A Reddit thread showing a Ford Ranger truck parked in an electric vehicle charging space in New Zealand has gone viral.
The original post showed a photograph that has caused an extensive debate on the internet, sparking an important conversation about the transition to electric vehicles, and the seriousness of climate change.
The Viral EV Reddit Post
In May 2024, @PlatypusImpressive35 posted a photograph on the r/auckland thread showing a gas-powered Ford Ranger parked next to an EV charging station.
The photograph shows that the Ranger owner pulled the charging cord out from the port and placed it in the trunk of the truck in Sylvia Parks Shopping Center in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Internet Exploded With Responses to the Strange Situation
Hundreds of people commented on the photograph, each with a different response to the Ranger driver’s decision to park in an EV spot and pretend to use the charger.
Dozens of the comments addressed their personal experience with pickup trucks, and more specifically, Ford Ranger drivers, claiming the majority of people who chose this particular model are not considerate on the road. One user wrote, “These guys definitely think they’re funny as f*** for inconveniencing people, but, at the same time have near meltdowns when there’s a cyclist on the road.”
Gas-Powered Drivers Have Been Going Out of Their Way to Block EV Spots
Another noted a different post on Reddit from the thread r/mildlyinfuriating, where a “non-EV [was] taking up two EV-Charger spots.” And this is just one of many stories of gas-powered drivers parking in EV spots.
Some people argue that the many drivers who decided to park in the EV spots were either making an honest mistake or a necessary choice as there were no other spaces available. But others believe these were purposeful decisions to prove a point.
Millions of People Are Vehemently Against Electric Cars
While millions of people around the world are considering or have already transitioned to an EV to do their part in protecting the planet, there are still millions of others who are vehemently against electric cars.
Those who are against the new popular form of sustainable transportation argue that there are three problems with EVs. First, they’re not quite as environmentally friendly as the government says they are. Second, that they are difficult and expensive to maintain. And finally, that there aren’t nearly enough charging stations to make an EV a practical purpose.
Are EVs Good for the Environment?
Now, while two of these three reasons are technically valid, EVs can be expensive to maintain and there aren’t enough charging stations yet, the third argument really isn’t true.
Electric cars are unquestionably better for the environment than their gas or diesel-powered counterparts. Although they do use mined minerals for the batteries, the amount of fossil fuels used to produce and run an EV is far less than that of a standard gas-power vehicle.
The Argument Against EVs Is More Political Than It Is Practical
Some say that those who are against EVs are far more focused on the politics than they are on the practicality. It has become crystal clear that, at least in the US, one political party is for EVs and the other is against.
Democratic President Biden has dedicated a significant portion of his four years in the Oval Office to ensuring the future of American transportation is electric. Whereas former-president and candidate for 2024, Republican Donald Trump, famously said that if he’s elected “you won’t be able to sell” EVs.
Biden’s Plan for EVs Could Seriously Impact the US Auto Manufacturing Industry
Many argue that some people are simply against EVs because Biden is for them. However, a more realistic a more realistic reason why many Americans are against Biden’s plan to transition the nation to EVs is that it could negatively impact the auto manufacturing industry.
As Biden has dictated that at least 70% of all vehicles made by American auto manufacturers need to be battery powered by 2032, many are worried that they won’t have the infrastructure to do so. If that happens, Americans would have to start buying their EVs from abroad, specifically China, and the economy could face seriously negative consequences.
Americans Don’t Want to Be Forced to Do Anything by Their Government
Additionally, there is an argument that millions of Americans are against electric vehicles, not because of their price tags, the lack of charging stations, or the negative effects they will have on the auto industry, but because they believe in freedom.
America is considered the land of the free, and many people see President Biden’s EV mandate as a restriction of their freedoms. They say the government should not be able to dictate what kind of car an American citizen uses for transportation.
Why Are People Antagonizing Others for Their Personal Choices?
Everyone is allowed their own opinion. Therefore, for whatever reason they choose, Americans and people all around the world are entitled to disagree with EVs or more specifically, an EV mandate.
But the fact that some think it’s okay to park their gas-powered cars in an EV spot simply to make a point is the real problem. As everyone knows, EV spots are limited, and drivers desperately need them in order to safely operate their vehicles.
Reddit Users Have the Perfect the Solution for a Gas-Powered Cars in an EV Spot
Hundreds of the comments on the original Reddit post were comedic in nature, making fun of either gas-powered or EV drivers. However, there were a few users who offered legitimate solutions to the problem.
They said that if an EV driver finds a gas-powered car next to a charging station, they should call their local police officer. Once someone receives an expensive ticket for theri prank, it’s unlikely that they will try it a second time.
The Debate Over Electric Vehicles Is Far From Over
This Reddit story from New Zealand has made a few people laugh and many others very mad, but it truly does shed light on the ongoing electric vehicle debate. And that conversation is far from over.
The general consensus is that EVs could absolutely help save the planet from climate change, but only if enough people make the change. Whether or not that will happen depends on the upcoming presidential election, EV infrastructure, and the ever-changing opinions of the masses.
