Skip to main content

Volkswagen Smart Charging Setup

Updated

Supported models

All Volkswagen electric and plug-in hybrid models. The app connects through Volkswagen Group's official interface for partners.

Connecting your Volkswagen

  1. In the app, choose to add a car and pick Volkswagen.
  2. Log in with your Volkswagen account. Use the account of the car's primary user.
  3. Type your VIN exactly as it appears on your car documents. A common mistake is the letter O instead of the number zero.
  4. Enter the car's current odometer reading.
  5. Give your consent, then set your ready-by time in the app.

For plug-in hybrids the steps can be shorter. Follow the instructions in the app.

What your car needs

  • Primary user: you must be the primary user of the car, both in the car and in the Volkswagen app. Until then, adding the car fails with a "no primary user attached" error.
  • Connected services: the car's connected services licence must be active.
  • Data saving mode off: switch off data saving mode in the car.

Location

Smart charging starts when you plug in at a charging location saved in the car. Anywhere else, the car charges as normal.

To save a charging location in the car:

  1. Open Charging on the car's screen.
  2. Go to Charging Locations.
  3. Add the place where the car is now, usually your home, if it is not saved yet.
  4. Give it any name you like.

If your car has no Charging Locations menu (most plug-in hybrids and a few older electric models), skip this step. These cars cannot tell whether they are at home, so they smart charge wherever you plug in. If such a car also charges at work, set inactive hours for the times it is away.

Turn off Volkswagen's own scheduling

Switch off off-peak options such as "prioritise off-peak" and "off-peak only" in the Volkswagen app. They overrule smart charging.

Solar charging

If you have solar panels, link your solar inverter in the app. Your Volkswagen then charges at full or half power to follow your solar output.

Common problems

  • "No primary user attached": make yourself the primary user in the car and in the Volkswagen app, then add the car again.
  • Car disconnected after a software update: a car software update can end the link. Add the car again in the app.
  • No data: check that data saving mode is off and connected services are active.

What data is shared

  • Vehicle information: battery level and charging status.
  • Location: only to check whether the car is at one of its saved charging locations.
  • Charging control: start and stop commands.

Removing access

Remove the car in the app to end smart charging for it.

Other Volkswagen Group brands

Audi, Škoda, Cupra and SEAT use the same Volkswagen Group platform and work the same way. See Audi Smart Charging Setup, Škoda Smart Charging Setup and Cupra & SEAT Smart Charging Setup.

Still not working?

Contact the support team of your app. If your app comes from your energy supplier, that is your energy supplier's customer service. Tell them your car brand and model, when it happened, and add a screenshot of the app.

Related articles