We are on the road and need to recharge in order to continue, or we have arrived at our destination and decide to connect the car to a quick charging station so that the battery will be charged when we return.
So, we open the charging flap and connect the post with the car using the cable. We then start the operator’s app on the smartphone and start the charging session. It’s all very simple, but if for some reason the refuelling doesn’t start, what can you do? Let’s take a look at some of the situations you may come across and what you can do to solve the problems.
Charging does not start
Before connecting the car to a charging station, it is always essential to check that it is up and running. If it is switched off or faulty, it will obviously be impossible to start charging. To find out, simply use the operator’s app. For example, the Be Charge app identifies non-functional columns with red dots. So before you even go to a charging point, make sure it is active.
It can happen that when using the app, charging does not start. How come? One of the most trivial reasons is that the smartphone has connectivity problems.
This can be solved, for example, by rebooting the mobile device, or by switching the data connection off and on again. You may also find yourself in an area where your operator has a poor network signal. If connectivity problems cannot be solved, the suggestion is to use the card as a ‘backup’ system that is always important to have. In fact, the card can save us several times when the app fails. Plenitude + Be Charge also offers it to customers. Simply request it from the app at a cost of 10 euros.
If the charging station is operational but for some reason charging does not want to start after several attempts, you can try contacting technical support. With the help of the operator, an attempt can be made to remotely start the charging session. For example, Plenitude + Be Charge offers a 24-hour support service, accessible from the app itself.
What if the cable gets stuck?
We have finished our charging and end the session via the app or the card. Charging stops and we go to unplug the cable that connects the car to the 22 kW AC Quick columns. The connector, however, does not want to come out, remaining connected to the column.
First of all, do not force the cable out too much. If the column has not ‘unplugged’ the cable correctly, pulling too hard will do no good. In fact, there is a risk of doing damage. How to solve the problem?
You can try, for example, restarting the charging session and then ending it immediately afterwards. In this way, it is possible that the unlocking procedure will work correctly, leaving the cable ‘free’.
If even this does not work, technical support can be called in. Remotely, an operator can force the release of the connector. In the worst case, in the event of a fault in the column, it will be necessary to wait for the arrival of a technician called by the operator who will intervene manually on the column, unhooking the cable. It is therefore essential to always have the technical assistance number of the operator from whom you are recharging at hand.
The blocking of the cable, however, does not always have to be on the side of the column. In fact, it can sometimes happen that it is the car itself that does not allow the cable to be disconnected. What to do?
If it does not disconnect often, the simplest solution is to use the remote control as if to open the car, or close it with the remote control and open it again. Or use the function on the infotainment menu or via a button on the car.
This is why it is advisable to read the manual even if we find it unnecessary to look for this specific item. In extreme cases then there is a manual release lever near the boot or bonnet depending on where the car’s charging socket is located.
Article by HD Motori
