Manual (unpowered) charge port questions

[Skilly]

Thanks. That is useful information. Yes I am from the Tesla world, but have been in that world long enough to remember non-powered charge ports (my first Model S), so I know I will forget, hence my ask whether or not the car will at least warn me. Given I live in the NorthWest, which is moderately wet most of the year, I think I will keep the powered charge port and stop thinking about the missing vent.

It will warn you with a red signal on the lower screen...which you will then have the "ah damn!" moment followed with of course getting out and closing it...for me, I tend to forget at the fast chargers which then follows with what I like to call the "walk of shame' to close the door.

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[whitex]

It will warn you with a red signal on the lower screen...which you will then have the "ah damn!" moment followed with of course getting out and closing it...for me, I tend to forget at the fast chargers which then follows with what I like to call the "walk of shame' to close the door.

Maybe someone should try to rig up a MacGyver solution, string some fishing line from the port to the cabin, then pull on it to close the charge port door - avoid the "walk of shame" and/or getting wet in the rain.

 

[Jhenson29]

From GTK:

However, in testing, it appears it does have to be unlocked. If you lock the car, then the port doors are locked also. You can lock the car while a port door is open though. And if you then close the port door, it locks and does not reopen.

There is a message in the instrument cluster that comes up when the car is taken out of park with a port door open. (It tells you which side).

You can also see which one is open on the center console screen when in park.

I’ve never had an issue with remembering to close the port door, but I also only charge at home. And with this being our first EV, I’m used to closing the door anyway.

Regarding dirt through the open wheel vent getting on the door, I don’t really notice much at all, but I also have a metallic green car with ceramic coat, so I don’t notice much dirt at all in general.

 

[Jhenson29]

F*cking hell…I just left it open from that testing and almost drove off with it open.

That one doesn’t count.

 

[Mike in CA]

Just curious. Do the folks forgetting to close their charge port doors have issues remembering to replace the fuel cap and close the fuel filler flap on on their ICE vehicles? Can't even remember the last time I did that.

ICE: Remove the fuel nozzle, hang it on the pump, return to fasten the cap and close the flap.

EV: Remove the plug, hang it on the EVSE and return to close the flap. (One could even use one hand to hold the plug and the other to close the flap while you're standing there).

Anyway, pretty much same, same. Don't understand how this is any more of a problem for EV's than ICEV's.

Also, I've had no issues with debris coming through the open wheel vents.

 

[whitex]

Just curious. Do the folks forgetting to close their charge port doors have issues remembering to replace the fuel cap and close the fuel filler flap on on their ICE vehicles? Can't even remember the last time I did that.

ICE: Remove the fuel nozzle, hang it on the pump, return to fasten the cap and close the flap.

EV: Remove the plug, hang it on the EVSE and return to close the flap. (One could even use one hand to hold the plug and the other to close the flap while you're standing there).

Anyway, pretty much same, same. Don't understand how this is any more of a problem for EV's than ICEV's.

Also, I've had no issues with debris coming through the open wheel vents.

Valid question. At first glance it does seem puzzling, and yet while I don't ever remember ever forgetting to close my fuel cap in any of the ICE cars I have driven over decades, I do recall a few times forgetting to close the charging port on my first Model S, which didn't have automatic close. I also never drove off with the gas pump connected to the car, but once, maybe twice a year I do get into my car and the car won't let me drive because I it's still plugged in. Perhaps you could toss it all towards getting older, however I think there is more to it. Here are things which IMO affect this:

1. Frequency of use - you plug/unplug EV's every day, sometimes more than once a day. By virtue of simply increased frequency (7x-10x, 14x-20x if you consider #2 below), forgetting to close the charge port is that much more likely. Frequency can also increase errors by complacency which can build up by doing mundane tasks often.
2. Duration of charging vs. filling up gasoline. With gas fillup, it's a single task. With EV charging, it's split into two separate tasks, separated by hours between them. Perhaps this affects the error rate too.
3. Environment. All the times I forgot to close the charge port that I can remember were at home, never at a public charger. Maybe it's just the frequency again, more likely to happen where you charge the most, but I also think there may be more to it - at a public charge you are in public, therefore probably more vigilant than in the comfort of your own home. At a public charger you are usually waiting for a charge to complete, so your brain is pre-engaged by the time you are unplugging, vs. when you are just rolling out of the house in the morning. Also, if you are a little groggy in the morning, driving to a gas station will likely wake you up a little more, so you're more alert at the gas station than first thing in the morning in your garage.

All of the above are just my speculations. I'm sure there an academic research paper in there somewhere waiting to happen.

 

[fullmetalbaal]

And just to confirm, you have the manual, not the powered/motorized power port, correct?

I'm asking this because I'm trying to decide whether or not I want the powered port for my build. Having been driving EV's for 8+ years now, I very much appreciate the value of automatic closing port, but the OCD in me is triggered by the fact that this options messes with the intended aerodynamics of the car. It seems to be the designers put the vent in there for a reason (to re-integrate turbulent air from the wheel well), shaped the door in a specific way to allow for that, and the powered port seems like a compromise of that. I realize the range hit is only 1%, but still on the fence about this feature.

I ended up not optioning it, and don't regret it.

Here's the dominant reason why I felt the manual option was the way to go for the Taycan:

Unlike Tesla, where automatic means that you can use the charging handle to open the charge port and hence truly have "one handed operation", the automatic Taycan charge port needs to be activated via button press on the car itself. By the time I reach for the tab to open the charge port, I might as well just open it myself. Similarly, fast charging has that stupid extra tab that you have to open manually with your hand anyway - so it's "tap tab to open automatically, wait, open flap manually, plug in" vs. "push charge door to open, open flap manually, plug in". Didn't seem like it's worth the trouble.

Other factors I considered:
- In a car plagued by software bugs, this is one thing I don't need to worry about working. (there are in fact people reporting issues on the automatic one...)
- As you pointed out, the aerodynamics.
- I prefer the cleaner look without the black "tab" (subjective, I know - and many folks prefer the look with it)

The only part that I like about the motorized charge port cover: it looks cool when opening...

 

[whitex]

I ended up not optioning it, and don't regret it.

Here's the dominant reason why I felt the manual option was the way to go for the Taycan:

Unlike Tesla, where automatic means that you can use the charging handle to open the charge port and hence truly have "one handed operation", the automatic Taycan charge port needs to be activated via button press on the car itself. By the time I reach for the tab to open the charge port, I might as well just open it myself. Similarly, fast charging has that stupid extra tab that you have to open manually with your hand anyway - so it's "tap tab to open automatically, wait, open flap manually, plug in" vs. "push charge door to open, open flap manually, plug in". Didn't seem like it's worth the trouble.

Other factors I considered:
- In a car plagued by software bugs, this is one thing I don't need to worry about working. (there are in fact people reporting issues on the automatic one...)
- As you pointed out, the aerodynamics.
- I prefer the cleaner look without the black "tab" (subjective, I know - and many folks prefer the look with it)

The only part that I like about the motorized charge port cover: it looks cool when opening...

Good point about opening it to charge. The primary motivating usecase for me however is automatic close. Tesla always had auto-open (electronically released spring loaded door in the early Model S) but only added automatic close ~2015. Having had both versions, and learned that I do appreciate the automatic close functionality - as soon as you step on the brake pedal, if nothing is plugged in, the charge door auto-closes.

As for looks, I could take either one. I like the no tab of manual, but prefer the smaller door outline of the automatic.

 

[Swissbob]

And just to confirm, you have the manual, not the powered/motorized power port, correct?

I'm asking this because I'm trying to decide whether or not I want the powered port for my build. Having been driving EV's for 8+ years now, I very much appreciate the value of automatic closing port, but the OCD in me is triggered by the fact that this options messes with the intended aerodynamics of the car. It seems to be the designers put the vent in there for a reason (to re-integrate turbulent air from the wheel well), shaped the door in a specific way to allow for that, and the powered port seems like a compromise of that. I realize the range hit is only 1%, but still on the fence about this feature.

Ex Tesla driver, went manual, regularly forget to close it. If I could have my time again I would definitely get the powered option. It’s just a pain getting the red light, having to stop, get out, close it etc.

 

[epirali]

The only part that I like about the motorized charge port cover: it looks cool when opening...

Yes it does, until it gets stuck. After one year in a garage, no real exposure to outdoors or any kind of freezing ever my left port started getting stuck intermittently. Worse yet it would stick halfway which meant I could not charge on EITHER side.

 

[Needsdecaf]

Just curious. Do the folks forgetting to close their charge port doors have issues remembering to replace the fuel cap and close the fuel filler flap on on their ICE vehicles? Can't even remember the last time I did that.

ICE: Remove the fuel nozzle, hang it on the pump, return to fasten the cap and close the flap.

EV: Remove the plug, hang it on the EVSE and return to close the flap. (One could even use one hand to hold the plug and the other to close the flap while you're standing there).

Anyway, pretty much same, same. Don't understand how this is any more of a problem for EV's than ICEV's.

Also, I've had no issues with debris coming through the open wheel vents.

What if you grew up with all of your cars having the fuel door close on it's own, and then you suddenly owned a car without it? That's what it's like if you've owned a Tesla before.

 

[Mike in CA]

What if you grew up with all of your cars having the fuel door close on it's own, and then you suddenly owned a car without it? That's what it's like if you've owned a Tesla before.

In the case of someone who only had experience with Tesla EV's and powered charging doors I can understand the problem. My guess, though, is they represent a very small subset of the folks on this forum and that most people have had ample experience with ICEV's and fueling them. We have an Audi eTron which has a powered charge port door but owning one hasn't made me forget how to attend to the fueling process of my other vehicles.

There are reasons to get the powered doors; they are cool and convenient. I just didn't think that forgetting to close the manual doors was one of them. Maybe I was mistaken.

 

[fgwinn]

....As for looks, I could take either one. I like the no tab of manual, but prefer the smaller door outline of the automatic.

I got the powered charge port door on the CT because I think the smaller door outline looks better with the black wheel well cladding which comes close to the manual door opening.

 

[Fish Fingers]

What if you grew up with all of your cars having the fuel door close on it's own, and then you suddenly owned a car without it? That's what it's like if you've owned a Tesla before.

No problems...... Will be easy to learn new habits when you are just out of school.
?

 

[jontybutts]

Find the automatic door a godesend in the U.K as it always seems to be chucking it down whenever I need to unplug the car, also had flaps knocked off in various car parks when charging cars with flaps at knee level, PHEV Mercs, shocking design.....

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