Volvo EX40 Charging at Le Plein

Volvo EX40 Plugged In but the Charger Will Not Start

You plugged the cable into your Volvo EX40 and nothing happens. No charging animation on the center screen, no LED on the charger, or the charger shows an error. This is one of the most common frustrations at public chargers and is usually caused by authentication, the charge port, or the charger itself.

Symptoms

• Charger displays an error code or flashing red light after plugging in
• Charge port LED on the EX40 does not turn on or stays amber
• Google Built-In display shows no active charging session
• Charger screen says 'waiting for vehicle' or 'authentication failed'
• Cable is plugged in but the connector does not lock into the charge port

What to Do

1. 1

   Check if authentication is required

   Look at the charger's screen. Most public chargers need you to tap an RFID card, scan a QR code, or start the session through an app before charging begins. Plug & Charge works on some networks but not all.

2. 2

   Open the charge port fully

   Make sure the charge port door on the left rear of your EX40 is fully open. Press the edge of the door to release it if it is stuck. Clear any ice or debris in cold weather.

3. 3

   Push the connector in firmly

   Insert the CCS connector straight into the port and push until you hear a click. The connector should lock in place. If it will not lock, do not force it. Check for debris in the port.

4. 4

   Disable scheduled charging

   On the center display, go to Settings, then Charging. Check if a charging schedule is active. Turn it off or set it to 'charge immediately' to start charging at a public charger.

5. 5

   Unplug and try again

   Disconnect the cable, wait 10 seconds, and plug in again. Sometimes the communication handshake between car and charger fails on the first attempt and a retry resolves it.

6. 6

   Try a different charger or connector

   If the charger still will not start, move to a different stall or station. The charger may have an internal fault even if no error is displayed.

Volvo EX40 Charger Payment Failed or Card Declined

You are standing at a charger with your Volvo EX40, ready to charge, and the payment does not go through. Your card is declined, the app shows an error, or you cannot figure out how to pay at all. Payment problems at public chargers are one of the most common frustrations and usually have nothing to do with your car.

Symptoms

• Charger screen shows 'payment failed' or 'card declined'
• Charging app shows an error when trying to start a session
• No visible way to pay at the charger
• Contactless payment terminal does not respond to your card or phone
• Plug & Charge does not activate and the charger waits for payment

What to Do

1. 1

   Check if Plug & Charge is active

   Open the Volvo Cars app and check if Plug & Charge is enabled and linked to a payment method. If it is active, try unplugging and replugging the connector. Plug & Charge works only on supported networks.

2. 2

   Try a different payment method

   If your card was declined, try a different card, your phone's mobile wallet, or the charger network's app. Many chargers accept multiple payment options.

3. 3

   Check your card for pre-authorization holds

   Open your banking app and check for pending charges. If there are multiple holds from earlier charging attempts, your available balance may be too low. Call your bank to release them if needed.

4. 4

   Download the charger network's app

   Look at the charger for the network name or logo. Download their app, create an account, add a payment method, and start the session through the app instead of the charger's payment terminal.

5. 5

   Use an RFID charging card

   If you have an RFID card from a charging provider, tap it on the charger's reader. RFID cards work even when apps and contactless terminals fail. They are a reliable backup.

Volvo EX40 Charging Slower Than Expected at DC or AC

You plugged in your Volvo EX40 expecting 150 kW and the center screen shows 30 kW. Or your home wallbox is stuck at 3 kW instead of 11 kW. Slow charging on the EX40 is almost never a defect. It is usually the battery temperature, the charger itself, or a setting in the Volvo Cars app you can fix quickly.

Symptoms

• DC fast charging speed well below the 150 kW maximum
• AC home charging stuck at 3-4 kW instead of 11 kW
• Charging speed drops sharply after reaching 50-60%
• Google Built-In display shows lower power than the charger's rating
• Charging session starts at a reasonable speed but slows within minutes

What to Do

1. 1

   Check the battery temperature on the display

   Look at the charging screen on the EX40's center display (Google Built-In). If the battery is cold, drive for 15-20 minutes before charging or use the Volvo Cars app to start preconditioning before you arrive.

2. 2

   Use navigation to precondition the battery

   Set the charger as your destination in Google Maps on the center screen. The EX40 will automatically precondition the battery during the drive so it reaches optimal temperature for fast charging.

3. 3

   Check your state of charge

   If you are above 80%, the slower speed is normal. For fastest DC charging, arrive between 10-20% and charge to 80%. The last 20% takes as long as the first 80%.

4. 4

   Verify the charger is not sharing power

   Look at the charging unit. If there are two cables and someone is using the other one, you are likely sharing power. Move to a charger where both stalls are free.

5. 5

   Check the AC charge current setting

   In the EX40's settings menu, check that the charge current limiter is set to maximum. A reduced setting limits AC charging speed and is sometimes changed accidentally.

6. 6

   Try a different charger

   If the speed is still low, the charger itself may be degraded. Try a different connector at the same station, or drive to another charging location.

App and charger interface only in French

The Le Plein app and the charger screen interface are primarily in French. If you do not read French, navigating menus and understanding error messages takes extra effort.

Symptoms

• The app menus, buttons, and instructions are entirely in French
• The charger screen shows an error message you cannot read
• You cannot find the 'start session' button because the labels are in French
• Support articles and FAQ in the app are in French only

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Learn the key French charging terms

   A few words go a long way. 'Démarrer' means start, 'Arrêter' means stop, 'Brancher' means plug in, 'En charge' means charging, 'Disponible' means available, 'Hors service' means out of order. With these, you can navigate most screens.

2. 2

   Use your phone's translation feature on the charger screen

   Most smartphones can translate text from a photo. Point your camera at the charger screen and use Google Translate, Apple Translate, or a similar app to read the message. This works well for error messages you do not recognize.

3. 3

   Set up the session flow before you arrive

   Open the Le Plein app at home and familiarize yourself with the session flow: find station, select charger, start session. Once you know where the buttons are, the French labels matter less.

4. 4

   Use your phone's built-in app translation if available

   On Android, you can translate app interfaces using the system translation feature. On iOS, you can take a screenshot and translate it. This helps with menus and settings you need to navigate once.

RFID card ordering process through the app

Le Plein RFID cards can only be ordered through the app. There is no option to buy one at a station or from a retail location. The ordering and activation process has a few steps that can trip people up.

Symptoms

• You want an RFID card but cannot find where to order it
• You ordered a card but it has not arrived after the expected delivery time
• Your RFID card arrived but does not work at the charger
• The app says your card is active but the charger does not recognize it

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Order the card through the Le Plein app account section

   Open the Le Plein app, go to your account or profile settings, and look for an RFID card or badge option. Follow the ordering flow, which will ask for your delivery address. Delivery takes several business days within France.

2. 2

   Activate the card in the app after it arrives

   When the card arrives, you may need to activate it in the Le Plein app by entering the card number or scanning it. Check the instructions that came with the card. An unactivated card will not start a session.

3. 3

   Make sure your payment method is valid

   The RFID card charges sessions to the payment method saved in your Le Plein account. If your saved card has expired or been declined, the RFID card will not work even though it is activated. Update your payment details in the app.

4. 4

   Use the app to start sessions while waiting for the RFID card

   You do not need the physical RFID card to charge. The Le Plein app can start sessions directly. Use the app until your card arrives and is activated.

Station coverage concentrated in certain French regions

Le Plein's network does not cover all of France equally. Some regions have good coverage while others have very few or no stations. This can be a problem on longer trips.

Symptoms

• The app shows no Le Plein stations along a section of your route
• Stations are clustered around certain cities but absent in rural areas between them
• You planned a trip assuming Le Plein coverage and found a gap
• The nearest Le Plein station is far from your destination

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Check Le Plein coverage along your entire route before departing

   Open the Le Plein app and trace your route on the map. Look for gaps where there are no stations for long stretches. Identify these gaps before you leave, not when your battery is low.

2. 2

   Install backup charging apps for other French networks

   France has several other charging networks, including Ionity, TotalEnergies, Fastned, and local operators. Having apps for two or three networks ensures you always have a fallback when Le Plein coverage runs out.

3. 3

   Use a roaming RFID card for multi-network access

   A roaming card from Chargemap or another aggregator can access chargers from multiple French networks. This is especially useful in areas where Le Plein has no presence.

4. 4

   Plan with a multi-network route planner

   A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) or Chargemap show stations from all networks. Enter your vehicle and destination to get charging stops that work regardless of the operator.

Charger screen errors you cannot decipher

When something goes wrong at a Le Plein charger, the error message on the screen is in French. If you do not understand the message, you cannot tell whether to retry or move on.

Symptoms

• The screen shows an error code or message in French after you plug in
• The charger stopped mid-session and the screen displays a French message
• You see 'Hors service' or 'Erreur' but do not know the specific problem
• The screen shows instructions you cannot follow

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Photo-translate the error message

   Take a photo of the screen and use Google Translate's camera feature or Apple Translate to read it. This gives you the specific error, not just a guess.

2. 2

   Know the most common French charger errors

   'Hors service' means out of order, do not wait. 'Erreur de communication' means a communication error between charger and vehicle, try replugging. 'Session en cours' means a session is already active, possibly from a previous user who did not end it. 'Veuillez patienter' means please wait.

3. 3

   Try unplugging and reconnecting

   Many charger errors clear themselves when you unplug, wait 30 seconds, and plug in again. This resets the communication between your vehicle and the charger.

4. 4

   End any stuck session in the Le Plein app

   If the charger thinks a session is still active from a previous user, you may not be able to start a new one. Check the app to see if there is an active session on that charger. Sometimes you need to wait for it to time out.

5. 5

   Move to another charger if the error persists

   If the same error appears after two or three attempts, the charger likely has a hardware or software issue. Try another charger at the same station, or drive to the next Le Plein or alternative station.

Support phone line in French only

Le Plein's support phone line is staffed by French-speaking agents. If you need help at a station and do not speak French, communication can be difficult.

Symptoms

• You called support and the agent speaks only French
• The automated phone menu is in French with no language option
• You cannot explain your problem over the phone
• You need urgent help at a station but cannot communicate effectively

How to Fix It

1. 1

   Try the app's support or help section first

   Written support through the app (email, contact form, or chat) gives you time to use a translation tool. Type your question in English, translate it to French, and paste it. This is often more effective than a phone call.

2. 2

   Prepare a few key phrases in advance

   If you may need to call, have these ready: 'La borne ne fonctionne pas' (the charger is not working), 'Le câble est bloqué' (the cable is stuck), 'J'ai besoin d'aide' (I need help), and the station number or location name.

3. 3

   Use a real-time translation app during the call

   Google Translate's conversation mode can translate speech in both directions. It is not perfect, but it helps bridge the gap. Open it before you call.

4. 4

   Ask a nearby person for help if available

   If you are at a station and someone nearby speaks both French and your language, asking for a quick translation assist is perfectly reasonable. Most people are happy to help.