The sight of an ICE vehicle parked in a spot designated for EVs is a familiar one, and usually the result of a dislike for the electric powertrain itself, or of the rules and laws that are being implemented to support them.
To the uninformed, a Jeep parked in a space reserved for an electric car is an egregious and ignorant act, one that would, perhaps, drive a person to tear a page out of their Field Notes journal and poorly scribble a snarky message upon it, to be deposited under the windshield wiper of said Jeep.
This was the experience of one Reddit user, who innocently parked their Wrangler 4xe in front of an EV charger, only to return to their vehicle sometime later with a message that read: “This parking is for Electric Vehicles Douchebag”. The recipient of the letter posted a photo to r/mildlyinfuriating.
However, three letters on the rear of the Jeep should have been a clue to the author that the Jeep was indeed, parked in the correct spot: “4xe”. Yes, it was a Wrangler plug-in hybrid.
Read More: 2023 Jeep EV And Another Ram 1500 BEV Teaser Revealed At Stellantis Roadmap Event
The plug-in hybrid Wrangler 4xe debuted in 2021 and features two electric motors connected to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The combination produces a total system output of 375 horsepower and offers an electric-only range of 21 miles.
According to the poster, the 4xe was plugged in and charging – and the note was even found on the side of the vehicle that the plug was on.
In defense of the note writer, the 4xe is difficult to distinguish from a regular gasoline-only Jeep. The only visible changes are the “4xe” badge, as well as the charging port door and blue tow hooks.
The author of the note didn’t offer a phone number to receive an education about hybrid Jeeps, but the last word appears to be their signature.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see more notes like this as electric pickup trucks and muscle cars hit the market. At least until automakers go all-electric, at which point we presume that any misconceptions will probably go away.