Truck with 'Coal Keeps the Lights On' plate blocks 2 EV charging spots in nearly empty garage

Ray Brennan
Sat, May 30, 2026 at 10:00 PM EDT
2 min read

https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_cool_down_737/a5d6c587439c93296fa84da88c0d4d49
Photo Credit: Reddit

A driver in Charleston, South Carolina, thought they had finally found a parking garage where they could charge their plug-in hybrid — only to find a gas-guzzling truck blocking not one but two EV charging spaces.

A photo of the truck, shared on Reddit, frustrated users who said it looked like more than just bad parking.

In the post, the original poster said the truck was parked so crooked that it took up two spots reserved for electric vehicles in a Charleston garage. "We have a plug in hybrid and we're excited to finally find a garage where we can charge, only to be met with this," they wrote.

https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_cool_down_737/bb29e23df253c1e2b277334b14683596
Photo Credit: Reddit

https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_cool_down_737/9d9e223b374ce0562067d7ea980a2150
Photo Credit: Reddit

The truck's plate also drew attention. Commenters pointed to the visible "Coal Keeps the Lights On" slogan and argued that the parking job seemed intentional rather than accidental.

{snip}