Tesla driver’s ‘entitled’ act exposes problem with electric vehicle charging stations
A Tesla Model Y parked across two parking bays at a Queensland shopping centre has highlighted a major issue with electric vehicle charging stations.
As electric vehicle uptake increases in Australia, some critics have pointed out accessibility issues associated with electric vehicle charging stations across the country.
A recent photograph of a Tesla Model Y parked across two parking bays at the Orion Springfield shopping centre in Queensland was posted to Facebook – with most online commenters condemning the driver’s actions.
“Of course, it’s a Tesla owner. Entitled as mentality,” one user wrote while another remarked “They should find somewhere else to charge it or go home”.
However, some Facebook commenters pointed out the charging station, not the driver, could be the problem.
“Maybe that was the only way to reach the plug? EV owners should be allowed to fuel up just as we do," one commenter wrote.
Another user pointed out that the silver BYD Atto 3 parked to the left of the Tesla was responsible. “The one at fault … is the silver car parked in the charging spot not on charge, so I guess they [the Tesla owner] had to park like that to charge up," the commenter said.
In a separate incident in April 2024, another Tesla driver was criticised for parking their Model 3 – with an attached trailer – over the kerb next to the charging bay.
The photo highlighted accessibility issues at EV charging stations when using a trailer, as current charging bays offered around the country do not account for oversized vehicles.
Disability advocates have also highlighted the lack of accessible charging infrastructure, particularly for drivers in wheelchairs who aren't given the appropriate clearance to safely get to the charging station.
In 2022, JimmyJan, a TikToker sharing his daily experience as a disabled person, highlighted the difficulty of accessing public chargers for his EV.
"I need to get to that outlet so I can plug my car in, but there's this huge kerb which goes to the length of the park. If I want to charge my car, all I have to do is jump over this little kerb here which I can't," JimmyJan explained in the TikTok video.
"I could get out and crawl on the ground but I'd get all dirty," he added.
Spinal Life Chief Executive John Mayo told the ABC in 2023 that public charger designs need to accommodate a wide range of people with different needs.
"We do need a co-design process so that you take in various customer groups so that nobody will end up being left out," Mr Mayo told the ABC.
A spokesperson for Standards Australia – an independent organisation that sets infrastructure standards upon which regulations are based – said charger design reform is currently being discussed amongst all relevant regulators.
"There's a lot of work going on right now as our vehicle fleet becomes more electric. This includes consideration of charging infrastructure, its placement, and matters of safety and amenity," the Standards Australia spokesperson told Drive.
"Standards Australia is working with governments, industry and the community to identify what standards are needed for charging infrastructure and how they can be embedded in our communities."
