What is the right way to charge? Car on or off?

[GameZone]

When I rapid charge, I usually shut off my car before plugging in the charger. Works fine.

When I'm at home and insert the charger when the car is off, it's usually harder to get the car to charge. And if it works, it takes a lot longer for it to switch from blue to green. It's usually not too much of an issue if the car is on when I insert the charger at home.

 

[webhiker]

I don't think it's that much of an issue.
When I DC charge it's mostly on, unless I go for a burger.
When I AC charge it it's on when I start the charge, an off when I lock and leave the car.
PS I'm never in ready mode when I charge

 

[phil99]

My experience is that it doesn't matter:

DC: Leave the car on, plug in the DC charger, start the charging session on the charger. It works.

AC: Leave the car on, plug in the AC charging cable to the EVSE, plug in the car, start the charging session. It works.

OR....

DC: Shut down the car, plug in the DC charger, start the charging session on the charger. It works.

AC: Shut the car down, plug in the AC charging cable to the EVSE, plug in the car, start the charging session. It works.

(Caveat: as long as you don't leave it too long between plugging in and starting the session at which point it all becomes a pain in the bum to sort out because now everything needs to be stopped and restarted)

I used to think you had to lock the car before starting an AC charge but no, you don't. The cable has to be locked in position but this should happen automatically when it's connected.

I suspect there may be software/firmware/module version differences that impact this, given the weird roundabout long-winded posts people have written about their "process" to get their vehicles charging. I've genuinely never had a problem that wasn't either me taking too long to start a session on the equipment or a fault with the equipment.

 

[Kithmo]

I follow the manual. (pages 172 &173)
DC:
Rapid Charging Safety Precautions
Before connecting the rapid charger, switch the vehicle
power system OFF and wait 10 seconds.
AC:
Using an AC charging device:
1 Ensure the vehicle is power OFF and all doors are
closed.
2 Open the charging port door.
3 Plug the cable from the charger point into the vehicle.
Lock the vehicle.

 

[Anon70]

As your rear end on the drivers seat is an on/off switch for the battery system, and you need the car unlocked to open the charging port. I usually just get out of the car , shut the drivers door and plug in the charger to start a session. If I am at home I will then lock the car, otherwise I don't bother powering off all systems. Seems to have worked so far.

 

[fnegroni]

I follow the manual. (pages 172 &173)
DC:
Rapid Charging Safety Precautions
Before connecting the rapid charger, switch the vehicle
power system OFF and wait 10 seconds.
AC:
Using an AC charging device:
1 Ensure the vehicle is power OFF and all doors are
closed.
2 Open the charging port door.
3 Plug the cable from the charger point into the vehicle.
Lock the vehicle.

I find powering off (from the infotainment screen) before a DC charge helps some of the more sensitive chargers to initiate handshake so it’s a good habit to get into to avoid delays.

Yet when ac charging I find having the vehicle on helps it initiate quicker.
Possibly because AC chargers rely on the on board charger to be powered up while DC chargers initiate a protocol first which might fail if the charger thinks something isn’t right.

Either way though generally works so I wouldn’t be too precious about it