Mercedes eVito Charging at Mer

Mercedes eVito Van Charger Will Not Start a Session

You have connected the charger to your Mercedes eVito and nothing is happening. No session, no power, no charging light. When you are between jobs or trying to charge at the depot, you need this resolved quickly. Here is how.

Symptoms

• CCS2 or Type 2 connector is plugged in but no session starts
• The MBUX display does not show charging activity
• The charger screen shows an error after plug-in
• The charge port indicator stays off or flashes amber
• The depot wallbox status light does not change when plugged in

What to Do

1. 1

   Authenticate before plugging in

   At public chargers, tap your RFID card or start the session in the app before inserting the connector. Wait for the charger to confirm it is ready.

2. 2

   Clean and reinsert the connector

   Remove the connector, wipe the charge port on the eVito with a dry cloth to remove any dirt, then reinsert the connector firmly until it clicks.

3. 3

   Check MBUX charging settings

   On the MBUX display, navigate to the charging menu. Check if departure time charging is active. Disable it for immediate charging.

4. 4

   Check the depot electrical panel

   If at the depot, check the circuit breaker for the charging circuit. Also check the wallbox status indicator. Report issues to your fleet manager.

5. 5

   Lock and unlock the van

   Use the key to lock the eVito, wait 20 seconds, then unlock. This can reset the charging electronics after a fault state.

6. 6

   Move to a different charger

   If the charger is faulty, do not waste time. Move to another unit or station, especially if you are mid-route.

Mercedes eVito Van Payment Failed at Charging Station

You are at a public charger with your Mercedes eVito and the payment will not go through. Whether it is a fleet card, personal RFID, or an app, payment failures at public chargers waste time between jobs. Here is how to resolve it fast.

Symptoms

• Fleet card does not start a session at the charger
• RFID card tap produces no response
• Charging app shows a payment authorization error
• Contactless bank card is declined
• Charger shows 'payment failed' on the screen

What to Do

1. 1

   Check accepted payment methods

   Look at the charger stickers and screen for accepted networks and cards. If your fleet card logo is not shown, this charger is not on your network.

2. 2

   Try a different payment method

   Switch between fleet card, personal RFID, charging app, and contactless bank card. One may work where others fail.

3. 3

   Verify fleet card status

   Contact your fleet manager or check the fleet card provider app to confirm the card is active and has not hit a spending limit.

4. 4

   Hold the card steadily

   Place the card flat against the reader for 3 seconds. Do not tap and pull away quickly. Gloves can interfere with NFC reading.

5. 5

   Cancel and retry

   Cancel any pending session in the app, wait 60 seconds, and start a fresh attempt.

6. 6

   Move to another charger unit

   If the payment reader on this unit is broken, try the next charger at the station. Do not waste time troubleshooting hardware you cannot fix.

Mercedes eVito Van Charging Slower Than Expected Speed

Your Mercedes eVito is charging slower than the 110 kW DC maximum. Or your depot wallbox is barely delivering power overnight. Without battery preconditioning, the eVito is especially sensitive to cold weather. Here is what to check and how to improve your charging speed.

Symptoms

• DC fast charging well below the 110 kW maximum
• Depot AC charging stuck at 3-4 kW instead of 11 kW
• Charging speed drops quickly after 40-50% state of charge
• Winter charging starts extremely slowly
• Mid-route DC charging takes too long between jobs

What to Do

1. 1

   Drive before charging in cold weather

   Since the eVito lacks preconditioning, drive for at least 20-30 minutes before stopping at a DC charger in winter. This warms the battery through use.

2. 2

   Charge between 20-50% for fastest speeds

   Plan your mid-route charging stops to arrive between 20-50% state of charge. This is where the eVito can approach its 110 kW peak.

3. 3

   Check your depot charger wiring

   Ask your fleet manager or electrician to verify the depot wallbox is wired for three-phase at 16A per phase for 11 kW. Single-phase installations are common but much slower.

4. 4

   Choose unshared DC chargers

   At public stations, check if the charger is sharing power. If another vehicle is on the paired connector, try a different unit.

5. 5

   Use MBUX to check charging status

   The MBUX infotainment system shows current charging power and estimated time. Use this to verify speeds and decide if you should move to a different charger.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If speeds remain well below expected at a low state of charge, the charger may be faulty. Move to 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.