Manual (unpowered) charge port questions

[sakkaro]

One other factor that I and probably other forgetful manual port cover owners have likely contemplated: at what theoretical speed would the force of the wind against the open port door close it?

Before I got my Taycan, I forgot to close the charging door on my BMW 530e occasionally after unplugging the car. Unlike Taycan, BMW refuse to even set the vehicle to "Ready" state, claiming that I need to close the door first. Having not made that mistake with Taycan yet (and probably never since I've gotten used to closing charging door with 530e), I didn't even know Taycan let you start the vehicle with charging door open, let alone drive. Interesting finds.

Cheers.

Sponsored

 

[W1NGE]

Porsche is known for thorough engineering. They claim to have driven the Taycan design millions of miles in different climates during testing, hence my suspicion that the powered port was an afterthought (or they would have caught the flap problem in testing).


The air scarf is carried over to the eTron RS as well (based on Taycan platform), so I'm thinking if it was just hype, they had plenty of opportunity to take it out as it was designed after Taycan.

The are obligated to do this testing for all models (as are other manufacturers).

My Panamera ST (latest model - 3 Gen I believe) went through 2 replacement fuel filler flaps as they fell off or worse still they could not be opened, my rubber seals on the doors would always freeze in our Scottish winters (not Siberian or even close) which simply proves all the testing in the world doesn't perfect every single component - nor are any of these items 'after thoughts' but are somewhat essential.

 

[Jhenson29]

But only one is fully automatic though, the DC charging part still requires manual open/close (of the DC pins cover). To be honest, it seems like an oversight on Porsche designers part, why have an automatically opening port if you have to open another flap manually, and why bother with auto-closing if you first have to manually close the flap inside. Then again, the motorized port blocking the air-scarf vent suggests that it was probably a last minute addition anyways, rather than a planned out feature, and when you add things last minute, you often have to compromise. ?‍

I assumed the interference was intentional to prevent someone from being able to close the outer flap with the DC cover open.

But it does beg the question as to why it doesn’t close the DC cover automatically. Note that it wouldn’t be able to open it automatically as that would defeat the purpose of having the cover when AC charging. But it does seem like it could close it automatically.

 

[W1NGE]

I assumed the interference was intentional to prevent someone from being able to close the outer flap with the DC cover open.

But it does beg the question as to why it doesn’t close the DC cover automatically. Note that it wouldn’t be able to open it automatically as that would defeat the purpose of having the cover when AC charging. But it does seem like it could close it automatically.

Mine closes fine - the spring is ok just now (has stuck in the past) - when removing the AC connector - so kinda 'automatic'.

 

[Jhenson29]

Mine closes fine - the spring is ok just now (has stuck in the past) - when removing the AC connector - so kinda 'automatic'.

I don’t know what the UK version looks like, but in the US, the DC cover flips out/down and has to be pushed up/in to be closed. Neither the manual or automatic covers are able to close this automatically through their current operation. It requires the user to close it separately.

 

[whitex]

But it does beg the question as to why it doesn’t close the DC cover automatically. Note that it wouldn’t be able to open it automatically as that would defeat the purpose of having the cover when AC charging. But it does seem like it could close it automatically.

There might be a way to be able to open automatically as well, for example when a plug pushes on the cover (put the cover slightly sunken in, so the plug is inserted a tiny bit triggering the cover to retract).

 

[W1NGE]

I don’t know what the UK version looks like, but in the US, the DC cover flips out/down and has to be pushed up/in to be closed. Neither the manual or automatic covers are able to close this automatically through their current operation. It requires the user to close it separately.

I believe it is the same. Open the charge port door, pull down the flap (not til it clicks), connect, remove the connector, flap springs back in place (as it is resting against the connector), door then closes automatically.

If you click the flap in place or it clicks of its own accord when inserting the connector then you have to a) observe this has happened, b) quickly close the flap manually when you remove the connector, and c) if you miss a) & b) then the door will close on the open flap whilst you dock the connector in the EVSE, retract again and then you'll be plagued with a charge port door impairment message which will clear on power off, door lock / unlock.

So it sounds like the only difference is the subtlety in how each of use it perhaps.

 

[Jhenson29]

I believe it is the same. Open the charge port door, pull down the flap (not til it clicks), connect, remove the connector, flap springs back in place (as it is resting against the connector), door then closes automatically.

If you click the flap in place or it clicks of its own accord when inserting the connector then you have to a) observe this has happened, b) quickly close the flap manually when you remove the connector, and c) if you miss a) & b) then the door will close on the open flap whilst you dock the connector in the EVSE, retract again and then you'll be plagued with a charge port door impairment message which will clear on power off, door lock / unlock.

So it sounds like the only difference is the subtlety in how each of use it perhaps.

Yes, seems like it would close automatically then if the plug can be inserted without fully opening the DC cover to the locked position. I wouldn’t know since I don’t use DC charging.

But even if that’s the case, it seems relatively easy to “over” extend and lock, so I’m not sure I’m going to call that a win for automatic operation. Maybe it’s something one gets used to and finds easy though. I don’t know. Probably not universal in any case.

 

[W1NGE]

Yes, seems like it would close automatically then if the plug can be inserted without fully opening the DC cover to the locked position. I wouldn’t know since I don’t use DC charging.

But even if that’s the case, it seems relatively easy to “over” extend and lock, so I’m not sure I’m going to call that a win for automatic operation. Maybe it’s something one gets used to and finds easy though. I don’t know. Probably not universal in any case.

Trust me it is perfectly fine once you understand the behaviour like most things in life. Practice (and experience) makes perfect.

 

[f1eng]

It seems I am lucky to have been born with 2 hands, one to open the flap, the other plugging in the cable. The reverse to disconnect.
I am able to avoid all this pointless faff

 

[W1NGE]

Lads, we all like a gadget and this is one of them. Do all of our vehicles have superfluous features? Of course they do!

 

[f1eng]

Lads, we all like a gadget and this is one of them. Do all of our vehicles have superfluous features? Of course they do!

Ask my children, I am one of the most gullible gadget fanatics there is.
I realise it is a must have gadget for many simply from it being such a disproportionally big part of every youtube review I have seen.
It leaves me scratching my head in disbelief. I suppose it was copied for the benefit of ex Tesla owners, did any car, pre Tesla, have anything like this on it?

 

[W1NGE]

My excuse is that after two replacement fuel flaps on my Pana ST and 2 trips to the dealers to open the damn thing I figured Porsche just couldn't engineer an analogue fuel filler cap. So I gave up and on the Taycan went digital. My initial delight was short lived as that failed once (failed charge port too) oh, and the flap started to come loose.

Next thing will be charge-once-for-life - and do away with these things entirely as they are a bit stone age!

 

[whitex]

Trust me it is perfectly fine once you understand the behaviour like most things in life. Practice (and experience) makes perfect.

I get that you can get used to it. My point was simply that if I have to close the DC flap manually after each unplugging, I might as well close the main flap manually too (unlikely to close the DC flap but forget to close the port since the two are done together).

 

[W1NGE]

I get that you can get used to it. My point was simply that if I have to close the DC flap manually after each unplugging, I might as well close the main flap manually too (unlikely to close the DC flap but forget to close the port since the two are done together).

Ok - so don't add it to your spec...

As for forgetting the manual close on the main flap - check the forum, you'll be surprised as people somehow manage to do it.

Sponsored