PMCC API ?

[ccooke01]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone is aware of an API for the PMCC ?

I am thinking of a simple app to check the charger rather than having to go to the website and I also charge an electric Mini from it.

Also considering solar and wanted to avoid the Home Energy Manager and am thinking of Raspberry Pi type app that would detect when the solar was feeding into the grid and then adjust the amp accordingly to the available current being generated.

I maybe being a little over ambitious but it seems like an interesting project.

Thanks

Carl.

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[AndiL]

There is an API that the web interface uses, but it is rather limited. E.g. you can't stop the charging process.

To control charging, you need to communicate via the EEBUS protocol with the charger as the Porsche HEMS does. The open source project https://evcc.io/ does that, I implemented the EEBUS communication part of it.

If you want to have an easy to install and use system, use the Porsche HEMS. If you don't mind tinkering a bit, use evcc.io

 

[W1NGE]

Not a lot to check or look at on the PMCC (not a charger remember) and more details are available when connected via My Porsche App than before.

Enjoy your project!

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

I spent a bit of time on the PMC+ - on the rare occasion when the PLC connection stayed up long enough to download the full 2MB of splash screen and web app. As the others have said, it's a rather limited API - status, settings, the last 3 charging sessions and that's about it. (It is interesting that you can query the CPU temp, and perhaps establish a correlation between that and an overheating plug - wait, nvm, that's a US-only problem.)

In terms of control, you can only set the current/manager (reduced power, full or energy manager); IDK if PMCC has a more fine-grained range of settings.

The APIs are:
GET <server address>/api/system/info
/api/WebServer/properties/swaggerCurrentSession
/api/WebServer/properties/swaggerHistory
/api/iCAN/properties

There's also /dashboard, /settings/maintenance and /settings/charging. Auth is bearer token, with a incorrectly encoded JWT; the payload includes an issuance timestamp, session id and a salt. (If you're interested I can share a full request/response privately.)


Like you, I'm on a project to put an RPi server to work on the charging and consumption aspects of EV ownership. The MyPorsche website has loads of data on trips and consumption, but nothing on ingested energy (ie no charging session data), and there appears to be no charging history accessible via OBD II either. You can probably mash the MyPorsche server once you detect the car is charging, and take samples of the SoC but that's .. inelegant.

For home charging, you may want to look into an OCPP-compatible EVSE, that will allow you to control charging to the extent that you desire. (You'll need to probably set the car in direct charging mode to assume full control, and in all honesty your efforts may still produce less optimal results than the readily available HEMS.)

(Realizing you're in a different market) I've settled on an Autel EVSE; others that support OCPP are Wallbox Pulsar+ (the more recent version, check the serial), Grizzl-E, Emporia and maybe others. ABB is also listed, but seems to be Europe (or non-US) only at this time.

Good luck, have fun.

 

[AndiL]

The PMCC is the currently only wallbox that takes advantage of all the new tech the Taycan has implemented and the other vendors still haven't catched up yet.

In Germany lots of Wallboxes provide a 1P/3P phase switching, as 3 phase charging requires minimum power of 4,1kW (metric ,) because J1772/IEC61851 allow to set only 6A for a phase and no less. Lots of PV setups often provide less power. So they switch to 1 phase charging or back. Doing that requires a charging pause of usually at least 1 minute.

With the PMCC and a compatible energy management system, there is no need for that. As the EV to EVSE communication works via ISO15118-2 instead of J1772/IEC61851, the minimum amperage is 2A per phase. Which results a minimum charging power of 1,4kW on a 3-phase setup.

It also allows the charger to be locked and the Taycan to be automatically authenticated without the need for an RFID or anything similar.

In Europe, the PMCC with a compatible HEMS is currently the best setup for Taycan owner providing support for PV surplus charging, support for charging timers, overload protection for the owners home.

While OCPP is a widely used standard, it mostly is used (and often required) for public charging stations. There are also hardly any local OCPP servers that one can install at home and use for PV surplus charging. Lots of PV vendors do provide custom wallboxes with PV surplus charging build in, compatible only with their inverters. So when looking for an alternative, I wouldn't say the OCPP helps in this scenario.

 

[WasserGKuehlt]

Thanks for the fascinating details, @AndiL , there is evidently a lot of technology under the covers. Your post also acts as further proof that the PMCx devices (and the ecosystem) were optimized for Europe with the US being an afterthought.

There are also hardly any local OCPP servers that one can install at home and use for PV surplus charging. Lots of PV vendors do provide custom wallboxes with PV surplus charging build in, compatible only with their inverters. So when looking for an alternative, I wouldn't say the OCPP helps in this scenario.

While OP was probably interested in controlling charging, I should clarify that my interest in an OCPP-capable EVSE is purely out of curiosity/boredom/impulse to tinker. As in I want to see exactly when and how much power the car is drawing (and the intent is to set up my own server). I completely agree that an out-of-the-box PV solution may work a lot better than one’s own DIY, garage effort.

 

[daveo4EV]

The PMCC is the currently only wallbox that takes advantage of all the new tech the Taycan has implemented and the other vendors still haven't catched up yet.

In Germany lots of Wallboxes provide a 1P/3P phase switching, as 3 phase charging requires minimum power of 4,1kW (metric ,) because J1772/IEC61851 allow to set only 6A for a phase and no less. Lots of PV setups often provide less power. So they switch to 1 phase charging or back. Doing that requires a charging pause of usually at least 1 minute.

With the PMCC and a compatible energy management system, there is no need for that. As the EV to EVSE communication works via ISO15118-2 instead of J1772/IEC61851, the minimum amperage is 2A per phase. Which results a minimum charging power of 1,4kW on a 3-phase setup.

It also allows the charger to be locked and the Taycan to be automatically authenticated without the need for an RFID or anything similar.

In Europe, the PMCC with a compatible HEMS is currently the best setup for Taycan owner providing support for PV surplus charging, support for charging timers, overload protection for the owners home.

While OCPP is a widely used standard, it mostly is used (and often required) for public charging stations. There are also hardly any local OCPP servers that one can install at home and use for PV surplus charging. Lots of PV vendors do provide custom wallboxes with PV surplus charging build in, compatible only with their inverters. So when looking for an alternative, I wouldn't say the OCPP helps in this scenario.

this is an awesome write up! thanks.

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