This article discusses the challenges encountered with zappi scheduled charging when integrating with BYD vehicles, particularly the Atto3 model. Our Australian team has identified a workaround while awaiting broader market availability.
Overview
Our Australian team has reported several issues related to zappi scheduled charging with BYD vehicles, especially the Atto3. The primary concern is that during the ECO+ mode, the vehicle may enter a 'sleep' mode to preserve the 12V battery, which interrupts the charging process.
Identifying the Issue
When customers plug their BYD vehicles into the zappi and set the charger to ECO+, the vehicle often goes into 'sleep' mode during the Waiting For Surplus phase. This mode aims to conserve the 12V battery and can disrupt the charging schedule.
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Timing: The exact duration before the vehicle enters sleep mode is unknown but generally occurs after 30 minutes to a couple of hours when the zappi is set to ECO+ during off-peak tariff hours.
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Current Limitations: The zappi’s Plug-In Charge feature does not resolve this issue, as it does not interact with the vehicle to prevent it from sleeping.
Solution
The issue is related to the vehicle’s settings. The best workaround to ensure autonomous charging is to synchronise the vehicle’s Reserve Charging feature with the zappi’s schedule:
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Access Vehicle Settings: From the BYD home screen, navigate to the vehicle settings by pressing the button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
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Enter New Energy Menu: Access the New Energy menu from the right sidebar.
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Open Charging Settings: Go to the Charging Settings menu via the top navigation bar.
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Adjust Smart Charging Settings: Enter Smart Charging settings and turn Reserve Charging to ON.
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Set Reserve Charging Time: Configure the Reserve Charging time to be very close to when the zappi is scheduled to start charging.
This setup will help keep the vehicle awake and ensure that charging can proceed as planned.
Conclusion
While the problem lies with the vehicle’s sleep mode, configuring the Reserve Charging feature in synchronisation with the zappi schedule can effectively maintain charging autonomy. For updates and further assistance, please stay tuned for news on software updates or consult with your vehicle’s support team.