Mercedes eSprinter Charging at Mer

Mercedes eSprinter Van Charger Will Not Start Session

You have plugged in your Mercedes eSprinter and nothing is happening. Whether at the depot or a public charger mid-route, a session that will not start is a problem. The eSprinter uses standard CCS2 and Type 2 connectors, so the issue is usually authentication, settings, or the charger itself.

Symptoms

• CCS2 or Type 2 connector plugged in but no charging session starts
• MBUX does not show any charging activity
• The charger screen shows an error after plug-in
• The charge port indicator does not light up
• Depot wallbox shows no activity when the eSprinter is connected

What to Do

1. 1

   Authenticate with the charger

   At public stations, tap your RFID or fleet card, or use the charging app before plugging in. Wait for the charger screen to confirm the session is starting.

2. 2

   Firmly reinsert the connector

   Remove the connector, check the charge port for dirt or debris, then reinsert it firmly until you hear the locking click.

3. 3

   Disable departure time charging

   In MBUX, go to the charging settings and turn off any departure time or scheduled charging. This allows immediate charging when you plug in.

4. 4

   Check depot charging queue

   If at the depot, check with your fleet manager whether load management is queuing your van. Some systems show queue status on the wallbox display.

5. 5

   Lock and unlock the eSprinter

   Lock the van with the key, wait 20 seconds, then unlock. This resets the charging system and can clear fault states.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If the charger cannot negotiate with the eSprinter's LFP battery system, try a newer or higher-rated charger. Some older 50 kW chargers have compatibility issues.

Mercedes eSprinter Van Payment Failed at the Charger

You are at a public charger with your Mercedes eSprinter and the payment is not going through. With a large van and a delivery schedule to keep, payment problems are the last thing you need. Here is how to resolve it quickly and get back on the road.

Symptoms

• Fleet charging card is declined at the charger
• RFID card does not register when tapped
• Charging app shows a payment or authorization error
• Contactless bank card is declined
• The charger screen shows an error and will not start the session

What to Do

1. 1

   Check which payments the charger accepts

   Read the stickers and screen on the charger. If your fleet card logo is not shown, the charger is not on your network.

2. 2

   Try an alternative payment method

   Use a personal RFID card, a different charging app, or a contactless bank card. Keep the receipt for reimbursement from your company.

3. 3

   Check fleet card status

   Contact your fleet manager or the card provider to verify the card is active and has not exceeded its spending limit.

4. 4

   Hold the card steadily for 3 seconds

   Place the card flat on the reader without moving. Remove gloves if wearing them. Some readers need a full 3-second contact to register.

5. 5

   Cancel any stuck sessions

   If a previous payment attempt is stuck, cancel it in the app and wait a minute before trying again.

6. 6

   Move to a different charger

   If the payment terminal is broken, try the next unit. Do not waste delivery time on a faulty card reader.

Mercedes eSprinter Van Charging Slower Than Expected

Your Mercedes eSprinter has a large 113 kWh LFP battery, which means charging sessions take longer than smaller vans even at peak speed. But if you are seeing speeds well below 115 kW on DC, something else is going on. Here is what to check.

Symptoms

• DC fast charging well below the 115 kW maximum
• Depot AC charging is slow with the large 113 kWh battery
• Charging speed drops sharply after 50-60% state of charge
• Cold weather charging starts at very low power
• A full DC charge takes significantly longer than expected

What to Do

1. 1

   Use navigation to precondition the battery

   Set the DC charger as your destination in the MBUX navigation. The eSprinter will precondition the LFP battery to the ideal temperature, which is critical for fast charging, especially in cold weather.

2. 2

   Plan charging stops for low state of charge

   Charge between 10-60% for the fastest DC speeds. With the LFP battery, you can safely charge to 100% daily without degradation concerns, but the last 20% will be slow.

3. 3

   Use high-power chargers

   Choose chargers rated 150 kW or higher to ensure the eSprinter can reach its 115 kW peak. On a 50 kW charger, a 113 kWh battery takes a very long time.

4. 4

   Upgrade depot chargers if needed

   For a 113 kWh battery, 11 kW three-phase AC is the minimum for reliable overnight charging. If your depot has single-phase or 7 kW chargers, discuss an upgrade with your fleet manager.

5. 5

   Avoid shared charger stalls

   At public stations, choose a charger where both connectors are free. With the eSprinter's large battery, shared power extends charging significantly.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If speeds are well below 80-90 kW at a low state of charge with a warm battery, the charger may be faulty. Try another unit.

Station occupancy not updating in the app

The Mer app shows a station as available, but when you arrive, all connectors are occupied or out of service. The real-time status in the app can lag behind by several minutes.

Symptoms

• App shows "Available" but all connectors are in use when you arrive
• App shows a station as occupied but the chargers are visibly free
• Connector status flickers between available and occupied in the app
• Recently freed connectors still show as "In use" in the app for several minutes

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Pull to refresh the station detail in the Mer app

   On the station page, pull down to force a status refresh. The app does not always update automatically, and a manual refresh often shows the correct status.

2. 2

   Close and reopen the app

   Force-close the Mer app and reopen it. This clears any cached station data and pulls a fresh status from the server.

3. 3

   Check a third-party app for a second opinion

   Apps like Plugsurfing, A Better Route Planner, or Google Maps sometimes pull fresher data from Mer's backend. Use one of these to verify availability if the Mer app seems wrong.

4. 4

   Drive to the station if it is nearby

   If the station is less than five minutes away, it is often faster to just go and check. Occupancy can change in the time it takes to troubleshoot the app.

Third-party RFID card rejected

You are trying to authenticate with an RFID card from a roaming provider like Plugsurfing, NewMotion, or Virta, but the Mer charger rejects it. Not all third-party RFID cards are accepted at every Mer station.

Symptoms

• Charger screen shows "Card not recognized" after tapping
• The charger beeps once but nothing happens
• Your RFID card works at other networks but fails at Mer
• The charger prompts you to try again but repeated taps do not help

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Hold the card flat against the reader for three full seconds

   Do not tap and remove quickly. Some Mer readers need a longer hold to register the card. Keep it pressed flat against the RFID symbol.

2. 2

   Check if your roaming provider covers Mer stations

   Open your roaming provider's app and search for this specific Mer station. Some providers have roaming agreements with Mer but not for every station type or region.

3. 3

   Use the Mer app instead

   Download the Mer app if you do not have it. Create an account and add a payment method. You can start the session through the app even if your RFID card does not work.

4. 4

   Try contactless bank card payment

   Newer Mer stations have a contactless payment terminal. Look for a card reader with the contactless payment symbol. Tap your bank card or phone to start.

5. 5

   Try a Mer-issued RFID card for future visits

   You can order an RFID card directly from Mer through their app or website. Mer's own cards are accepted at all Mer stations without roaming issues.

Charger screen showing error but no error code

The charger screen displays a generic error message like "Error" or "Fault" without any specific code or explanation. This makes it hard to know if the problem is temporary or if the unit is broken.

Symptoms

• Charger screen shows "Error" or a red warning icon with no further detail
• The error appears before you even try to authenticate
• The error appears after plugging in but before power delivery starts
• Screen alternates between the normal start screen and the error message

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Unplug the connector and wait 30 seconds

   Some Mer chargers show transient errors after a previous session ended abnormally. Unplugging and waiting gives the charger time to reset its internal state.

2. 2

   Try the other connector on the same unit

   If the station has a second CCS2 connector, try that one. A hardware fault on one connector does not always affect the other.

3. 3

   Check if other cars are successfully charging at the station

   If nobody at the station is charging, the entire station may be down. If others are charging fine, the issue is limited to your connector.

4. 4

   Report the faulty unit in the Mer app

   Open the Mer app, find the station, and report the issue. Include which connector number has the error. This helps Mer send a technician and warns other drivers.

5. 5

   Move to a different station

   A charger with a persistent generic error is unlikely to start working on its own. Use the Mer app to find the nearest alternative station.

Cable locked and will not release in cold weather

You finished charging but the CCS2 cable will not unlock from your car. In Nordic winters, ice can form around the connector locking mechanism, making it physically difficult to release.

Symptoms

• Pressing the connector release button does not unlock the cable
• The connector feels frozen in place
• Your car shows "Charging complete" but the cable is stuck
• The locking pin on the connector is visibly iced over

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Make sure the charging session has fully ended

   The cable stays locked while a session is active. Stop the session in the Mer app or on the charger screen, then try releasing the connector again. Wait 10 seconds after the session ends.

2. 2

   Try unlocking from your car

   Most EVs have a cable release option in the infotainment system or a button near the charge port. Use your car's unlock function rather than the connector button.

3. 3

   Warm the connector gently

   If ice is the problem, pour lukewarm water (not boiling) over the connector and charge port area. You can also cup your hands around the connector to warm it with body heat. Do not use force or tools to pry it free.

4. 4

   Run the car's cabin heater for a few minutes

   Turning on the car's climate system can gradually warm the charge port area from the inside. This works slowly but can free a mildly frozen connector after 5-10 minutes.

5. 5

   Call Mer support if the cable is truly stuck

   If nothing works after 15 minutes, call the support number on the charger. Mer can remotely release the cable lock on their end. Do not pull with excessive force as this can damage both the connector and your car's charge port.

App requires location services for remote start

The Mer app asks you to enable location services before you can start a charging session, even when you are standing right next to the charger and selected it manually from the map.

Symptoms

• App shows "Enable location services to start charging" popup
• Start button is grayed out until location permission is granted
• The app worked fine before but now demands location after an update
• You can browse the map but cannot start a session without GPS enabled

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Enable location services temporarily

   Go to your phone's settings, find the Mer app, and set location access to "While Using the App." You can change it back after your session.

2. 2

   Make sure GPS has a fix

   In underground parking garages or areas with poor GPS reception, the app may not be able to confirm your location. Step outside or move closer to an open area until the app detects your position.

3. 3

   Use RFID or contactless payment instead

   If you do not want to share your location, use your RFID card or a contactless bank card to start the session. These methods do not require the app at all.

4. 4

   Scan the QR code on the charger

   Some Mer chargers have a QR code that opens the start process in a browser, bypassing the app's location requirement.

Former Grønn Kontakt station not found in Mer app

Mer acquired Grønn Kontakt in Norway, but some older stations may not appear correctly in the Mer app, especially during the transition period.

Symptoms

• Station visible on the street but not on the Mer app map
• Searching by the old Grønn Kontakt name returns no results
• QR code on the charger links to a Grønn Kontakt page that no longer works
• RFID card from Grønn Kontakt account rejected

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Update the Mer app to the latest version

   Older versions of the app may not include recently migrated Grønn Kontakt stations. Update from the App Store or Google Play.

2. 2

   Search by the station's physical address

   Instead of searching by station name, try the street address or zoom into the location on the app map. The station may appear under a new Mer name.

3. 3

   Enter the charger ID manually

   Look for a station or connector ID printed on the charger hardware. Enter this ID in the Mer app's manual start option.

4. 4

   Use contactless payment to bypass the app

   If the station has a payment terminal, tap your bank card to start. This works independently of whether the app has the station listed.