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This guide is for general troubleshooting only. EVcourse is not affiliated with Recharge. For account issues or charger-specific faults, contact Recharge support directly.

Troubleshooting

Recharge Charger Not Working?

Updated March 2026

You pulled up to a Recharge station, plugged in, and something is not right. Maybe the app cannot find the charger, or the session is stuck on "preparing" with no sign of progress. Recharge runs a large network across Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and most problems at their stations can be solved in a few minutes without calling support.

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Recharge Quick Reference

Max power
300 kW
Connectors
CCS2
Payment
app, RFID, contactless
Type
Charge Point Operator

Showing 5 of 5 issues

Charger stuck in "preparing" state

You authenticated successfully, the charger says "preparing," but it never starts delivering power. This is one of the most reported issues on Recharge stations, especially at older units.

Symptoms

  • Charger screen shows "Preparing" or "Initializing" for more than two minutes
  • Your car's charging indicator does not activate
  • The Recharge app shows the session as active but 0 kW delivered
  • The charger fan spins up but no power flows

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Wait up to three minutes

    Some Recharge units, particularly the 300kW stations, take longer to complete the power handshake with your car. Give it a full three minutes before taking action.

  2. 2

    Unplug and reconnect

    Remove the CCS2 connector, wait 15 seconds, then plug it back in firmly. This resets the communication between your car and the charger.

  3. 3

    Stop the session in the Recharge app and start a new one

    Open the Recharge app, tap Stop on the active session, wait for it to fully end, then start a new session on the same charger. This clears any stuck state on the backend.

  4. 4

    Try the other connector on the same unit

    Many Recharge stations have two CCS2 connectors. If one is stuck, the other connector on the same unit often works fine.

  5. 5

    Use a different authentication method

    If you started with the app, try your RFID card instead, or vice versa. Sometimes the issue is with the authentication path, not the charger hardware.

Old Fortum branding causes app scan failure

Recharge was formerly Fortum Charge & Drive. Some older stations still display Fortum logos and QR codes. Scanning an old Fortum QR code with the Recharge app may not work, or it may redirect to a dead Fortum page.

Symptoms

  • QR code on the charger opens a Fortum website or shows an error
  • Recharge app says "Charger not found" after scanning
  • Station ID on the physical unit does not match what the Recharge app expects
  • The charger has Fortum branding but is listed as Recharge in third-party apps

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Ignore the QR code and search by station name in the Recharge app

    Open the Recharge app, use the map or search to find the station by location. The charger will appear under its Recharge name even if the physical unit still says Fortum.

  2. 2

    Enter the charger ID manually

    Look for a numeric ID on the charger, often printed on a sticker near the connector. In the Recharge app, tap "Enter ID" and type it in directly.

  3. 3

    Use RFID or contactless payment instead of the app

    Tap your Recharge RFID card or a contactless bank card on the reader. This bypasses the app entirely and works regardless of the branding on the charger.

  4. 4

    Check if contactless is available on this unit

    Not all Recharge stations support contactless bank card payment. Look for a card reader terminal on the charger. If there is no terminal, you will need the app or an RFID card.

RFID card from old Fortum account not recognized

If you had a Fortum Charge & Drive account and RFID card, it may not work automatically on the Recharge network. Some cards were migrated, others were not.

Symptoms

  • Tapping your old Fortum RFID card shows "Card not recognized" on the charger
  • The charger beeps but does not start a session
  • Your Fortum card works on some stations but not others

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Log in to the Recharge app and check your RFID cards

    Open the Recharge app, go to your account settings, and look under RFID cards. If your old Fortum card is not listed, it was not migrated automatically.

  2. 2

    Re-register your RFID card

    In the Recharge app, tap "Add RFID card" and follow the steps. You will need the card number printed on the back of your RFID card.

  3. 3

    Use the app to start the session while you wait for RFID activation

    RFID card registration can take up to 24 hours to propagate across all stations. Use the app to authenticate in the meantime.

  4. 4

    Order a new Recharge RFID card if re-registration fails

    Some older Fortum cards use a chip format that is not compatible. You can order a new Recharge RFID card through the app or website.

Contactless payment not accepted

You are trying to tap your bank card or phone to pay, but the charger does not respond or shows an error. Contactless payment availability varies across Recharge stations.

Symptoms

  • No card reader terminal visible on the charger
  • Card reader shows "Payment failed" or does not respond to taps
  • Apple Pay or Google Pay not recognized
  • The charger prompts for an RFID card but you only have a bank card

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Check if this station supports contactless payment

    Look for a separate payment terminal with a contactless symbol. Not all Recharge stations have been upgraded. The Recharge app shows payment options for each station on the station detail page.

  2. 2

    Try removing and re-holding your card

    Hold your card flat against the reader for at least three seconds. Some terminals need a longer hold than you might expect. Remove the card fully, then try again.

  3. 3

    Fall back to the Recharge app

    If contactless is not working, open the Recharge app and start the session from there. You need a payment method saved in the app.

  4. 4

    Try a different card

    Some Visa Electron and certain prepaid cards are not accepted by the payment terminals. A standard Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card usually works.

Charging speed much lower than expected

The station is rated for 300kW, but your car is only pulling 50kW or less. While your car's battery management limits the maximum speed, Recharge stations can also throttle power.

Symptoms

  • Charger display shows far less power than the station's rated capacity
  • Charging speed drops suddenly mid-session
  • Other cars at the same station are also charging slowly
  • The Recharge app shows the session but at low power

How to Fix It

  1. 1

    Check how many other cars are charging at the same station

    Recharge stations with multiple connectors often share a power cabinet. If two or three cars are charging simultaneously, the available power per car drops. This is normal and not a fault.

  2. 2

    Check your battery level

    DC fast charging slows significantly above 80% on most EVs. If your battery is above 70-80%, the slower speed is your car protecting the battery, not a problem with the Recharge station.

  3. 3

    Check the temperature

    In cold weather, your car may limit charging speed until the battery warms up. This can take 10-15 minutes of charging before speeds increase. Some cars precondition the battery if you set the charger as a destination in navigation.

  4. 4

    Try a different connector at the station

    Individual connectors can have faults that limit power output. If another connector is free, unplug and try it.

  5. 5

    Report the issue in the Recharge app

    If the speed is unusually low and none of the above apply, report it through the Recharge app. Tap the active session and look for a "Report issue" option. This helps Recharge identify hardware problems.

Recharge App Tips

  • Save a payment method in the Recharge app before you arrive at the station. Adding a card while standing at a charger in the rain is not fun.
  • Use the Recharge app map to check station availability before driving there. The real-time status is generally reliable for showing which connectors are free.
  • Enable push notifications in the Recharge app. You will get an alert when your session ends, which is useful if you are in a shop or restaurant nearby.
  • If the app is slow to load or crashes, force-close it and reopen. The Recharge app occasionally hangs after a system update on your phone.
  • Check the station detail page in the app for the exact connector types and maximum power. Some Recharge stations have both 50kW and 300kW connectors at the same location.

Payment Troubleshooting

  • Contactless bank card payment is being rolled out but is not available at every Recharge station yet. Always have the app or an RFID card as a backup.
  • The Recharge app supports multiple saved payment cards. If one fails, switch to another card in the app settings before trying again.
  • RFID cards from roaming providers like Plugsurfing or NewMotion work at most Recharge stations, but not all. Check your roaming provider's coverage map.
  • If you are charged for a session that did not deliver power, you can dispute it through the Recharge app under your charging history. Select the session and tap "Report a problem."

When to Contact Recharge Support

If you have tried restarting the session, switching connectors, and using a different authentication method but the charger still will not work, contact Recharge support. You can reach them through the Recharge app by tapping Help in the menu, or by calling the support number displayed on the charger. Have the station ID and connector number ready. For billing disputes, use the in-app charging history to report the problem directly on the affected session.

You can also report charger issues through the Recharge app. Reporting helps them fix problems faster.

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