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Charging an electric car via a wall socket

The car can be charged via a wall socket if no other charging options are available.

 Note

The information in this section refers to charging via a wall socket and a Mode 2 charging cable.

Charging cable (Mode 2)

When charging via a wall socket, use a charging cable with an inbuilt control unit for managing the communication and safety functions.

 Note

Polestar recommends a charging cable in accordance with IEC 62196 or SAE J1772 together with IEC 61851, which supports temperature monitoring.

 Important

The charging cable is used to charge the car's high voltage battery. The charging cable has been designed to meet Polestar's safety standard. Use a Polestar-recommended charging cable that guarantees its function and safety. Polestar is not responsible for the safety of, or any damage caused by, a charging cable that is not recommended by Polestar.

 Warning

Only use the charging cable provided with your car, or a replacement cable recommended by Polestar.

 Warning

The charging cable and its associated parts must not be swamped or immersed in water.

 Warning

  • The charging cable has a built-in circuit breaker. Charging must only take place with grounded and approved sockets.
  • Children should be supervised when in the vicinity of the charging cable when it is plugged in.
  • High voltage in the charging cable. Contact with high voltage can cause death or serious personal injury.
  • Do not use the charging cable if it is damaged in any way.A damaged or inoperative charging cable must only be repaired by a an authorised workshop. Contact Polestar Customer Support for more information.
  • Always position the charging cable so that it will not be driven over, stepped on, tripped over or damaged in some other way, or cause personal injury.
  • Disconnect the charger from the wall outlet before cleaning it.
  • Never connect the charging cable to an extension cord or a multiple plug socket.
  • Do not use one or more adapters between the charging cable and the electrical socket.
  • Do not connect one or more adapters of any type between charging cable and car.
  • Do not use an external timer between the charging cable and the electrical socket.

Also, refer to the manufacturer's instructions for using the charging cable and its components.

 Important

Avoid exposing the control unit and its plug to direct sunlight. In such cases, the overheating protection in the plug is at risk of reducing or interrupting the charging of the high voltage battery.

 Important

Do not use a charging cable longer than 30 metres (approx. 100 feet).

Starting charging

Connect the charging cable to a 230 V socket1. Open the charging hatch. Note that the car must be switched off prior to charging. Remove the charging handle's protective cover and then press the handle the whole way into the charging input socket for the car.

The charging cable's charging handle is fastened/locked in, and charging starts within 5 seconds.

 Note

Read more about how to start charging in the section on Charging electric cars.

 Important

If the fuse in the wall socket has too low a current capacity, the fuse can blow when charging the car. Set the lowest amperage for charging in the car's centre display before reconnecting charging. If the problems persist, contact an authorised electrician to investigate further.

 Warning

  • The electric car must only be charged at maximum permitted charging current or lower in accordance with applicable local and national recommendations for charging from wall sockets/plugs.
  • The electric car must only be charged from approved, grounded wall sockets.
  • Avoid visibly worn, defective or damaged mains sockets since they may lead to fire damage and/or personal injury if used.

 Important

Have caution plugging in the charging cable when there is a risk of a thunderstorm or lightning strikes.

Ending charging

Stop charging via the button next to the charging input socket – the charging cable's locked handle releases/unlocks. Disconnect the charging cable from the car's charging input socket, and then from the 230 V socket1.

 Note

Read more about how charging is ended in the section on Ending charging of electric cars.

 Important

Charging must be ended before disconnecting the charging cable from the car's charging input socket using the button located next to the charging input socket. This must be carried out even if the doors on the car are already unlocked. If the car is not unlocked, this may lead to damage to the charging cable or to the system.

 Important

  • Never unplug the charging cable from the wall socket while charging is in progress – there is then a risk of damaging the wall socket.
  • Always unlock the car so that charging is stopped before the connection to the wall socket is unplugged.
  • Note that the charging cable must be unplugged from the car's charging input socket before being unplugged from the wall socket, partly to avoid damage to the system and partly to avoid stopping the charging unintentionally.

Fuse

Charging an electric car via a wall socket corresponds to a high load on the fuse.

 Important

A high amperage is required to charge an electric vehicle. Ensure that the wall socket fuse can handle the charging cable's specified current before starting charging. Contact a specialist in the event of doubt.

Normally several 230 V consumers are included in a fuse circuit, so additional consumers (e.g. lighting, vacuum cleaner, electric drill, etc.) can be on the same fuse.

 Important

Check that the 230 V socket has adequate power capacity for charging electric vehicles – in the event of uncertainty, the socket must be checked by a qualified professional. If the power capacity of the socket is unknown - set the lowest power capacity in the centre display.

Example 1

If the car is connected to a wall socket (10 A) and the charging current is set at 16 A, then the car will attempt to draw 16 A from the mains power circuit - after a while, the overloaded 10 A fuse for the socket will be tripped and battery charging stopped.

In which case, reset the fuse for the socket and select a lower charging current in the centre display.

Example 2

If the car is connected to a wall socket (10 A) and the charging current is set at 10 A, then the car will draw 10 A from the mains power circuit. If additional consumers are connected to the same socket (or another socket in the same fuse circuit) then there is a risk that the 10 A fuse for the socket/fuse socket will be overloaded and triggered, at which point battery charging is stopped.

In such cases, reset the fuse for the socket/fuse circuit and select a lower charging current in the centre display - or disconnect other consumers from the socket/fuse circuit.

Example 3

If the car is connected to a wall socket (10 A) and the charging current is set at 6 A, then the car will only draw 6 A from the mains power circuit. Battery charging will of course take longer, but then additional consumers can be connected at the same time to the same socket/fuse circuit as long as the total load does not exceed the capacity of the socket/fuse circuit.

  1. 1 The voltage in the socket may vary depending on market.

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