BMW i4 Charging at EVBox

BMW i4 Charger Won't Start? Step-by-Step Solutions

You've plugged in the CCS2 cable to your BMW i4's right rear charge port, but nothing happens. This is one of the most common frustrations at public chargers. The good news is that most causes are fixable on the spot.

Symptoms

• CCS2 connector is plugged into the right rear port but the charger screen shows no vehicle detected
• Charger displays an error code and refuses to start the session
• My BMW app shows the car is plugged in but not charging
• The charge port LED on the i4 flashes or stays amber instead of turning blue
• Authentication via app or RFID card goes through but charging never begins

What to Do

1. 1

   Unplug the CCS2 cable and reseat it firmly

   Pull the connector out completely. Check the pins for debris or damage. Line it up straight with the charge port on the right rear and push until you hear a clear click. The charge port LED should respond.

2. 2

   Check the charge port LED color on the car

   Blue pulsing means the car is ready to charge. Amber or yellow means something is wrong on the car side. No light at all may mean the port isn't detecting the cable. Open the My BMW app for more detail.

3. 3

   Disable any charging schedule in iDrive

   On the iDrive curved display, go to the charging settings and check for active schedules or departure times. Disable scheduled charging temporarily if you want to charge immediately at a public station.

4. 4

   Try authenticating again or use a different method

   If Plug & Charge didn't start the session, open the charging network's app and start manually. If the app fails, try an RFID card. If you're using BMW Charging, check that your payment method is current in the My BMW app.

5. 5

   Restart the charger if possible

   Some chargers have a stop/reset button on the screen. Unplug, wait 30 seconds, and try again. If the charger has two cables, try the other connector. Check the charger's screen for error messages or an out-of-service notice.

6. 6

   Move to a different charger if the problem persists

   If nothing works after two attempts, the charger is likely faulty. Use the My BMW app or a charging map to find the next nearest station. Report the broken charger through the network's app to help other drivers.

BMW i4 Charging Payment Failed? How to Fix It Now

You're at the charger, the CCS2 cable is plugged into your BMW i4, but payment won't go through. Maybe Plug & Charge didn't kick in, the app is throwing errors, or your card was declined. Here's how to sort it out and start charging.

Symptoms

• Plug & Charge doesn't activate when you connect the CCS2 cable
• BMW Charging shows a payment error in the My BMW app
• The charger screen says authentication failed or payment declined
• Your RFID card is not recognized at this charging station
• Contactless card payment at the charger terminal is rejected

What to Do

1. 1

   Check if Plug & Charge is set up in the My BMW app

   Open the My BMW app, go to your charging settings, and verify that Plug & Charge is enabled and linked to an active payment method. If you see a setup prompt, complete it before trying again.

2. 2

   Update your payment method in BMW Charging

   In the My BMW app, navigate to your BMW Charging account and check your stored payment card. Update it if it's expired or recently replaced. The change should take effect within a few minutes.

3. 3

   Try the charging network's own app

   Identify which company operates the charger (the logo is usually on the unit). Download their app, create an account, add a payment method, and start the session through their app instead of BMW Charging.

4. 4

   Use a different RFID card or contactless payment

   If you have another RFID card from a different network, try that. Some chargers also accept contactless debit or credit cards. Look for a payment terminal on the charger, usually near the screen.

5. 5

   Try a different charger at the same station or a nearby station

   Sometimes a single charger's payment terminal malfunctions while others work fine. Try the next unit over. If the whole station is problematic, use iDrive navigation to find an alternative station nearby.

BMW i4 Charging Slower Than Expected? Fixes Here

Your BMW i4 eDrive40 supports up to 205 kW DC fast charging, but real-world speeds often fall short. Several factors specific to the i4's 80.7 kWh battery and 400V architecture can limit charging power. Here's how to diagnose and fix slow charging on your i4.

Symptoms

• DC charging speed stays well below 205 kW even at a high-power charger
• Charging curve drops sharply before reaching 60% state of charge
• AC charging at home or destination chargers maxes out at 3.6 kW instead of 11 kW
• iDrive curved display shows a lower charging rate than the charger's rated output
• Estimated charging time on the iDrive screen is much longer than expected

What to Do

1. 1

   Use iDrive navigation to route to your charging stop

   Enter the charging station as a waypoint or destination in iDrive. The i4 will automatically precondition the battery while you drive, warming it to the ideal temperature for fast charging. This alone can double your charging speed in cold weather.

2. 2

   Arrive at the charger with a lower state of charge

   The i4 charges fastest between 10% and 50%. If possible, plan your stop so you arrive closer to 10-20%. The difference between arriving at 15% versus 50% can save significant time.

3. 3

   Choose a charger stall that isn't sharing power

   Look at the charger setup. If two CCS2 cables come from one cabinet, pick a stall where the neighboring connector is free. Some stations label paired stalls with A/B designations.

4. 4

   Check your AC charging setup at home

   Open the My BMW app and look at the charging details during an AC session. If you're only getting 3.6 kW, your installation likely provides single-phase power. Ask your electrician about a three-phase connection to unlock the full 11 kW.

5. 5

   Check the charging status on the iDrive curved display

   While charging, the iDrive screen shows current power, estimated time remaining, and battery temperature. If power is low and battery temperature is also low, the car is still warming the pack. Give it a few minutes to ramp up.

6. 6

   Unplug at 80% and drive to the next charger if needed

   Charging from 80% to 100% on DC can take as long as 10% to 80%. On road trips, it's almost always faster to charge to 80%, drive, and stop again rather than waiting for a full charge.

EVBox app vs third-party operator confusion

You see an EVBox-branded charger and download the EVBox app, but the session will not start because the station is operated by a different company. Many EVBox chargers are hardware only, with a separate operator managing access and billing.

Symptoms

• EVBox app does not show the station or cannot start a session
• You created an EVBox account but the charger asks for a different app or RFID card
• Charger has EVBox branding but the screen shows a different company name
• QR code on the charger leads to a different operator's website or app

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check the operator name on the charger screen or signage

   Look at the charger display when it is idle. The operator name is usually shown on the welcome screen. Common operators using EVBox hardware include municipalities, parking companies, and energy providers.

2. 2

   Scan the QR code on the charger

   The QR code leads to the operator's platform, not necessarily EVBox. Scan it to find out which app or website you need.

3. 3

   Try a roaming RFID card

   If you have an RFID card from Shell Recharge, Chargemap, Plugsurfing, or another roaming provider, try tapping it. Many EVBox chargers accept roaming cards regardless of who operates them.

4. 4

   Search for the station in a multi-network app

   Apps like Chargemap or Shell Recharge aggregate many operators. Search for the charger location and you should see which operator runs it and how to start a session.

5. 5

   Download the correct operator's app

   Once you know who operates the station, download their app. The EVBox app only works for chargers that EVBox operates directly.

CHAdeMO connector availability varies

Some EVBox fast chargers have both CCS2 and CHAdeMO connectors, but the CHAdeMO connector may be out of service, removed, or restricted. CHAdeMO is being phased out in Europe and availability is declining.

Symptoms

• CHAdeMO connector is physically present but does not work
• Charger screen shows CHAdeMO as 'Unavailable' or 'Out of Order'
• CHAdeMO connector has been removed and the port is capped
• App shows CHAdeMO available but the physical connector is missing

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check the charger before relying on CHAdeMO

   If your vehicle uses CHAdeMO, visually confirm the connector is present and functional at the station before planning your stop. App data may not reflect recent hardware changes.

2. 2

   Try the CHAdeMO connector even if the app status is unclear

   Plug in and attempt to start a session. Sometimes the app shows a stale status but the connector works fine.

3. 3

   Have a CCS2 adapter as a long-term solution

   If your vehicle only has CHAdeMO (common in older Nissan Leafs and some Mitsubishi models), CHAdeMO infrastructure is shrinking across Europe. A CHAdeMO-to-CCS2 adapter may be worth investigating for your specific vehicle.

4. 4

   Filter for CHAdeMO in your charging app

   When planning a route, filter specifically for stations with verified CHAdeMO connectors. User reviews and recent check-ins are more reliable than operator listings for CHAdeMO availability.

RFID card registration process unclear

To use an RFID card at EVBox-operated stations, you may need to register the card through the EVBox platform first. The registration process is not always obvious.

Symptoms

• New RFID card does not work at the charger even after ordering it from EVBox
• Card works at other networks but not at EVBox-operated stations
• You received a card but there are no activation instructions
• Online portal asks for a card number format you do not recognize

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check the activation email

   When you order an RFID card from EVBox, they send an activation email. Check your inbox and spam folder. The email contains a link to activate the card in your EVBox account.

2. 2

   Add the card in the EVBox app or portal

   Log in to your EVBox account (app or web portal). Navigate to 'My cards' or 'Charge cards' and add the card using the number printed on it. The card does not work until it is linked to your account.

3. 3

   Wait for activation to propagate

   After registering the card, it may take up to 24 hours for the activation to reach all chargers. If the card does not work immediately after registration, try again the next day.

4. 4

   Use the app as a backup while the card activates

   You can start sessions through the EVBox app while waiting for your RFID card to activate. Tap 'Start charging' in the app and select the charger.

Charger offline due to firmware update

EVBox periodically pushes firmware updates to their chargers. During an update, the charger is temporarily unavailable. This can happen without warning and usually lasts 10 to 30 minutes.

Symptoms

• Charger screen shows 'Updating' or 'Maintenance' message
• Charger was working a few minutes ago but now shows as offline
• App shows the charger as unavailable with no estimated return time
• Multiple chargers at the same location are all offline simultaneously

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Wait 10 to 15 minutes

   Firmware updates on EVBox chargers usually complete within 10 to 30 minutes. If the charger shows an update message, it will likely come back online shortly.

2. 2

   Try another charger at the same location

   Firmware updates sometimes roll out one unit at a time. If there are multiple chargers, others may still be operational.

3. 3

   Check the app for status updates

   The operator's app or the EVBox app may show whether the outage is a scheduled update or an unexpected fault. Scheduled updates usually have an estimated completion time.

4. 4

   Move to an alternative station if you cannot wait

   If you need to charge immediately and the update is taking longer than expected, use a multi-network app to find the nearest available charger from any network.

Power sharing between connectors reduces speed

Some EVBox fast chargers share their power output between two connectors. When both are in use, each vehicle receives roughly half the charger's maximum power.

Symptoms

• Charging speed drops by half when a second car plugs into the same unit
• Dashboard shows 75 kW at a charger rated for 150 kW
• Speed suddenly increases when the car on the other connector finishes
• One side of the charger consistently delivers more power than the other

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check if both connectors are on the same unit

   EVBox dual-connector chargers share one power module. If both CCS2 cables come from the same physical cabinet, they share power. Two separate cabinets are two independent chargers.

2. 2

   Choose an unoccupied charger unit if available

   If multiple charger units are available, pick one where the other connector is not in use. You will get the full rated power to yourself.

3. 3

   Understand how power sharing works

   Power sharing is dynamic. The charger allocates power based on what each vehicle can accept. If the other vehicle is at 80% and barely drawing power, you may get most of the charger's output even while sharing.

4. 4

   Wait for the other car to finish

   If your speed is reduced by sharing, it will increase when the other vehicle finishes. Check your dashboard periodically. The speed change happens automatically without any action from you.

5. 5

   Check your vehicle's own limits first

   Before assuming power sharing is the issue, verify that your car is not limiting the speed due to battery temperature, state of charge above 80%, or its own maximum DC charging rate.