ICE
To occupy a reserved electric car parking space (especially one equipped with a charger) with a traditional car equipped with an internal combustion engine.
ICE: blocking EV chargers with gas cars
To ICE a space is to park a vehicle with an internal combustion engine in a reserved electric vehicle charging spot, rendering the charger inaccessible to drivers who need it. The acronym ICE, standing for internal combustion engine, has become the verb itself in EV charging communities. The act can range from thoughtless to deliberate; some drivers simply do not recognize the reserved marking, while others park there knowing full well what they are doing.
The term emerged in the mid-2010s as public EV charging infrastructure expanded in North America and Europe, particularly as Level 2 chargers (delivering 3 to 19 kilowatts) became common in retail parking lots and workplaces. ICEing is especially disruptive because many EV owners depend on these spaces for charging during their workday or while shopping; a vehicle with a 200-mile range cannot simply wait for a blocked charger to free up. The practice is now common enough that property managers and EV networks report it as a genuine operational headache.
Why it happens and how facilities respond
ICEing occurs partly because many reserved EV spaces lack visible barriers, bollards, or enforcement mechanisms. Some facilities have installed wheel-locking devices or reserved signs with hefty tow-away language, though these defenses are inconsistent. Apartment complexes with shared charging are particularly vulnerable because residents cannot easily call for removal of non-resident vehicles. Some charging networks now partner with parking enforcement or towing services; others rely on app-based reporting, which introduces delays.
The deeper driver of ICEing is infrastructure scarcity. Where EV charging spots outnumber regular spaces, the problem diminishes naturally. In dense urban and suburban areas where EV adoption is highest but charging is most scarce, ICEing rates spike. Workplace charging is less vulnerable because employers control tow-away authority and have clear enforcement policies; public retail charging remains the weak point.
The term itself has become shorthand in EV forums, charging network support channels, and facility management conversations. Its use reflects genuine frustration: a driver who cannot charge their vehicle on schedule because a gas-powered car is taking the spot faces a real operational loss, especially in colder climates where range drops 20 to 40 percent. Charging network operators now treat ICEing data as a metric for infrastructure planning, using complaint rates to justify investment in better signage, bollards, and enforcement partnerships.