Question 1

Why did my car start charging immediately even though I have a schedule?

Accepted Answer

The most common cause is a conflicting schedule. Most modern EVs allow you to set a schedule in two places:
The Vehicle's Infotainment/App: (e.g., Tesla, Ford, Hyundai app)
The Charger’s App: (e.g., ChargePoint, Wallbox, Autel)
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The Fix: Pick one and disable the other. If the charger is told to "Wait until 12 AM" but the car is told to "Charge immediately," they may cancel each other out. Usually, it is better to manage the schedule via the vehicle so it can precondition the battery for your departure.

Question 2

What is "Departure Time" vs. "Scheduled Charging"?

Accepted Answer

Scheduled Charging: Tells the car exactly when to start (e.g., "Start at 11 PM").
Departure Time: Tells the car when you plan to leave (e.g., "7 AM"). The car then calculates the best time to start so it finishes right before you walk out.
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The Fix: Check if your car requires a "Departure Time" to be active for the "Off-Peak" window to work. Some EVs (like the Ioniq 5) won't honor a schedule unless a departure time is enabled. It is also important to note that different vehicles treat start and stop times differently. If you are using a departure setting without a start time, switching to a scheduled start time may be the safer option.

Question 3

Do I need to enable the schedule for every day of the week?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most EV apps allow you to toggle specific days (e.g., Mon–Fri). If you plug in on a Tuesday but your schedule is only active on Mon-Wed-Fri, the car will typically default to "Charge Immediately" because no logic exists for Tuesdays.
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The Fix: Ensure your schedule is set to "Daily" or "Weekdays" (or, if applicable, has every individual day checked).

Question 4

Can a weak Wi-Fi signal break my schedule?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you use a "Smart Charger" (Level 2 home station) to manage your schedule, it needs a heartbeat connection to the cloud. If your garage has "dead zones," the charger may fail to receive the "Start" command or may revert to a "Fail-Safe" mode, which is often to charge immediately for safety.

Question 5

Why does my app show the schedule is "On," but the car isn't following it?

Accepted Answer

There is often a sync delay between your phone app and the car’s actual computer. If you changed the schedule on your phone just minutes before plugging in, the car might not have "checked in" to receive the new instructions yet.

Question 6

What is the "Plug-Unplug-Plug" override?

Accepted Answer

Many smart chargers have a manual override feature. If you plug in, unplug within 2–5 seconds, and plug back in immediately, the charger assumes you are in an emergency and need power now, bypassing any set schedules. You might be doing this accidentally!

Question 7

Could my charging cable be the problem?

Accepted Answer

If the cable isn't fully seated (you didn't hear the "click"), the "handshake" between the car and charger may fail. In some cases, the car will default to a basic charging state or error out, ignoring the complex scheduling logic.

Question 8

Did a recent software update reset my settings?

Accepted Answer

Over-the-air (OTA) updates for both your car and your charger can sometimes reset "Location-Based" charging settings.
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Check this: Ensure the car still recognizes it is at "Home." Many schedules are tied to a specific GPS location; if the GPS is slightly off, the car thinks it's at a public station and will charge immediately.

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Having trouble with your charging schedule? Try these solutions. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact us at ev@sagewell.com.