Why Won’t My Car Start Charging When Plugged In?

If your charger has power and the cable is connected but charging doesn’t begin, the issue is usually on the car’s side rather than the charger.

Common reasons

• The car’s charging schedule is active (delaying the session).
• A charging limit has been reached (e.g. car set to stop at 80%).
• Some vehicles require the doors to be locked before charging starts.
• Vehicle’s onboard charger fault.
• Cable not seated correctly in the car’s socket.

Steps to fix the issue

1. Check your car’s charging screen
   • Look for any messages such as “charging scheduled” or “waiting to charge”.
2. Override or disable the car’s charging schedule
   • If you are using smart charging through the Simpson & Partners app, turn off the car’s built-in charging schedule to avoid conflicts.
3. Lock the car
   • Some EVs only begin charging when the doors are locked.
4. Re-seat the cable
   • Unplug the connector, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in firmly until it clicks.
5. Test with another charger
   • If your car also won’t charge elsewhere, the problem is with the vehicle and not the Simpson & Partners charger.

Quick summary

• Charger on + cable connected but no charging = car not requesting charge.
• First check car’s schedules and charge limits.
• Re-seat the cable and lock the car.
• If the car still won’t charge anywhere, contact your vehicle manufacturer.

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