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

[Vercingetorix]

Proposed settlement: Turn in EVSE, get free Electrify America charging for life, or until car is sold.

Sponsored

 

[daveo4EV]

my bet is Porsche did a "review" of the PMCC for 9.6 kW - they've been shipping it for a while with their 7.2 kW hybrids - but no one gave it a lot of deep thought as to the implications of running 10 AWG wire at 40 amps - and a cursory EE review with proper insulation shows that sort of wire is "safe" and is not expected to "fail" at these loads - so no one saw a need to "upgrade" the wire gauge since it technically can handle the load…

I believe we now have ostensible proof that perhaps it is safe/effective on it's own - but it's margins are thin when used in a total system - such as high ambient temperature conditions - enclosed decorative box - and questionable and highly variable quality ($12 box box store vs. $120 industrial sockets that are "the same")power sockets and supply wire outside of Porsche's control…

a Porsche provided NEMA 14-50/6-50 supply cable with better gauge wire may not get hot enough to melt a low quality crappy NEMA socket - but I don't honestly know - this is just an internet conversation…and we don't have all the facts/data as to why Porsche made this decision.

 

[daveo4EV]

the label on my NEMA 14-50 supply cable delivered with my 2021 Cayenne eHybrid is "new" vs. my 2020 Taycan supply cable label - see this post…

so Porsche reviewed it enough update the label on the cable but did not actually change the wire.

but it's still 10 AWG wire according to the embossed stamp on the insulation on the wire…

 

[slothinker]

The 'basic' portable charger that comes as std with any new Taycan - it has lighted buttons when plugged in but no LCD display or other advanced features that come with the PMCC..

Thank you. My car which I bought off the lot new came with a PMCC and the pricy housing unit but no portable charger. Is that typical if you order the car with PMCC?

 

[daveo4EV]

Thank you. My car which I bought off the lot new came with a PMCC and the pricy housing unit but no portable charger. Is that typical if you order the car with PMCC?

the charger (EVSE) is considered portable because it can be unplugged and packed in the car to carry with you - as to how mobile it is vs. other smaller/lighter/more-compact EVSE's (eV chargers) is a separate discussion.

this as opposed to EVSE's which are hardwired and you can not simply unplug them and pack them in the car for a trip…

these are portable

https://www.suncoastparts.com/category/9y0cayennhybenghybv2.html
so is this
https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/skutaycha.html

these are not portable (hardwired or too big & bulky)

https://shop.porsche.com/us/en/porsche-wall-charger-connect/p/$B-HCHH0LAA/

neither is this

https://store.clippercreek.com/featured/40-amp-plu-charger-nema-14-50

the PMCC _IS_ a portable EVSE because it unplugs and has a bag to pack it in.

there are other EVSE's that are "more" portable than the PMCC

 

[daveo4EV]

Thank you. My car which I bought off the lot new came with a PMCC and the pricy housing unit but no portable charger. Is that typical if you order the car with PMCC?

the housing called the "dock" - is a $470 option

unless your car came with one of these (which I doubt)

https://shop.porsche.com/us/en/porsche-wall-charger-connect/p/$B-HCHH0LAA/

in which case it is NOT a PMCC

if your EVSE plugs into a wall and can be unplugged - it's not the wall charger noted above - but will look very similar.

 

[TDinDC]

The resolution is simple: Fix or return and refund. I have a feeling that some quiet diplomacy could result in the latter even today (and I'm not saying that this should be necessary).

I have not noticed the issue yet. Maybe mine hasn't been updated, or maybe mine has always been like this and I don't experience the types of interruptions that would reset and surprise me.

 

[slothinker]

the housing called the "dock" - is a $470 option

unless your car came with one of these (which I doubt)

https://shop.porsche.com/us/en/porsche-wall-charger-connect/p/$B-HCHH0LAA/

in which case it is NOT a PMCC

if your EVSE plugs into a wall and can be unplugged - it's not the wall charger noted above - but will look very similar.

Actually it did come with the "dock" and "Mobile Charger Connect" but not the "Mobile Charger Plus." I bought an aftermarket mobile charger so as to not have to plug/unplug the MCC for trips. Thanks for clarifying this … I'd been wondering how common it was to get the dock and larger charger.

 

[daveo4EV]

Actually it did come with the "dock" and "Mobile Charger Connect" but not the "Mobile Charger Plus." I bought an aftermarket mobile charger so as to not have to plug/unplug the MCC for trips. Thanks for clarifying this … I'd been wondering how common it was to get the dock and larger charger.

I can't say it's "common" but it is an option - but I don't have data on how many people choose/purchase the optional dock.

 

[AZ Taycan for John]

I have enjoyed following the discussion. My EVSE updated last week since it was connected to wifi. I got in the car in the morning and realized it was only charged to 62%. The taycan forum is how I figured out what had happened. My car was charging at half-speed during my midnight to 0600 charge time. I considered trying some of the suggestions to get my EVSE to charge at 40amps, however Porsche made this "update" for a reason. A friend of mine has a 2021 and shared the following picture with me.

The EVSE is obviously unable to safely handle 40amps. This friend had a Tesla charging on that same NEMA 14-50 for 3 years before he bought the Taycan and had no issues. It is annoying, and Porsche should make it right by allowing us to return the EVSE for a refund so we can buy a replacement that will give us the charging speed we were promised without setting our garage on fire. I will call my dealer next week to see if I can return my EVSE. I am considering the Wallbox Pulsar. It has some functionality that would be useful for me and is superior to the Porsche EVSE.

 

[slothinker]

I have enjoyed following the discussion. My EVSE updated last week since it was connected to wifi. I got in the car in the morning and realized it was only charged to 62%. The taycan forum is how I figured out what had happened. My car was charging at half-speed during my midnight to 0600 charge time. I considered trying some of the suggestions to get my EVSE to charge at 40amps, however Porsche made this "update" for a reason. A friend of mine has a 2021 and shared the following picture with me.

The EVSE is obviously unable to safely handle 40amps. This friend had a Tesla charging on that same NEMA 14-50 for 3 years before he bought the Taycan and had no issues. It is annoying, and Porsche should make it right by allowing us to return the EVSE for a refund so we can buy a replacement that will give us the charging speed we were promised without setting our garage on fire. I will call my dealer next week to see if I can return my EVSE. I am considering the Wallbox Pulsar. It has some functionality that would be useful for me and is superior to the Porsche EVSE.

Yikes!!

 

[AZ Taycan for John]

Yikes!!

I should have mentioned that the melted NEMA 14-50 was on September 1st. When my friend went to the dealer, they told him he should only charge at 20amps using the EVSE because it tends to overheat. Of course he had to pay for an electrician to replace the NEMA 14-50.

 

[snstevens]

I have enjoyed following the discussion. My EVSE updated last week since it was connected to wifi. I got in the car in the morning and realized it was only charged to 62%. The taycan forum is how I figured out what had happened. My car was charging at half-speed during my midnight to 0600 charge time. I considered trying some of the suggestions to get my EVSE to charge at 40amps, however Porsche made this "update" for a reason. A friend of mine has a 2021 and shared the following picture with me.

The EVSE is obviously unable to safely handle 40amps. This friend had a Tesla charging on that same NEMA 14-50 for 3 years before he bought the Taycan and had no issues. It is annoying, and Porsche should make it right by allowing us to return the EVSE for a refund so we can buy a replacement that will give us the charging speed we were promised without setting our garage on fire. I will call my dealer next week to see if I can return my EVSE. I am considering the Wallbox Pulsar. It has some functionality that would be useful for me and is superior to the Porsche EVSE.

If it is possible, could ask your friend for the name of the manufacturer of the NEMA 14-50 receptacle, and where he got it?

As it happens, not all receptacles are the same.

 

[slothinker]

Yikes!!

The more I think about this the less likely it seems that Porsche engineering and quality control could put something out that did this under normal conditions here or in Europe. There are multiple factors at play including temperature, plug, panel, wiring and distance from the panel to receptacle. Of course Porsche could have gotten this from some 3rd party but, again, letting a problem of this magnitude slip through its QC boggles the mind.

 

[daveo4EV]

The more I think about this the less likely it seems that Porsche engineering and quality control could put something out that did this under normal conditions here or in Europe. There are multiple factors at play including temperature, plug, panel, wiring and distance from the panel to receptacle. Of course Porsche could have gotten this from some 3rd party but, again, letting a problem of this magnitude slip through its QC boggles the mind.

I disagree - they did/do in fact get this from a 3rd party - and this particular product has been out for a very very long time but has gradually been ramped up in load and the power supply cable has been "reused" from the existing parts bin for a while…

I have zero problems believing this slipped by QA - their software update proves it - and I know for a fact they knew something was up 2 years ago if you review the thread I posted - one of the forum members got an eMail from Porsche saying dial down the AMP'…over 2 years ago

it slipped through, has been a known problem, and they've done nothing to address it - other than downgrade expectations for the unit.

Sponsored