Audi e-tron GT Charging at BP Pulse

Audi e-tron GT Charger Won't Start Charging

You have plugged in your e-tron GT, but nothing happens. The MMI screen stays silent or shows an error. The e-tron GT has two charge ports, one on the left rear for AC and one on the right rear for DC, which can add confusion. This is frustrating, but it is almost always fixable on the spot.

Symptoms

• CCS2 or Type 2 connector plugged in but no charging indicator on the MMI touchscreen
• Charger screen shows 'Waiting for vehicle' or stays on the start screen
• e-tron GT charge port LED blinks but charging never begins
• Authentication succeeds on the charger but the session fails to start
• Plugged into the wrong charge port for the type of charging

What to Do

1. 1

   Verify you are using the correct charge port

   For DC fast charging, use the charge port on the right rear of the car. For AC charging with a Type 2 cable, use the charge port on the left rear. Using the wrong port is the most common cause of a failed start on the e-tron GT.

2. 2

   Check for a charging schedule or departure timer

   On the MMI touchscreen, go to the e-tron charging settings. If a timer or departure schedule is active, switch it to charge immediately or turn off the timer. You can also check the myAudi app for active schedules.

3. 3

   Unplug and reconnect firmly

   Remove the connector, wait 10 seconds, then reinsert it firmly into the correct charge port until you hear a clear click. Watch the charge port LED for a steady response.

4. 4

   Restart the charger session

   On the charger, end the current session if one is active. Then start a new session by tapping your RFID card, using contactless payment, or restarting in the charger operator's app.

5. 5

   Reboot the MMI system

   Press and hold the power button on the MMI touchscreen for about 10 seconds until the screen goes dark and restarts. Once it is back, try plugging in again. This resets the charging communication on the car's side.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If the station has multiple stalls, move to a different one. Some chargers have firmware issues that cause 800V handshake failures. A different unit at the same station may work fine.

Audi e-tron GT Charging Payment Failed at Station

You are at the charger, your e-tron GT is plugged in, but the payment will not go through. The charger shows an error or just sits there waiting. Payment failures at public chargers are common and usually have nothing to do with your car. Here is how to get charging.

Symptoms

• Charger displays 'Payment failed' or 'Authorization error' after tapping your card
• RFID card is not recognized by the charger's reader
• myAudi or Audi charging app shows an error when trying to start a remote session
• Plug & Charge does not activate after plugging in the CCS2 connector on the right rear
• Contactless payment terminal on the charger rejects your bank card

What to Do

1. 1

   Try a different payment method

   If your RFID card failed, try contactless with your bank card or phone. If contactless failed, try the charger operator's app. Having two or three payment options gives you the best chance of getting going.

2. 2

   Check the myAudi app

   Open the myAudi app on your phone. Make sure your Audi charging account is active, your payment method is valid, and Plug & Charge is enabled if you want to use it. Try starting the session remotely through the app.

3. 3

   Scan the charger's QR code

   Most public chargers have a QR code on the unit. Scanning it with your phone's camera opens the operator's payment page. You can usually pay with a credit card through the browser without downloading an app.

4. 4

   Check your bank app for blocked transactions

   Open your banking app and check for any flagged or blocked transactions. Some banks require you to approve the charge manually. If you see a notification, approve it and try the payment again.

5. 5

   Try Plug & Charge if available

   If the charger supports Plug & Charge and your e-tron GT has it activated through the myAudi app, simply unplug and replug the CCS2 connector into the right rear charge port. The payment should authorize automatically through the cable.

6. 6

   Move to a different charger

   If nothing works at this station, the charger's payment system may be down entirely. Find a nearby alternative using the myAudi app or the e-tron GT's built-in charger finder on the MMI touchscreen.

Audi e-tron GT Charging Slower Than Expected

You plugged in your e-tron GT expecting 270 kW and the MMI touchscreen shows 50 kW. With an 800V architecture designed for ultra-fast charging, this is especially frustrating. Slow charging on the e-tron GT is almost never a defect. It is usually the charger's capability, the battery temperature, or a mismatch between the station's voltage and the car's 800V system.

Symptoms

• DC fast charging speed well below the 270 kW maximum shown on the MMI touchscreen
• AC home charging stuck at 3-4 kW instead of the full 11 kW or optional 22 kW
• Charging speed drops significantly after reaching 50-60% state of charge
• The e-tron GT charges at similar speeds to 400V vehicles despite having 800V architecture
• MMI display shows lower power than the charger's rated output

What to Do

1. 1

   Verify the charger supports 800V and high power

   Check the charger's label or the operator's app for the maximum power output and voltage. For the e-tron GT to reach its peak 270 kW, you need a charger rated for at least 270 kW at 800V. A 150 kW or 400V charger will work but at much lower speeds.

2. 2

   Check the battery temperature

   Look at the charging screen on the MMI touchscreen. If the battery is cold, use the navigation system to route to the fast charger. The e-tron GT will precondition the battery on the way using its heat pump. If you are already at the charger, driving for 15-20 minutes and returning can help.

3. 3

   Check your state of charge

   Look at the digital instrument cluster or MMI screen. If you are above 80%, the slower speed is expected. For the fastest charging, arrive at the charger between 5-20% and charge to 80%.

4. 4

   Verify the charger is not sharing power

   Look at the charger unit. If there are two cables and someone is using the other one, you may be sharing power. Move to an unoccupied charger if one is available.

5. 5

   Check the AC charge current setting

   On the MMI touchscreen, go to the e-tron charging settings. Make sure the AC charge current is set to maximum. If you have the optional 22 kW onboard charger, verify your wallbox supports it.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If the speed is still low, the charger itself may be degraded or faulty. Look for Ionity, Electrify America, or other 350 kW networks that support 800V to get the best speeds from your e-tron GT.

Contactless reader not responding

You tap your bank card or phone and nothing happens. The screen does not acknowledge the tap at all, or it briefly flashes and returns to the start screen.

Symptoms

• No beep or screen change after tapping your card
• Screen flashes 'Card read error' then resets
• Apple Pay or Google Pay shows 'Done' on your phone but the charger does not start
• Reader works on one unit but not the adjacent one

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Try a physical bank card instead of your phone

   Contactless phone payments sometimes fail on BP Pulse readers even when a physical card works fine. Hold the card flat against the reader for 2-3 seconds.

2. 2

   Check for a second tap point

   Some BP Pulse units have the contactless reader on the side panel rather than below the screen. Look for a card symbol printed on the housing.

3. 3

   Clean the reader surface

   Wipe dirt, rain, or condensation off the contactless reader area with your sleeve. Moisture on the sensor can prevent a clean read.

4. 4

   Start the session via the BP Pulse app instead

   Open the app, find the charger on the map, select the connector, and tap 'Start Charging.' This bypasses the physical reader entirely.

5. 5

   Try the other connector or an adjacent unit

   If the charger has two connectors, the other side may have a working reader. Or walk to the next unit. Contactless reader failures are often limited to one specific unit.

BP Pulse app crashing on Android

The app closes unexpectedly when you try to start a session, view the map, or enter payment details. This is more common on older Android versions and after recent app updates.

Symptoms

• App closes immediately after opening
• App freezes on the map screen then crashes
• Crash when tapping 'Start Charging' after selecting a connector
• 'App keeps stopping' notification from Android

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Force close and reopen the app

   Go to Android Settings, then Apps, then BP Pulse. Tap 'Force Stop,' wait a few seconds, then open the app again.

2. 2

   Clear the app cache

   In Settings, go to Apps, then BP Pulse, then Storage, then 'Clear Cache.' This removes temporary data without deleting your account. You will not need to log in again.

3. 3

   Check for an app update

   Open the Google Play Store, search for BP Pulse, and tap 'Update' if available. Crashes often follow a buggy release that gets patched within days.

4. 4

   Use contactless payment as a backup

   If the app will not cooperate, tap your bank card on the charger's contactless reader to start a session without the app.

5. 5

   Reinstall the app if crashes persist

   Uninstall BP Pulse, restart your phone, then reinstall from the Play Store. You will need to log in again, so make sure you know your BP Pulse account email.

Charger shows 'Out of Service' with no visible damage

The screen displays 'Out of Service' or 'Unavailable,' but the charger looks perfectly fine. No broken cables, no barrier tape, no obvious reason it should be offline.

Symptoms

• Screen stuck on 'Out of Service' message
• Charger appears available in the app but shows error on arrival
• Status light is red or off entirely
• Other chargers at the same location work fine

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check the BP Pulse app for real-time status

   Open the app and look at this specific charger. If it shows as unavailable there too, the network has flagged it remotely. A maintenance team likely already knows.

2. 2

   Look for a reset button or power switch

   Some older BP Pulse units (especially former Chargemaster ones) have a small reset button behind a panel or near the base. Pressing it can sometimes clear a stuck error state.

3. 3

   Report it in the app

   Use the 'Report a problem' option on the charger's detail page in the BP Pulse app. This helps BP Pulse prioritize repairs and updates the status for other drivers.

4. 4

   Move to another charger

   An 'Out of Service' state usually means a backend fault, a communication issue with the network, or a pending software update. You cannot fix these yourself. Use another unit or location.

Charging session drops after 5-10 minutes

Charging starts normally, but the session ends on its own after a few minutes. Your car shows it is no longer receiving power, and the charger returns to the welcome screen.

Symptoms

• Car dashboard shows charging stopped unexpectedly
• Charger screen returns to 'Plug in to start' after a few minutes
• You receive a session-ended notification in the app with a very short session
• This happens repeatedly at the same charger

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check the connector is fully seated

   Unplug the cable, inspect the connector pins for dirt or debris, and plug it back in firmly until you hear a click. A loose connection can cause the charger to drop the session.

2. 2

   Check your car's charge limit

   If your car's charge limit is set very close to the current battery level, some vehicles will stop charging almost immediately. Set the limit to 80% or higher and try again.

3. 3

   Try the other connector type

   If the charger offers both CCS2 and CHAdeMO and your car supports CCS2, make sure you are using CCS2. Using the wrong connector obviously will not fit, but a worn CCS2 connector on one side may work better on the other unit.

4. 4

   Start a new session at a different unit

   Repeated drops at the same charger point to a hardware fault on that unit. Move to another charger and try again.

5. 5

   Report the faulty unit

   Note the charger ID (printed on the unit) and report it via the BP Pulse app or call the BP Pulse support number shown on the charger. This helps get the unit serviced.

Subscription vs pay-as-you-go pricing confusion

BP Pulse offers a subscription plan with lower per-kWh rates and a pay-as-you-go option with higher rates. It is not always clear which pricing you are on, or whether the subscription is worth it for your usage.

Symptoms

• Charged a higher rate than expected on your receipt
• Unsure whether your subscription is active
• Signed up for subscription but still seeing non-member prices
• Cannot figure out how to switch between plans

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check your plan status in the app

   Open the BP Pulse app, go to your account settings, and look for your subscription status. If it says 'Active,' you should be getting the lower rate automatically.

2. 2

   Make sure you are starting sessions through the app

   Subscription pricing only applies when you start the session via the BP Pulse app or RFID card linked to your account. Tapping a contactless bank card will charge you the standard pay-as-you-go rate.

3. 3

   Review your charging history for rate discrepancies

   In the app, go to Charging History and check the per-kWh rate on recent sessions. Compare this to the subscription rate listed on the BP Pulse pricing page.

4. 4

   Cancel or change your plan if needed

   You can manage your subscription in the app under Account, then Subscription. If you charge infrequently, pay-as-you-go may actually cost less overall despite the higher per-kWh rate.