22kw charger problems on 2021 Smart ED4.

  • Hi, I generally charge at home in Scotland using 7Kw wallbox. Works perfectly. Seldom drive far from home. I am finding though on many occasions when I use a 22kw public charger (using my cable) it charges ok for a short time (5min to15min) then I get the yellow warning "Charging not Possible - consult workshop" along with yellow diagnostics sign. I am aware of the 15 minute shutdown procedure etc but I have never done this at the public charger area. However I can still drive the car so usually go home, lock up for 15 mins, and then it will charge OK and warning signs have disappeared. What causes this and is there anything I can do to ensure of being able to charge fully at public chargers.?

  • Sounds to me like "noise" on the electrical grid at the charging station(s) where that happens. Is it a charging station in a industrial area?

    smart BRABUS #1 in gelb, 04/2023; > 20.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 451er ED 3,7 kW-Lader, 05/2013; > 280.000km (bei 250.000 km 22 kW nachgerüstet)

    smart fortwo Cabrio 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 04/2021 - 08/2023; 42.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 05/2018 - 05/2021; 109.000km


    "Aus Gaspedal wird Spaßpedal"

    - Smart

  • Thanks. No we are in Westhill a busy residential suburb of Aberdeen. As it happens I am just back in with car and still having issues - both charging units visited today operated by Chargeplace Scotland - who state in the past there are no issues their end. Power could be affected today by people on New Year holidays and at home with COVID.

    1. 22kw charger point. Connected, charged for 5 mins then "charging not possible - visit workshop" and "diagnostics icon" - both in amber. Went for walk for 10mins but "diagnostic icon" remained on. Car starts Ok - moved to another CP unit 3 miles away at Kingswells Park & Ride.

    2. Had to use 43kw rapid - connected, charging and stopped after a few minutes. This time red warning "STOP See owners manual" with red 12v battery icon above and at side. Warnings disappeared when I switched on ignition.

    3. Car starts Ok - drove to new 22kw free Tesco units and topped up perfectly.

  • The issue could be that the 22KW and the 43KW chargers are 3-phase CPs and your private 7KW wallbox is only single phase. If your own cable is a single phase cable as well, it might not work with public CPs, as they are 3-phase supplies, and may require 3-phase charging cables

    Ein Hamsterrad sieht nur von innen aus wie eine Karriereleiter

  • If your own cable is a single phase cable as well, it might not work with public CPs, as they are 3-phase supplies, and may require 3-phase charging cables

    That's simply wrong, I'm sorry. If it where like that, single phase cars couldn't charge reliable at 3 phase charging stations.


    Smartcharge I'd say there's something wrong with your car. The error you describe can happen from time to time. But it's rather strange that it happens so often, even multiple times a day. That's very uncommon. I would now actually visit the dealer. Sorry for the bad news. :(

    smart BRABUS #1 in gelb, 04/2023; > 20.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 451er ED 3,7 kW-Lader, 05/2013; > 280.000km (bei 250.000 km 22 kW nachgerüstet)

    smart fortwo Cabrio 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 04/2021 - 08/2023; 42.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 05/2018 - 05/2021; 109.000km


    "Aus Gaspedal wird Spaßpedal"

    - Smart

  • My thought was, that the public CP requires a 3-phase cable to work properly. If the poster uses an own single phase cable, it might not sufficiently „communicate“ with the CP, and it may read the missing phases as failure. Technically I fully agree with you MineCooky, but the CPs are all differently controlled, so my thought could well be the reason for the failure. If the posters uses a 3-phase cable, then of corse the failure has another source.

    Ein Hamsterrad sieht nur von innen aus wie eine Karriereleiter

  • Many thanks,

    My own home charger is tethered and works perfectly. The type 2 cable came with the car new and is definitely OK for phase 3. It is quite thick. The car is still under warranty and I have no issue visiting dealer. Just before XMAS they indicated they could not look at the car until February at the earliest!!

    Hopefully they will find the fault. -

  • My thought was, that the public CP requires a 3-phase cable to work properly.

    There are no charging stations which would have a problem with that. To the charging station it seems like a car that can only charge with one phase.


    The car is still under warranty and I have no issue visiting dealer.

    Feel free to updated us over the thoughts and fixes the dealer does.

    smart BRABUS #1 in gelb, 04/2023; > 20.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 451er ED 3,7 kW-Lader, 05/2013; > 280.000km (bei 250.000 km 22 kW nachgerüstet)

    smart fortwo Cabrio 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 04/2021 - 08/2023; 42.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 05/2018 - 05/2021; 109.000km


    "Aus Gaspedal wird Spaßpedal"

    - Smart

  • Thanks again, I decided to try and charge at several other public chargers and they all worked fine. Have concluded the problem lies with the charger units and not the car. Didn't visit dealer. Advice appreciated.

  • Sounds to me like "noise" on the electrical grid at the charging station(s) where that happens.

    I'd say it's this or the grounding of the wallbox isn't reliable.

    smart BRABUS #1 in gelb, 04/2023; > 20.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 451er ED 3,7 kW-Lader, 05/2013; > 280.000km (bei 250.000 km 22 kW nachgerüstet)

    smart fortwo Cabrio 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 04/2021 - 08/2023; 42.000 km

    smart fortwo Coupé 453er EQ 22 kW-Lader, 05/2018 - 05/2021; 109.000km


    "Aus Gaspedal wird Spaßpedal"

    - Smart

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