What ICEing Means
ICEing happens when a petrol or diesel vehicle parks in an EV charging bay. These bays are meant for electric vehicles that are charging. When a non-EV blocks a bay, an EV driver can’t access the charger.
EV drivers can also cause problems. This happens when someone parks in a charging bay without plugging in, or when the car finishes charging but stays in the space. It has the same effect as ICEing because the charger is still blocked.
Why ICEing Is a Problem
For EV drivers, ICEing causes stress and frustration. If you arrive with low charge and the bay is blocked, you may have to drive further to find another charger. That costs time and, in some cases, makes drivers worry about running out of charge altogether. It’s even worse when the car park only has one or two chargers.
For operators, ICEing leads to complaints and slow traffic around the charging area. Staff often get pulled away from other tasks to deal with unhappy drivers. The chargers that were installed to help people end up sitting unused, even when demand is high. Over time, this affects how people view the site and the services it offers.
Are There Rules About ICEing?
There’s no single national law that covers all EV bays, but private car parks can enforce their own rules when the signs and terms are clear. This allows operators to issue Parking Charge Notices to:
- Non-EV vehicles parked in EV charging bays
- EVs that park without charging
- Drivers who overstay their allowed time
Clear signage and fair terms are important. If the rules are easy to understand, ev parking management becomes much more effective.
Why ICEing Still Happens
Most ICEing is caused by simple behaviour. Some drivers think they will only be in the space briefly. Others don’t notice the EV-only sign or don’t understand the restriction. EV drivers sometimes leave their car in the bay after charging has finished.
Some sites also have faded markings or signs in poor positions, which makes the rules easy to miss. And when there’s no monitoring or parking enforcement, drivers are more likely to ignore the restrictions.
Ways to Reduce ICEing in Car Parks
The best way to prevent ICEing is to combine clear rules with reliable monitoring. Technology plays an important role here. ANPR and AI systems can identify when a vehicle is in an EV charging bay and whether it should be there. If an EV isn’t charging or a non-EV is parked in the bay, the system can flag it.
Clear signage also helps. Drivers need to see immediately that the bay is for EVs only and that charging must be active. Simple, well placed signs make it harder to miss the rules and reduce misunderstandings.
Good bay markings make a difference too. Repainting the space, adding EV symbols, or using a different colour can make the bay stand out. These small changes help prevent accidental misuse.
Some sites benefit from time limits or reminders. Encouraging EV drivers to move once their session ends keeps the chargers available and reduces queuing.
How EV Charging Bays Stay Available
When charging bays are monitored and the rules are clear, drivers can rely on them. This improves the overall experience for EV users and keeps traffic moving around the charging area. Complaints drop, and the charging equipment is used the way it was intended.
Good management also gives car park operators confidence that their investment in EV infrastructure is being used properly, rather than being blocked by misuse.
How Parking Patrol Can Help
Parking Patrol provides 24/7 monitoring and enforcement for EV charging bays. Our ANPR and AI systems can tell when a vehicle is allowed to be in an EV bay and when it isn’t. We can identify EVs that aren’t charging, overstays, and any unauthorised parking.
We also help with clear signage, bay layout advice and, where needed, PTZ CCTV for larger or more complex sites. When the rules are broken, we can issue Parking Charge Notices on behalf of the operator.
Whether you manage one EV bay or many across different sites, we can help you keep them available for the drivers who need them.
If you want support with EV bay monitoring, you can call us on 03707 203807 or use our contact form to get started.
