Integration considerations

Copy linkDevice linking recommendations

Encourage all users to link a compatible charger. Pairing improves command reliability and enables features that depend on consistent control.

Frame the request based on the vehicle's standalone capabilities. Check the brands overview to determine which approach applies.

Copy linkScenario A: Incapable or unreliable vehicles

Frame linking as mandatory. The user can't activate smart charging without linking their charger.

Copy linkScenario B: Capable vehicles

Frame linking as recommended. The user can proceed with the vehicle alone, but linking their charger provides:

• Faster plug-in detection
• A control fallback if the vehicle goes offline
• chargeRate from the charger when the vehicle doesn't report it

Copy linkUX recommendations

Copy linkUse contextual onboarding

Don't ask users to link both their vehicle and charger in a single flow. Instead, introduce the charger as an optional enhancement (or mandatory step) after the vehicle is successfully linked.

Copy linkCommunicate the benefit

Be clear about why you're asking for charger access.

Copy linkExample A: Mandatory charger linking

Prompt the user to link their charger after they link their vehicle. Keep the prompt visible until they complete the step, and disable charging until they do.

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When charger linking is mandatory, tell users upfront—before they start the vehicle linking flow.

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Copy linkExample B: Optional charger linking

Prompt the user to link their charger after they link their vehicle. Let them dismiss the prompt, and keep charging enabled even without a linked charger.

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Copy linkUnlinking chargers

Let users unlink their chargers, but make the implications clear:

• Mandatory charger: Unlinking disables smart charging. If they confirm, show the Example A prompt again.
• Optional charger: Unlinking reduces reliability but doesn't disable smart charging. If they confirm, stop prompting them to link a charger, but let them re-link through settings.

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Copy linkCapability persistence

Capabilities unlocked by the charger persist as long as both devices remain linked:

• Show users they're still enrolled in smart charging even when the vehicle is unplugged or away from home
• Interventions for charger-provided capabilities stay suppressed
• If we detect the pairing is no longer valid (for example, repeated failed commands while unplugged), capabilities return to false and we show any unresolved interventions again

Copy linkRollout considerations

For new product launches

Design your linking flow to support both vehicles and chargers from the start.

For expanding existing use cases

If you're already live with vehicle-only managed charging, consider a phased rollout. Each phase builds on the previous one.

Phase 1: Optional charger linking for better reliability

• Goal: Improve charging reliability with minimal changes to your UX.
• Target: Existing users who have already linked a vehicle.
• Approach: Add charger linking as an optional step. See Example B: Optional charger linking.

Phase 2: Mandatory charger linking for unreliable vehicles

• Goal: Fix known reliability issues and reduce support load.
• Target: Users with high error rates, frequent support tickets, or vehicles with Limited reliability.
• Approach: Make charger linking mandatory for these users. See Example A: Mandatory charger linking. Roll out incrementally per brand and monitor performance.

Phase 3: Mandatory charger linking for incapable vehicles

• Goal: Expand to users with incapable vehicles who were previously ineligible.
• Target: Users whose vehicles can't start/stop charging or report location (see brands), but who own a compatible charger.
• Approach:
  • Update eligibility rules to allow incapable vehicles when paired with a compatible charger
  • Enable the relevant brands in your app and the Enode Dashboard
  • Make charger linking mandatory. See Example A.

Copy linkSupported features

Better vehicle data

• pluggedInChargerId on the vehicle identifies which charger is connected
• chargeRate falls back to the charger's value when the vehicle doesn't report it
• Faster plug-in detection using data from both devices

Unlocked capabilities

Linking a charger unlocks capabilities on the vehicle:

• Charging control: startCharging and stopCharging become capable when a charger is linked
• Location: location becomes capable when it can be inferred from the charger's location
• Smart Charging: Vehicles that previously couldn't be controlled become eligible

Unified control

Send charging commands to the Vehicle APIAPI. When the vehicle is plugged into its paired charger:

• We route commands to the right device automatically
• If unplugged or connected to a different charger, commands go to the vehicle only
• Smart Charging and Schedules use charger controls automatically when executing