that they could be charging an electrical energy source inside the tray (file image).
Motorists in Australia who illegally occupy electric vehicle parking spaces face heavy fines.
Petrol car drivers risk up to $3,200 in the ACT.
The fine also applies to any vehicle parked in the square and not plugged into the charging cable.
The same offense carries a fine of $3,096 in Queensland, while motorists in New South Wales will be fined up to $2,200.
The New Zealand government passed new laws last year to punish motorists who park in a space that can only be used by electric vehicles.
The amendment was made to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule.
The law states that “a driver or person in charge of a vehicle must not stop, stop or park the vehicle in a parking area reserved for electric vehicle charging.”
Drivers can only use the EV cargo space if they own an EV.
