Hangzhou Gas-Powered Car Locked in EV Charging Spot; Owner Pays $100 Unlock Fee, Sparks Debate

Recently, a car owner in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, had his gasoline-powered vehicle locked by the parking operator after parking it in a charging-station-only spot during rainy weather. Upon returning, he was told he needed to pay a 100-yuan unlocking fee to retrieve his car. The owner explained that heavy rain had filled all regular parking spaces, so he temporarily parked in an empty spot within the charging area while running errands. At around 10 a.m., the operator called to warn him to move his car promptly or face being locked out; the owner replied he would return in about two hours. However, when he came back at noon, his vehicle had already been immobilized with a wheel clamp. On-site staff only handled the locking process and directed him to contact the charging station contractor for payment-related issues. An on-site inspection at Kanshan Metro Station’s parking lot revealed that of the 18 charging spots, only six were occupied by electric vehicles actively charging, while all conventional fuel-vehicle spaces were fully occupied. At the rear of each charging space, six warning signs clearly stated that unauthorized occupation would result in the vehicle being locked, with a 200-yuan fee imposed—and no unlocking service available overnight. Another notice clarified that the charging stations are independently operated by a third-party company, and any disputes arising from their use are unrelated to the parking lot’s property owner. According to the operator’s management, each charging spot incurs a daily rental cost of 30 yuan, and the initial investment for the entire charging station exceeded 1.5 million yuan, not including ongoing labor costs for personnel who enforce the locking policy. Due to intense industry competition, prolonged occupation by gasoline vehicles severely disrupts normal operations. The unlocking fee is adjusted based on the driver’s attitude—those who are uncooperative are charged 100 yuan, while fees may be waived under special circumstances.