Can anyone just unplug your car when charging?

[dj_stang]

J1772 home charging, yes. CCS charging, no.

To remove a J1772 connector from the car, you have to hold the release button and then pull. Some J1772 connectors (such as Clipper Creek's) have a hole through the side of the release button to attach a padlock, if it's a real concern... I don't think the mobile charger bundled with the car has that.

Going to necro this thread. So why is it that CCS locks but not J1772? Is it a physical design quirk of the MachE's charge port? Or does the software decide not to lock unless the DC pins are energized.

I ask because a family member's X5 PHEV does indeed lock the J1772 plug even when home charging, so it is possible. I'm hoping there's a way to expand the locking feature via Forscan so that the car locks J plug as well as CCS.

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[macchiaz-o]

Going to necro this thread. So why is it that CCS locks but not J1772? Is it a physical design quirk of the MachE's charge port? Or does the software decide not to lock unless the DC pins are energized.

I ask because a family member's X5 PHEV does indeed lock the J1772 plug even when home charging, so it is possible. I'm hoping there's a way to expand the locking feature via Forscan so that the car locks J plug as well as CCS.

It's a design decision. J1772 doesn't require the vehicle to lock in the connector, but some vehicles choose to employ some form of locking, and others don't. I don't know if/how to change this.

With J1772, the vehicle's in full control of power flow. As soon as you press the latch to release the connector, a signal is interrupted, the vehicle detects this, and it stops the charging session.

With CCS, the charge station is in greater control of the charge session. Just my guess, but maybe the vehicles lock on to the coupler to ensure no dangerous arcing if the coupler is pulled out mid-session should the station misbehave or be slow to respond to an end session request.

In Europe, Mach-Es do lock on to the 7-pin connector used for their IEC 62196-2 "Type 2" charging standard. I believe the difference is that the European standard doesn't use a signaling switch button like we use here with J1772 to unlatch/release the connector. So the vehicles lock on to the connector themselves to assure that the vehicle-end of the connector may only be released when current has stopped flowing.

 

[dj_stang]

It's a design decision. J1772 doesn't require the vehicle to lock in the connector, but some vehicles choose to employ some form of locking, and others don't. I don't know if/how to change this.

With J1772, the vehicle's in full control of power flow. As soon as you press the latch to release the connector, a signal is interrupted, the vehicle detects this, and it stops the charging session.

With CCS, the charge station is in greater control of the charge session. Just my guess, but maybe the vehicles lock on to the coupler to ensure no dangerous arcing if the coupler is pulled out mid-session should the station misbehave or be slow to respond to an end session request.

In Europe, Mach-Es do lock on to the 7-pin connector used for their IEC 62196-2 "Type 2" charging standard. I believe the difference is that the European standard doesn't use a signaling switch button like we use here with J1772 to unlatch/release the connector. So the vehicles lock on to the connector themselves to assure that the vehicle-end of the connector may only be released when current has stopped flowing.

Thanks for the explanation. I guess my question is do you think the lock pin somehow only physically locks to the CCS part of the connector? Such that it wouldn't be possible to lock to J1772 even with a software change.

Or alternatively, the locking pin locks to the J1772 connector itself, just like the X5, and a simple Forscan code could instruct the vehicle to go ahead with the locking process as if it had the additional CCS pins.

From what you mentioned about European Mach-Es and the almost identical connector constructions I'm leaning towards the latter.

 

[macchiaz-o]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess my question is do you think the lock pin somehow only physically locks to the CCS part of the connector? Such that it wouldn't be possible to lock to J1772 even with a software change.

Or alternatively, the locking pin locks to the J1772 connector itself, just like the X5, and a simple Forscan code could instruct the vehicle to go ahead with the locking process as if it had the additional CCS pins.

From what you mentioned about European Mach-Es and the almost identical connector constructions I'm leaning towards the latter.

I'd guess the pin lock approach would be the same for J1772 as it is for CCS-1, but I don't know anything about making config changes with Forscan or whatever.

 

[BigMach-E]

I have never had someone pull the plug on my car, and the only time I have ever pulled the plug on someone else's car is when I was desperate on a road trip, thier session had ended, and I was also new to this. I have only once had my vehicle remain plugged in after a charge session had stopped in the year and a half of ownership.

On the flip side, I have helped strangers new to a network or EV ownership start charge sessions more than 7 times in time I have owned a Mach-E.

I really hope that charging etiquette is followed by all. The infrastructure is what it is at this time, the only thing we have any control over is our behavior. Help other EV owners out there, I know we are all in a rush, but we can make this easier for all of us if we just have some kindness, grace and cooperation.

 

[Larry Paul]

In the past 23+ years and 338K+ miles of EV driving and charging, I think only once was my car unplugged by someone (and I am not even sure that happened). That was probably more than 20 years ago.

Maybe I am just lucky-or most people around Los Angeles are considerate.

I have also used to put a note in my windshield at LAX that says-ok to unplug after X:XX when the cords could get to other parking spaces.

But there are other options:

https://cleantechnica.com/2015/04/3...lug-notices-ok-unplug-enable-common-courtesy/

I also used to have one of these that I would put on my dash.

 

[AZBill]

So why is it that CCS locks but not J1772?

CCS can be pumping up to 1000V or 500A through that connector. Allowing the connector to be unplugged with that much power is a danger. This is part of the CCS specification, that it must lock the connector until power is shut off.

 

[dj_stang]

CCS can be pumping up to 1000V or 500A through that connector. Allowing the connector to be unplugged with that much power is a danger. This is part of the CCS specification, that it must lock the connector until power is shut off.

Well to be clear, I want both to lock since the locking mechanism doesn’t even see the DC pins. It locks to the J1772 part of the Combined Charging System, aka CCS).

 

[Ghost Ryder]

Your defense is to setup notifications in the various apps so that your phone buzzes if someone unplugs your car. If you're not too far away you can go attend to the situation.

Yeah, but I can see someone just walking by and just press the stop button just to mess with EVs.

 

[Maquis]

I'd guess the pin lock approach would be the same for J1772 as it is for CCS-1, but I don't know anything about making config changes with Forscan or whatever.

When I first got my car (Feb, 2021), the J1772 would lock and I’d have to press the unlock button to unplug even after charging was complete, so it should definitely be possible to implement a locking scheme via software. The hardware is there. It stopped locking sometime April or May of 21 thanks to some update.

 

[CarDreams]

In the past 23+ years and 338K+ miles of EV driving and charging, I think only once was my car unplugged by someone (and I am not even sure that happened). That was probably more than 20 years ago.

Maybe I am just lucky-or most people around Los Angeles are considerate.

I have also used to put a note in my windshield at LAX that says-ok to unplug after X:XX when the cords could get to other parking spaces.

But there are other options:

https://cleantechnica.com/2015/04/3...lug-notices-ok-unplug-enable-common-courtesy/

I also used to have one of these that I would put on my dash.

I was hiking a few months ago and someone unplugged my car. It was my first month with my first EV. I was like....is this the charging culture!?

But the person left a note and I got there before they left (by accident). They were renting a Tesla and had no sense of when they needed to charge the car. They were down to 3% because they basically drove it everywhere and had no charging at the house they were renting.

It sucks, because the mountain chargers are "trickle chargers" -- which make sense, most people go hiking for 1-4 hours there. I got back after 2.5 hours and I did not "need" to charge. Still, it was a jarring experience for my first month.

I like this sign.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Thanks for the explanation. I guess my question is do you think the lock pin somehow only physically locks to the CCS part of the connector? Such that it wouldn't be possible to lock to J1772 even with a software change.

Or alternatively, the locking pin locks to the J1772 connector itself, just like the X5, and a simple Forscan code could instruct the vehicle to go ahead with the locking process as if it had the additional CCS pins.

From what you mentioned about European Mach-Es and the almost identical connector constructions I'm leaning towards the latter.

CCS-1 and CCS-2 are similar but different connectors with differences in the software protocols as well. The same applies to J-1772 and Mennekes (the European standard L1/L2 plug used in CCS-2).

Different auto makers have implemented parts of the optional protocols for J-1772 differently. Nissan has an optional lock you can turn on for the J-1772. Our Leaf had three modes: Unlocked, Locked, and Unlock when Completed Charging.

Ford does not include locking in their software. However, it is possible for a J-1772 lock to be controlled on the charger side. I once had a failed SemaConnect charger lock onto my car, requiring me to fish out the manual release cable.

 

[Scottso]

I was hiking a few months ago and someone unplugged my car. It was my first month with my first EV. I was like....is this the charging culture!?

But the person left a note and I got there before they left (by accident). They were renting a Tesla and had no sense of when they needed to charge the car. They were down to 3% because they basically drove it everywhere and had no charging at the house they were renting.

It sucks, because the mountain chargers are "trickle chargers" -- which make sense, most people go hiking for 1-4 hours there. I got back after 2.5 hours and I did not "need" to charge. Still, it was a jarring experience for my first month.

I like this sign.

So I had my first charging confrontation today. I had to drive about 200 miles for a memorial service. So I was able to find a CCS one fast charger from EVGo. One of the 2 plugs was broken. So I plugged in and left for 2.5 hours. When I came back there was a very very angry person who started yelling at me that I had left my car charging. When I told her that my car stopped charging her an hour ago and she could’ve just gone and unplugged it she barked back at me that you never touch somebody else’s car. I realize in retrospect that I do have those tags and I should’ve left one that said OK to unplug when it gets to 80%. At the same time she kept braiding me until I finally told her that I was just coming from a memorial service and I’m sorry that her local driving had left her in need of a charge it I had to turn around and drive another 200 miles home and she had made her point.

But I’m not really sure if I committed and etiquette violation. I had not locked the charger to my car.
Thoughts on proper charge etiquette?

 

[HuntingPudel]

I have only been unplugged once while charging. That was my old Fusion Energi in my driveway. I came out in the morning to find my charge cable laying on the ground next to my car. Other than that, no unexpected unplug events.

 

[nashbrydges]

So I had my first charging confrontation today. I had to drive about 200 miles for a memorial service. So I was able to find a CCS one fast charger from EVGo. One of the 2 plugs was broken. So I plugged in and left for 2.5 hours. When I came back there was a very very angry person who started yelling at me that I had left my car charging. When I told her that my car stopped charging her an hour ago and she could’ve just gone and unplugged it she barked back at me that you never touch somebody else’s car. I realize in retrospect that I do have those tags and I should’ve left one that said OK to unplug when it gets to 80%. At the same time she kept braiding me until I finally told her that I was just coming from a memorial service and I’m sorry that her local driving had left her in need of a charge it I had to turn around and drive another 200 miles home and she had made her point.

But I’m not really sure if I committed and etiquette violation. I had not locked the charger to my car.
Thoughts on proper charge etiquette?

I agree (somewhat) with the lady that I would never touch someone else's car, even if it was at 80% or above unless there was explicit consent to do so. Fast charging etiquette would suggest that you keep an eye on charging so the car can be moved once done charging especially since your car sends notification through the app when it reaches 80%. Not sure it was a violation that demanded she scream at you but that's the approach I take.

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