Why is my home electric car charging being delayed?

I have had an EV now for two and a half years and it's great. Until recently I have had no problem charging it from my home 7.2KW AC wallbox. A few weeks ago however, every time I plugged my car in, I get a message on the Wallbox app stating that the UK regulator is asking to delay starting the charge without stating when they will commence charging. Fortunately there is an override button on the app to start charging immediately. All home charges have to have this intercept these days.

I am only one of two EV owners in our village of 130 people, goodness knows what will happen when everyone has an EV. Is it safe to leave it to the regulator to start the charge, or do I risk finding the charge never started?

Asked on 16 April 2023 by Ian

Answered by David Ross
It's understandable to be concerned about the reliability of the charging process for your EV. However, it's important to note that the message you're receiving is likely related to a recent update in UK regulations, and it's not necessarily indicative of a malfunction in your wallbox or your EV.

While it may be frustrating to have to manually override the delay every time you charge your car, it's unlikely that waiting for the regulator to start the charge will cause any harm to your vehicle. The purpose of the delay is to manage demand on the power grid and prevent power outages, which is a priority for the energy industry.

That being said, if you continue to experience issues with starting the charge even after overriding the delay, it may be worth contacting the manufacturer of your wallbox or consulting with a qualified electrician to ensure that there are no technical issues with your charging setup. Additionally, it's always a good idea to keep an eye on any updates or changes to UK regulations related to EV charging, as these can impact your charging experience in the future.
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