While electric vehicles revolutionize how people drive by offering a greener and better alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles, with the new mode of driving comes new procedures and practices that drivers must learn. Among these is how to safely unplug an electric car charger.
Knowing the correct procedure for unplugging your EV charger would not just keep you safe but also protect both your vehicle and charging equipment. In this step-by-step guide,’ we will take you through the processes of how to unplug your electric car charger properly and address some commonly asked questions such as, “Why can’t I unplug my electric car charger?” and “How do you release an electric car charger?”.
Step 1: Complete the Charging Process
So, before unplugging the charging cable from the electric vehicle (EV), ensure the charging process is available. Most EVS and charging stations have some indicator lights or displays showing charging status.
Check the Charging Indicator: Does your car’s dashboard or your charging station have a light or message indicating that charging is complete? Perhaps it says “Fully Charged” or shows a green signal.
Open the Charging Station App: Most new-age charging stations have smartphone apps with which users can check their charging status from their devices. If you’re using one, then open the app and check if your EV is fully charged.
You can safely unplug your electric vehicle without being fully charged (though one is in a hurry), but when fully charged, that seems to aggravate wear and tear on the equipment charging as well as the vehicle battery.
Step 2: Confirm That The Vehicle Is Off
Before unplugging the charger from your electric car, ensure that the vehicle is completely turned off. This is to avoid the distractions that might occur when trying to pull out the plug.
When all systems are running, and the vehicle has not been turned off, the electrical systems will be running and may interfere with delinking or separate release of charger cable from some of the other electric charging capabilities within the vehicle.
For safety reasons: Having the car off also reduced the chances of shorts and electric shocks and leavings of the charging cable.
How to Tell If the Car is Off?
Press the power button: Press the power button if the car has one, and the vehicle should turn off. In most cases, doing this will also turn off the dashboard lights and make the charging system inactive.
Check the Display: Most EVs will display a message “Charging Complete” or “Vehicle Off”, once the system powers down. If the message appears on the screen, you likely hit the safe zone.
Stage 3: Detach the Charging Lock
An anti-throw mechanism generally remains attached while charging for some electric vehicles. This mechanism locks the charging port so that the plug cannot be pulled out while the vehicle is in action. With this device, your charging port prevents accidental disconnection while charging.
If your EV consists of that, be sure to deactivate the charging lock before proceeding to unplug the charging cable.
How to Unlock? Inside your Car:
In most electric vehicles, a button or switch inside your car will disable the charging lock. Such switches are sometimes found close to the charging port. Alternatively, you may be able to do so through your car’s infotainment system.
From the Charging Station: Some charging stations have a so-called release button that lets you activate a lock from the station side to let out the charging cable. After freeing the lock, the charging cable should come right out.
Stage 4 – Stow the Charging Cable from the Vehicle
It is now the time to remove your electric vehicle from the charging cable. For this, do the following:
Grip the Handle: Mostly hold the charging cable’s handle very tight and do not pull the cable. Over time, it damages the internals and causes tearing and breakage inside.
Press the Release Button: Almost all charging cables will have a release button on the handle. Press the handle release button to unlock the cable from the vehicle’s charging port.
Pull the Cable: After which, gently pull out the charging cable from the vehicle’s charging port. If you find the lock resistant, check for signs that it has been completely released.
Common Problems: Why Can’t I Unplug My Electric Car Charger?
If the release button is pressed, but the charger cannot be unplugged, several things could be happening:
- Charging Lock Not Deactivated: If the charging lock is not deactivated, the cable will not be released. Check your vehicle’s settings or charging station to deactivate it.
- Condition of Overheating: If the charging cable has overheated while charging, it may temporarily lock itself in a hot state and will not disconnect while heated. Wait for a few minutes and try again.
- Failure of the release mechanism: The release mechanism on either the car or the charging station sometimes fails. In such a case, check the vehicle manual or talk to customer support for troubleshooting advice.
Step 5: Pulling the Charger from the Charging Station
After you’ve removed the charging cable from your car, pull this cable from the charging station. Like so:
- Check out Lock: Some charging stations lock the cabling when it is in use automatically. If your charging station has a locking mechanism, find the unlock button often located on the station itself.
- Press Release Tap: The majority of public and home charging stations have release buttons or levers that let you free the cable from the station. Just press the button and disengage the cable.
- Pull the Cable Out: After unlocking, gently pull the charging cable out of the charging port on the station. Do not yank or pull on that cable; it might damage both.
The same thing goes whether you’re hanging the cables on a wall charger or coiling them on a portable charger. Avoid putting too much stress on them-stress can lead to tangles or even breakage.
Extreme heat can melt. Cold can make a cable stiff, even brittle. Certainly, these extremes are not nice to your cable. Hence, store your cable in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or any other source of heat or dampness. Such behavior will go a long way toward prolonging the life of the cable and its connectors.
Common issues and basic troubleshooting
Generally, unplugging an electric vehicle charger is simply executed, though in some cases there may be minor difficulties. Below are some of the problems with their solutions.
1. How to Remove Charging Cable from Electric Car?
Sometimes, removing the charging cable from the electric vehicle can be a little tricky. When this occurs:
- Take a moment to double-check the release button near the cable handle.
- Turn off the vehicle.
- Verify if the charging lock is released.
- What do you need to do to free an Electric Car Charger?
It frees by pressing the button on the handle or charging station. Refer to the manual of the car for troubleshooting if it still does not work.
- How to Unplug a Car Battery Charger?
It is slightly similar to that used for a portable car battery charger. Before you unplug a charger, switch it off. Only then is the charger removed. The cables are disconnected later and the positive terminal is then followed by the negative one from the battery to decrease the chances of sparks.
Final Thoughts on Electric Vehicle Charger Disconnection Safety
Proper unhooking of electric car chargers is vital to the well-being of all vehicles, charging equipment, and safety. In this context, the recommended procedure for unhitching includes checking the charging status, switching off the car, removing the lock, and finally hanging them back in safe storage. This guarantees safety, simplicity, and convenience in your EV charging.
In case of any issue, do not hesitate to consult the vehicle manual or the instructions attached to the charging stations; in case of any further support, you can approach customer services.