[North America] - this is getting embarrassing - Porsche nerfing/neutering the PMCC via OTA update?

[Kingske]

@Kingske By "it did prevent me from resetting that default", do you mean you couldn't change the default or that it did not save it permanently so you wouldn't have to do it after a restart again? Did you see this effect before that OTA update as well?

I could (and still can) always change the power level manually or via the web interface after a charging session has been initiated, but between the dealer intervention and the latest OTA update I could still reset the default starting value from 20A back to 40A via the web interface as "customer service". After the OTA update, this no longer works as it defaults back to 20A at the start of each new session.

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[daveo4EV]

Let's see if we can get more clarity on this sitation:

1. In the post https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-amperage-for-normal-usage-of-the-pmcc.12384/ it was discussed that the default amperage will be lowered with a new campaign
2. A campaign usually means that it is done in the shop/dealership
3. Only owners in the North America where asked to bring in their PMCC (not sure about the PMC+?)

Question: Was anyone told WHAT they actually did?

Assumption: The powerboard software was upgraded, this can not be done OTA and the OTA update was only made available on Friday September 23rd and the work in the shop was already done before that. Also no other country (e.g. in Europe) had such a campaign and anything related to reducing the default amperage setting. So I guess that the default was set in that campaign with the software update of the powerboard. If that is so, why didn't anyone at the dealership told you so? And also told you on how to set it back?

Assumption 2: If the default setting was changed with the powerboard, then any change via the Touch Display or web interface should be persisted. As that is done with a different part of the software on the device and persisting is not working due to a software bug, then it should exist on any device anywhere having the software OTA update done. I just check with my European version and the change was persisted and properly set after disconnect/reconnect. But maybe there is also a difference in the software on that part.

Therefor I think the lowering the amperage default to 20A was NOT part of the 3014 software update but was lowered BEFORE this update already. Did anyone charge their vehicle between the campaign in the shop and the OTA software update from last Friday?

If that is the case, I wonder if the shops should have known better and tell you how to change the default back if needed.

I never presented my PMCC's to the shop - the OTA update is the reason for the default AMP change - the shops instructions were to manually reduce the AMP's and return the unit to the customer - the shop process could not make the default AMP "stick" if the customer adjusted them after the shop process…

it is a FACT that this update lowered the default AMPs- and it is a FACT that if the customer overrides the AMP's that the override is temporary due to software version 3014.

I own 2 PMCC"s

one delivered w/Taycan in July 2020
one delivered w/Cayenne in April 2021

the Cayenne one has been updated to software 3014
the Taycan one has not been updated and is on previous software version

the updated unit now defaults to 20 amps - you can temporarily adjust the AMP's higher - but it will revert back to 20 amps if it shutdowns or is unplugged

the non-updated unit - defaults to 40 amps - and AMP adjustments are preserved when shutdown or unplugged

neither unit has been presented to Porsche for the Service center's "procedure" - I had not yet gotten around to bringing the unit's in - and was not going to to make a trip just for that update in consultation with my Service advisor - it was "just a sticker" and the tech's manually reducing the AMP settings before returning it back to the customer.

version 3014 is the reason for the current behavior! It was an OTA update with no notice or warning to customers and no service visit to dealerships required.

post #121 are the facts of the OTA update in North America - I can not speak for rest of world but have postings on this thread that the AMP adjustments are North America only.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-pmcc-via-ota-update.12791/page-9#post-190180

 

[madeyong]

I never presented my PMCC's to the shop - the OTA update is the reason for the default AMP change - the shops instructions were to manually reduce the AMP's and return the unit to the customer - the shop process could not make the default AMP "stick" if the customer over road them.

it is a FACT that thsi update lowered the AMPs- and it is a FACT that if the customer overrides the AMP's that the override is temporary due to software version 3014.

I own 2 PMCC"s

one delivered w/Taycan in July 2020
one delivered w/Cayenne in April 2021

the Cayenne one has been updated to software 3014
the Taycan one has not been updated and is on previous software version

the updated unit now defaults to 20 amps - you can temporarily adjust the AMP's higher - but it will revert back to 20 amps if it shutdowns or is unplugged

the non-updated unit - defaults to 40 amps - and AMP adjustments are preserved when shutdown or unplugged

neither unit has been presented to Porsche for the Service center's "procedure" - I had not yet gotten around to bringing the unit's in - and was not going to to make a trip just for that update in consultation with my Service advisor - it was "just a sticker" and the tech's manually reducing the AMP settings before returning it back to the customer.

version 3014 is the reason for the current behavior! It was an OTA update with no notice or warning.

And as of the time of this post, Porsche is still marketing the PMCC as a 9.6kW EVSE. It is misleading at best, as is the charge times. I’m sure Porsche’s lawyers will say you can manually make it 9.6kW if you remember to adjust it every time. Total joke. I would switch EVSE’s in a heartbeat but I invested in the charging dock/cabinet and would need to remove that from my garage wall and then have holes where that was mounted. Not a pretty sight. Extremely disappointed and dissatisfied with their approach here.

 

[daveo4EV]

here is a picture of a PMC+ (not currently hobbled by the OTA update) this unit is from a 2019 Cayenne - even the unit itself in North America is sold & labled as a 9.6 kW EVSE the PMCC has a simliar sticker on the back…

• the PMC+/PMCC unit are physically labled as 9.6 kW EVSE's
• Porsche documentation online/written indicates they are 9.6 kW units
• Porsche specifications indicate charging times using these units for the Taycan based on 9.6 kW performance
• and prior to software version 3014 the unit's defaulted to 40 amps (9.6 kW) when powered up if you had a NEMA 14-50 or 6-50 porsche factory power supply cable/whip attached
• prior to software version 3014 any changes to the unit's default AMP charging current setting was preserved across power cycles - which is no longer the case.
• Porsche has know about problems with the unit's supply cables getting "too warm" since AT LEAST Aug. of 2020…several forum members including myself proved written feedback with thermal data in the July/Aug/Sept. 2020 time frame

the picture below indicates the unit is 40 amps (see lable in the input/out subsection) and the unit should be a 9.6 kW unit - circled in RED - NOTE I know this is a PMC+ unit, but the PMCC has a nearly identical label on it's back side…indicating 40 amps in input/output and 9.6 kW for the Charger Type…

 

[daveo4EV]

the OTA update silentlly installed by Porsche starting thursday/friday last week is solely responsible for a change in product specfiication affecting it's charging speed performance by effectively making ANY UPDATED PMCC a 4.8 kW/20 amp EVSE which is not how the unit…

• is marketed
• sold
• documented
• specified
• provisioned with the owner's electrical system

it was not my intent nor would have I ever agreed to purchase a 4.8 kW/20 amp EVSE - that's simply ridiculous in terms of EVSE performance given alternative products available in the market with demonstrably better performance and greater reliability for lower cost.

also this change in product specifications was done with out the current own's permission and no notice was given prior to downgrading the unit's performance. The change in the unit's electrical performance also has material outcomes in overall charging speed for both the Taycan and Porsche hybrid vehicles- in that it now unquestionably takes longer to restore battery capacity to any vehicle attempting to use the unit to charge - this can have material affects on the cost to operate assocated vehicles due to at least but not limited to:

• vehicle not being ready at a specified charge rate in an appropriate amount of time
• differences in electricity tariffs at different times of day
• customer expectations about how long a given charge session has historically lasted
• under utilization of home electrical circuit capacity - customer paid to provision a high capacity circuit for which the unit's will no longer fully utilize available capacity

this change is an across the board retroactive reduction in PMCC North America FLEET-WIDE capabilities and so far not a single word from Porsche as to why this was done or what they plan to do to restore the advertised and specified performance of the units.

 

[AndiL]

So it seems they did just change the default settings in the shop and no software update was responsible for that at that time.

And now it seems that software version 3014 did actually bring in changes on handling and presetting of the default values.

Do you frequently unplug the PMCC from power at home?

 

[daveo4EV]

So it seems they did just change the default settings in the shop and no software update was responsible for that at that time.

And now it seems that software version 3014 did actually bring in changes on handling and presetting of the default values.

Do you frequently unplug the PMCC from power at home?

unplugging is just one way to cause the default - the unit goes "idle" and shuts down on it's own when it's not plugged in it returns to the default.

if the unit shutdown on it own (which it does daily when not plugged into the vehicle) or is unplugged from power source it is returned to it's 20 amp default.

basically the onlly way it remains at 40 amps is as follows:

• power it up
• adjust amps to 40
• plug it into your vehicle
• at some point it will charge "said" vehicle to battery % settings
• leave the unit plugged it the vehicle- unit settings will remain at 40 amps - but
  • it won't further charge the vehicle
  • you can't drive anywhere because vehicle is plugged in
• once you unplug the vehicle - unit will shut down after 1/2 an hour or so because "it's idle" and not plugged into the vehicle

so if you drive your Taycan daily (or hybrid) when you return home that evening and plug in you must rememer to reset the amps back to 40…

if you lose grid power between plugging your vehicle in and the start/during your charging session the unit will return to 20 amps…

given software version 3014 the PMCC is now effectively a 4.8 kW unit and can only temporary be adjusted to be a 9.6 kw unit - and there are multiple scenarios where the units' new default setting will override an owner's best intention to restore the advertised performance (9.6 kW)…so after the up date the unit is no longer reliably a 9.6 kW unit…

it's a mobile unit - so it's expected to be unplugged in normal use - otherwise it would be hardwired…but no it's not unplugged daily - but it does power itself off daily when not plugged into a vehicle (an expected and forseeable use case).

 

[LonePalmBJ]

Unknowingly until seeing this thread yesterday I updated the charger on the weekend.. ??‍ I did however just pick up a F150 Lightning and the 80amp pro charger is en-route but I am not able to find any info on charging the Taycan with it. I’m assuming it’s possible.. I have a call in with dealership to confirm but wanted to see if anyone else had this?

Probably. While it's true that J1772 is universal, the Ford pro-charger uses a CCS connector, not a J1772 plug end. As I understand it, only the J1772 pins are used (the DC pins are used for Vehicle-to-House only) but I have not seen that validated anywhere. It also means you will only be able to charge your Taycan on the port on the Driver's side, as that's the only one the Ford handle will plug into. I also have a Lightning, but our Pro-Charger is still sitting in it's box. I'm still happily charging the truck using an existing 40A Clipper Creek.

 

[daveo4EV]

unplugging is just one way to cause the default - the unit goes "idle" and shuts down on it's own when it's not plugged in it returns to the default.

if the unit shutdown on it own (which it does daily when not plugged into the vehicle) or is unplugged from power source it is returned to it's 20 amp default.

basically the onlly way it remains at 40 amps is as follows:

• power it up
• adjust amps to 40
• plug it into your vehicle
• at some point it will charge "said" vehicle to battery % settings
• leave the unit plugged it the vehicle- unit settings will remain at 40 amps - but
  • it won't further charge the vehicle
  • you can't drive anywhere because vehicle is plugged in
• once you unplug the vehicle - unit will shut down after 1/2 an hour or so because "it's idle" and not plugged into the vehicle

so if you drive your Taycan daily (or hybrid) when you return home that evening and plug in you must rememer to reset the amps back to 40…

if you lose grid power between plugging your vehicle in and the start/during your charging session the unit will return to 20 amps…

given software version 3014 the PMCC is now effectively a 4.8 kW unit and can only temporary be adjusted to be a 9.6 kw unit - and there are multiple scenarios where the units' new default setting will override an owner's best intention to restore the advertised performance (9.6 kW)…so after the up date the unit is no longer reliably a 9.6 kW unit…

it's a mobile unit - so it's expected to be unplugged in normal use - otherwise it would be hardwired…but no it's not unplugged daily - but it does power itself off daily when not plugged into a vehicle (an expected and forseeable use case).

if the 40 AMP setting could be preserved in all circustances _EXCEPT_ the unit being physically unplugged from power source then this change would be far less impactful (which might be the goal)

example:

• power the PMCC up
• UNIT shoudl ahve a "display screen" 20 AMP setting to inform/remind the user it's in reduced capacity
• owner adjusts unit's amps to 40 amps
• this setting is no STICKY until the unit loses power
• if the unit shuts itself down due to idle - retain the 40 amp setting
• that means as long as I do not unplug it, or lose grid power it remains a 9.6 kW unit as advertised and sold
• but losing grid power would still revert the unit back to 20 amps - which is awkward if it happens while unattended of while the owner is asleep and expecting their EV to be charged over night…

but a change in behavior to distinguish between power loss and simply idle shutdown to retain the AMP setting would go a longs ways toward mitgating the daily adjustment required due to this change - but it's still an unexpected result for me to have to baby-sit this unit to keep in set to it advertised performance level…

I would accept a change in AMP being "sticky" via only customer service settings…that would be an improvement - LCD screen and home user AMP adjustments - reset to default - but if AMPs are set via "customer service" portal login - they stick.

 

[Scandinavian]

In the PMCC here in Europe, you can disable the setting that the unit will go to sleep. It is one of the settings, and then it will stay on all the time. Maybe different in the US though.

 

[daveo4EV]

I

In the PMCC here in Europe, you can disable the setting that the unit will go to sleep. It is one of the settings, and then it will stay on all the time. Maybe different in the US though.

I have thoughtg about this setting - but then the PMCC sits there and uses more power - so it would increase my operational costs - but it may preserve the default override…you'd still lose it with an unplug or power loss - but it wouldn't do it just because it goes idle - presumably

haven't done it yet - it's long test cycle to prove that theory conclusively - and I haven't wanted to invest the time.

 

[JP38]

In the PMCC here in Europe, you can disable the setting that the unit will go to sleep. It is one of the settings, and then it will stay on all the time. Maybe different in the US though.

I am in NA and on the 3014 update. I have found that deactivating the power consumption (sleep mode) allows it to stay at 40 even after charging. It has been 3 days and it stays at 40.

The setting in the web application is under system> settings and you want to toggle the button for power consumption to off.

 

[daveo4EV]

I am in NA and on the 3014 update. I have found that deactivating the power consumption (sleep mode) allows it to stay at 40 even after charging. It has been 3 days and it stays at 40.

The setting in the web application is under system> settings and you want to toggle the button for power consumption to off.

THANK YOU FOR THIS - THIS IS GREAT DATA

 

[daveo4EV]

I am in NA and on the 3014 update. I have found that deactivating the power consumption (sleep mode) allows it to stay at 40 even after charging. It has been 3 days and it stays at 40.

The setting in the web application is under system> settings and you want to toggle the button for power consumption to off.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-pmcc-via-ota-update.12791/page-9#post-190180

updated with this finding…

 

[madeyong]

if the 40 AMP setting could be preserved in all circustances _EXCEPT_ the unit being physically unplugged from power source then this change would be far less impactful (which might be the goal)

example:

• power the PMCC up
• UNIT shoudl ahve a "display screen" 20 AMP setting to inform/remind the user it's in reduced capacity
• owner adjusts unit's amps to 40 amps
• this setting is no STICKY until the unit loses power
• if the unit shuts itself down due to idle - retain the 40 amp setting
• that means as long as I do not unplug it, or lose grid power it remains a 9.6 kW unit as advertised and sold
• but losing grid power would still revert the unit back to 20 amps - which is awkward if it happens while unattended of while the owner is asleep and expecting their EV to be charged over night…

but a change in behavior to distinguish between power loss and simply idle shutdown to retain the AMP setting would go a longs ways toward mitgating the daily adjustment required due to this change - but it's still an unexpected result for me to have to baby-sit this unit to keep in set to it advertised performance level…

I would accept a change in AMP being "sticky" via only customer service settings…that would be an improvement - LCD screen and home user AMP adjustments - reset to default - but if AMPs are set via "customer service" portal login - they stick.

It is clear that Porsche is trying its best to get the unit to run at 20 Amps. I’m convinced the only reason they allow you to temporarily adjust back to anything above 20 Amps is because their lawyers advised them to do that for the inevitable class action. They can accurately now say that the unit can still function as advertised. It’s just that it has to be done manually every time. Horrible user experience but they never warranted that the 9.6kW rate did not require a user input each time to enable that amperage. Total joke.

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