Audi and Porsche have a safer mobile charging cable for EV, PHEV models

Audi and Porsche are conducting a recall of 240-volt Stage 2 AC charging cables for EVs and plug-in hybrids.

The recall covers 93,196 Audi automobiles within the U.S. from mannequin years 2019 to 2024, together with the E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback, This fall E-Tron and This fall E-Tron Sportback, and E-Tron GT EVs, in addition to the Q5 plug-in hybrid. Porsche is recalling 41,345 U.S.-market automobiles for a similar problem, together with the all-electric Taycan and plug-in hybrid variations of the Cayenne and Panamera.

2021 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Govt

The difficulty is not with the automobiles themselves, although, recall paperwork say. Audi and Porsche are conscious of circumstances of “melting/overheating” when the cables provided with the affected automobiles from supply had been plugged into NEMA 14-50 retailers. Nonetheless, the automakers imagine this is because of issues with these family retailers, or the wiring or circuit breakers they’re related to.

So as to add an additional layer of security, Audi and Porsche are changing current cables with ones which have temperature sensors to detect overheating. The brand new cables will not be accessible till mid-2024, however after they arrive homeowners will get them freed from cost from dealerships. Within the meantime, homeowners are suggested to not use the 240-volt residence charging cable, and as a substitute use solely a Stage 1 110-volt cable when charging at residence.

2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo

It is potential to get by on 110-volt residence charging with some plug-in hybrids, but it surely’s a stretch for all-electric fashions. However a number of the homeowners of the affected automobiles might use wallbox residence chargers as a substitute of plugging a cost cable instantly into an outlet. A 2021 research urged EV homeowners had been more satisfied with wall chargers than cost cables, though one other research out that 12 months discovered that EV homeowners might not be aware of all home-charging choices.

This is not the primary occasion of charging cables with the potential to overheat. Tesla had the same problem that triggered a recall of accessory adapter cables in 2016. Tesla and another automakers have even stopped including mobile charge cables with EVs.