[linuxworld]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to buy a TATA EV car in 2024. I have a query from the charging point of view. I stay in an apartment and have dedicated basement-level car parking. While there is space to install a charger, unfortunately, the basement has no mobile or wifi network. Do EV cars need access to the internet to sync and update charging metrics with the mobile app all the time? Does charging always require access to a mobile app, and charging won't happen without connectivity? Is mobile app connectivity a mandatory requirement in EVs, or is it just an optional thing for convenience where you will know the status of your car through the app?

I would love to know from experts here if this is concerning or if I am getting unnecessarily worried about charging. Thanks

[mally2]

Originally Posted by linuxworld

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to buy a TATA EV car in 2024. I have a query from the charging point of view. I stay in an apartment and have dedicated basement-level car parking. While there is space to install a charger, unfortunately, the basement has no mobile or wifi network. Do EV cars need access to the internet to sync and update charging metrics with the mobile app all the time? Does charging always require access to a mobile app, and charging won't happen without connectivity? Is mobile app connectivity a mandatory requirement in EVs, or is it just an optional thing for convenience where you will know the status of your car through the app?

I would love to know from experts here if this is concerning or if I am getting unnecessarily worried about charging. Thanks

Not at all a requirement. All you need in electricity everything else is optional. You would miss the connected features like checking SoC and remotely opening the door etc. should not matter from a charging perspective

[SidTheChamp]

Originally Posted by linuxworld

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to buy a TATA EV car in 2024. I have a query from the charging point of view. I stay in an apartment and have dedicated basement-level car parking. While there is space to install a charger, unfortunately, the basement has no mobile or wifi network. Do EV cars need access to the internet to sync and update charging metrics with the mobile app all the time? Does charging always require access to a mobile app, and charging won't happen without connectivity? Is mobile app connectivity a mandatory requirement in EVs, or is it just an optional thing for convenience where you will know the status of your car through the app?

I would love to know from experts here if this is concerning or if I am getting unnecessarily worried about charging. Thanks

While charging all you need is electric source. You don't need internet. In buildings, usually only AC power source is installed which is normal charge.

In public charge points, usually you need to pay from your Charging App to use. So there is some internet required for the app usage before charging, that's all.

Also note, public charging points usually have an additional DC fast charge point. You can use that to charge really fast.

Your car will also have two charging sockets, one for AC , one for fast DC charging

[Zefoca]

Charging is independent of wifi .You should have no problems.Enjoy your EV.

[Saanil]

Originally Posted by mally2

Not at all a requirement. All you need in electricity everything else is optional. You would miss the connected features like checking SoC and remotely opening the door etc. should not matter from a charging perspective

Are you referring to the Zconnect app? Do we need to pay any subscription fees for that if you own a TATA EV vehicle or is it free? I recently purchased Nexon EV but the dealer did not give any information about the connected features.

[mally2]

Originally Posted by Saanil

Are you referring to the Zconnect app? Do we need to pay any subscription fees for that if you own a TATA EV vehicle or is it free? I recently purchased Nexon EV but the dealer did not give any information about the connected features.

Yes Zconnect needs an active data connection and it’s free for 1 year followed by a subscription fee of something. I’m not sure as I haven’t completed a year yet

[sharathkamath04]

No. Charging does not need any internet or network.

But to know the SOC, you will need the car connected. Else you have to manually go and check to ensure the car is charged.

DC charging today needs internet as it has to initiate a session and deduct money. AC home charging has no such need.

[linuxworld]

Originally Posted by sharathkamath04

But to know the SOC, you will need the car connected. Else you have to manually go and check to ensure the car is charged.

So, Once I get down in the parking (where there is no internet!) and within the vicinity of the car will the SOC metrics get transferred over Bluetooth? Or do these apps explicitly work over the Internet? Hence, I need to take a car outside where there is an internet, and then only it can sync with the phone?

[ALTIMAed]

Being a MG Comet user, for home charging (AC slow charging which is the only option), internet connection is not required. The only advantage of having internet connectivity is to check the SOC. The charge shall automatically shut off once 100% charge is reached.

[ishekk]

Originally Posted by sharathkamath04

DC charging today needs internet as it has to initiate a session and deduct money. AC home charging has no such need.

If DC fast charging requires internet, then what will happen after 6-7 years when the car's current inbuilt 4g network technology becomes obselete? Will the DC fast charging stop working?

[wocanak]

Originally Posted by ishekk

If DC fast charging requires internet, then what will happen after 6-7 years when the car's current inbuilt 4g network technology becomes obselete? Will the DC fast charging stop working?

The car itself does not need internet connection for charging, that connection is only for the OEMs app (like Zconnect for Tata). Normally the charge provider's app on your mobile will need Internet connection to initiate charging, recharge/pay for charging, etc. It will also show the SoC of your car, so you don't need the OEMs app to check that remotely.

I said normally because, even that can be avoided by using

1. AutoCharge feature, where your car can be identified by its ID in the CCS2 handshake and the charger can initiate charging as soon as you plug in the gun (assuming you have balance)
2. Using RFID cards, again you can just tap the card and assuming you have sufficient balance, charging will be initiated.

So if needed you can manage charging without even having a mobile.

As an aside, it unlikely that 4G networks will be obsolete and shutdown in the next 6 to 7 years. 3G networks got shutdown somewhat quickly, because it made sense to switch them to 4G, for various technical reasons.
This is not the case between 4G and 5G, my guess would be 4G networks will be around for a long time, along with 5G network. Operators are very keen to see the RoI from existing 4G and 5G networks, before they have any appetite to go for 6G and think about retiring 5G.

[souravdas808]

Originally Posted by wocanak

The car itself does not need internet connection for charging, that connection is only for the OEMs app (like Zconnect for Tata). Normally the charge provider's app on your mobile will need Internet connection to initiate charging, recharge/pay for charging, etc. It will also show the SoC of your car, so you don't need the OEMs app to check that remotely.

I said normally because, even that can be avoided by using

1. AutoCharge feature, where your car can be identified by its ID in the CCS2 handshake and the charger can initiate charging as soon as you plug in the gun (assuming you have balance)
2. Using RFID cards, again you can just tap the card and assuming you have sufficient balance, charging will be initiated.

So if needed you can manage charging without even having a mobile.

As an aside, it unlikely that 4G networks will be obsolete and shutdown in the next 6 to 7 years. 3G networks got shutdown somewhat quickly, because it made sense to switch them to 4G, for various technical reasons.
This is not the case between 4G and 5G, my guess would be 4G networks will be around for a long time, along with 5G network. Operators are very keen to see the RoI from existing 4G and 5G networks, before they have any appetite to go for 6G and think about retiring 5G.

My guess is 5G will have a similar fate to 3G. It will be just a stop gap measure until AI and IOT enabled superior 6G technology takes the baton over from 4G. 4G is the new 2G, you can't get rid of it. 5G will become obsolete before 4G.

[wocanak]

Originally Posted by souravdas808

My guess is 5G will have a similar fate to 3G. It will be just a stop gap measure until AI and IOT enabled superior 6G technology takes the baton over from 4G. 4G is the new 2G, you can't get rid of it. 5G will become obsolete before 4G.

That is a good guess, except that there is very little operator appetite at this point to invest in yet another generation. In the past hype cycle for the next generation would start in ~4 to 5 years, 5G global launch was in 2019, so its about time. But we are seeing relatively lower hype on 6G, I was in MWC Barcelona this year, most of it was AI use cases, edge, digitisation, etc and much 6G. It was clear that the operators are in no mood to think of investing in 6G and have even paused 5G investments.

Anyway to get back on topic, today I got a notification on Jio BP app indicating they support AutoCharge and asked me to activate it. I am sure other charge service providers will also enable it soon. This solves half the problem, we only need a unified wallet for payment, even that can be the FastTag balance. Then it will be really hassle free charging and payment, without needing any Internet or even mobile. Oh, we would still need a unified app showing live status to really make it fully hassle free.