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Smart Charging Location: Why and How

Updated

Why does the app need my location?

Smart charging only runs at the locations you set, usually your home. This way the app never interferes when you charge at work, at a public charger or anywhere else.

How location works per brand

Tesla

Set your home location in the app. Tesla shares the car's location, with your permission, so the app can tell whether the car is at home. Since May 2025 Tesla asks for this permission separately: in the Tesla app, go to Profile, then Security & Privacy, then Third Party Apps, then Gridio, and choose Select All.

BMW/MINI

You set your home location in BMW's own screen while connecting the car. It must match the address where you charge. BMW only tells the app whether the car is at home; the app never sees your coordinates. You can manage locations at https://ocapi.aws.bmw.cloud/

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz uses the vehicle's home location set in the Mercedes me account. Smart charging only works at the designated home location. The charging program must be set to "Home" (not "Instant Charging").

VW Group (VW, Audi, Škoda, Cupra, SEAT)

If your car has Charging Locations in its infotainment, save one at your home (you can name it anything, no special name needed). Smart charging engages when you plug in at one of those saved locations.

If your car doesn't have Charging Locations in the infotainment (typical for plug-in hybrids and a few older electric models), smart charging runs wherever you plug in, since the car can't tell whether you're at home or somewhere else.

Hyundai & Kia

Set your home location in the app.

Renault

Set your home location in the app.

Can I smart charge at more than one location?

Yes. Smart charging supports multiple locations, for example your home and a summer house. Add the extra locations in your smart charging app. If you use an app from your energy supplier, follow their instructions for adding a location.

Cars that don't share their location

Some cars, mainly Volkswagen Group plug-in hybrids, don't share their location. If such a car also charges at work, set inactive hours for the times it is away, so smart charging leaves those sessions alone.

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