For the first minutes after you plug in, your car may charge while the app reads the battery level and makes a charging plan. Then charging pauses until the cheap hours. This is normal and happens with every brand.
If your car keeps charging after about 20 minutes, work through these checks.
1. Check that the car is at a smart charging location
Smart charging only runs at the locations you set, usually your home. Somewhere else, the car charges as normal. See Smart Charging Location: Why and How.
2. Check that the data is fresh
Compare the battery level in the app with your car's own app. If the app shows old data, it cannot pause the car. See The Data in the App Is Hours Old.
3. Check your smart charging settings
- Smart charging off or paused: check that smart charging is on for this car and that you did not choose to charge now. See Pause Smart Charging and Charge Now.
- Minimum charge level: the car always charges to at least the minimum charge level you set, in the cheapest hours available before your ready-by time. If you plugged in late, those hours can start right away.
- Inactive hours: the app does not control charging during inactive hours.
- Ready-by time: if you plugged in late and the ready-by time is early, the app may need to charge straight away to be ready in time.
4. Check the settings in your car
Turn off any charging schedule, departure timer or off-peak option in the car or in its brand app. They overrule smart charging.
5. Brand-specific checks
- Tesla: turn off Scheduled Charging and Off-Peak Charging. Check that the virtual key is approved, because the app needs it to stop charging. See Tesla Troubleshooting Guide.
- BMW and MINI: starting charging in the My BMW or MINI app takes over that session. Smart charging resumes the next time you plug in.
- Mercedes-Benz: EQA, EQB, EQC and plug-in hybrids always charge to 50% before charging can be paused. On the electric GLC this level is 30%. This is a Mercedes-Benz rule. The charging program must also be set to Home.
- Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda, Cupra and SEAT: turn off off-peak options in the brand app. The Audi Q6 e-tron and A6 e-tron cannot be stopped remotely at the moment. This is a known issue, so contact support if you drive one of these.
Still not working?
If your car keeps charging after about 20 minutes at home, with fresh data in the app, 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 you plugged in, and how long the car kept charging. A screenshot of the app helps.