Short answer: The socket on your car where the charging cable plugs in, usually behind a small door on the front fender, rear fender, or nose.
Explanation
The charge port is the physical connection point on your car where you plug in the charging cable. Its location varies by manufacturer: some place it on the rear left fender (BMW, Volkswagen), others on the rear right (Mercedes), the front right fender (Hyundai, Kia), or even the nose of the car (some Porsche models).
Charge port location matters more than you might think. If the charger cable is on the right side of the charger and your port is on the left side of the car, the cable might not reach. Some charging stations have cables on both sides, but many do not. Knowing where your charge port is helps you pull in from the correct direction.
The charge port door opens differently by car. Some use a button on the dashboard or key fob. Others open when you push on the door. A few unlock automatically when they detect a nearby charging cable. In cold weather, charge port doors can freeze shut, which is a common winter frustration. Running a bit of warm water over the door or using a de-icer can help.
Where you'll see this
- On your car dashboard
Common confusion
Drivers sometimes pull into a charging bay facing the wrong direction and find the cable does not reach their charge port. Check your port location and approach from the correct side.
Example
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has its charge port on the right rear fender. The Tesla Model 3 has its charge port on the left rear fender near the tail light.
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