Preventing ICEing: Smart Parking Bollards as a Solution 

As vehicle (EV) popularity accelerates, it’s more important than ever to keep EV charging stations accessible for drivers. This is a key focus for parking operators and buildings equipped with EV charging infrastructure.

One major roadblock? ICEing – when non-EV vehicles park in EV charging spots, or when EVs misuse these bays, and park there while not charging. This habit can create significant bumps in the road for the smooth operation of EV charging infrastructure. The most obvious impacts are:

• EV drivers’ inconvenience: By parking in and not using EV charging bays, inconsiderate drivers can leave EV drivers stranded and worried about “range anxiety”. EV bays need to be available for EV drivers to charge, and inconsiderate parking in them is very counter-productive. 
• EV Charger is demand on the rise: As our global population shifts to electric vehicles, the demand for EV chargers is growing rapidly. If charging availability is limited, it could put the brakes on EV adoption.
• Operational hiccups: Addressing illegal parking and handling complaints from EV drivers can be time-consuming and resource-draining for parking facility managers. Why should they endure this headache when there are clearly other solutions.
• Potential for conflict: ICEing can spark disputes between EV and non-EV drivers over EV charging bay usage.

Case Study: Wilson Parking uses thatsmyspot Smart Parking Bollards to prevent ICEing

At thatsmyspot, and also personally as a long-time EV owner, we understand the importance of ensuring that EV charging bays are available and accessible for drivers of electric vehicles to charge. When and where they need them. And with our innovative smart parking bollard solutions, we can help ensure that happens. To make the EV driver journey seamless, secure and as stress-free at possible. And to boost overall management efficiency from the asset owner or parking operator to monitor these bays. And we’re always eager to hear from our customers about their experiences.

In that vein, commercial parking operators are also rolling out EV chargers within their parking stations. To be forward thinking and enhance the EV driver journey. One of these parking operators is Wilson parking, who have started a program of rolling out EV chargers in their commercial car parks across a number of major Australian cities. 

But Wilson Parking quickly realised that painting the bays green and putting up signs wasn’t enough to stop ICE’ing or unauthorised parking in those designated EV bays. Which puts a real dampener on providing that EV charging as service in car parks they operate.

Optimising EV charging infrastructure 

One example of this are in a commercial car park in Melbourne’s busy CBD in Little Bourke Street. Here, to enhance the EV driver experience, Wilson Parking installed two new EV chargers in designated EV bays directly next to the entry boom gates. The bays were clearly designated and painted bright green, and sign-marked to clearly evidence EV charging only. But it wasn’t long before the convenience of easy parking close to the entry without any physical deterrent, meant that non-EV drivers started misusing the spots, and parking in them just like regular parking bays. And so ICEing the EV bays. And this meant more monitoring and time wasted for the onsite manager to chase those illegal parkers down and some way to enforce proper usage. 

It was a very similar story in the Canberra Centre car park, which Wilson Parking manages for the QIC group. In this busy shopping centre, there are Tesla EV charging bays, which are reserved for Tesla drivers to use for charging while visiting in the centre. Again, clearly sign-posted and painted as designated EV charging bays. But the same thing happens. Conveniently located near easy access to the shops, drivers think they are a convenient spot to stop and park and just ignore the EV charging bay designation. So it’s incredibly inconvenient when an EV driver needs to charge their car and the bay is ICE’d.

Working with both Wilson Parking and QIC, thatsmyspot installed automated parking .bollards in the designated EV charging bays at both these locations. Our physical bollards meant that these EV bays specifically for EV drivers needing to charge. The automated bollards mean you can book and reserve an EV charging bay and be guaranteed that your EV charging bay will be available for your reserved booking time. Our thatsmyspot parking bollards in EV charging bays solve the challenge of ICEing. And car park operators like Wilson, and shopping centre owners like QIC can deliver a smooth and seamless EV charging experience for their EV drivers, patrons and customers.

Property Benefits

We understand the importance of a hassle-free EV charging experience for users of EV chargers in parking facilities. By leveraging our cutting-edge solutions, we’re helping asset owners, parking operators, owners, and EV drivers enhance their EV charging experience and boost overall management efficiency. And we’re always eager to hear from our customers about their experiences.

By using That’s My Spot’s parking solution, Wilson and QIC efficiently manage access and bookings for each EV charging bay, aiding in future planning for EV charger deployment.

• Easier Management: The parking operations team is now equipped to efficiently secure and allocate EV charging bays.
• Cut Operational Costs: Our automated parking bollards cut down unnecessary time spent by your operations team on dealing with improperly parked vehicles.
• Increased EV Bay Turnover: Our innovative solution ensures optimal turnover of EV bays, contributing to the convenience of our your patron, customers and visitors.
• Superior Customer Experience: Our thatsmyspot smart parking bollards give your EV driver customers peace of mind with guaranteed availability of their EV charging bays during their booking windows.
• Maximum Convenience: Our automated bollards facilitate easy and immediate access for EV drivers at all times.

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