evcc + VW charging brick from standard socket 240V > how to configure so that car-API manages charging toggle off/on?

[RipperDrone]

Dear experts - I am pulling my hair out over the last 2 days how to get this combo working - here's the setting:

• running evcc via HA integration > works fine
• accessing vehicle (Golf GTE Hybrid) sensors/data via car API integration in evcc (user/pwd/VIN no.) > works fine, vehicle detected, data visible
• plugging the (240V std socket) charging cable into vehicle and socket - done. I can now manually start charging using the Volkswagen app, so all communication seems to be working fine

Problem: Trying to use evcc, I cannot toggle charging on/off based on a plan or certain rules (solar excess energy charging), since I cannot manage to get the charging on/off toggle working in evcc 😥

Have tried quite some things:

• defining dummy socket as charging point
• plugging a TP-Link P series plug into the socket as a charging point and configuring it accordingly in evcc
• defining the Volkswagen car-API as the charging point config > conflicts with too many (duplicate = HA and evcc) access attemps to Volkswagen servers
• setting Home Assistant as the charging point data source, forwarding car data to evcc

In all these variants, I was never able to toggle charging on or off, because either the toggle would not react according to my inputs (eg when using car-API as charge point) OR the toggle would switch off my switchable plug (TAPO), causing the car to later on reject any re-start of charging (after the charging brick is powered off, Volkswagen seems to require to physically plug the car-side plug out and back in, in order to allow charging to be restarted!).

What do I need to change? I can provide further information to you if needed.. thanks a lot!

[kjs-DE]

evcc controls charging via the wallbox only. Control of the vehicle isn't possible. You would need a mobile charger with WLAN control (expensive) which is supported by evcc.

[StefanSchoof]

There is the vehicle API only charger that allows you to use the vehicle api. How good the experience is do not know. https://docs.evcc.io/en/docs/devices/chargers#vehicle-api-only-charger

[RipperDrone]

thank you, that's exactly the one I have tried. Documentation says that in this case, it IS possible to operate evcc even w/o a wallbox, just utilize the API vehicle information for charging control. However, in the case of Volkswagen API it seems it doesn't work well since vehicle wake-ups and polling are so much limited in frequency by Volkswagen.
At least it looks like I finally got the switch socket working as a charge point, and 2 or 3 times I did get some vehicle info. There's still errors when selecting fast charging mode, and to test PV charging I am waiting for some sunshine.. :-). Let's see where it goes..

[RipperDrone]

Update: Using a switch socket does not work since VW vehicles require the car plug to be physically unplugged and plugged back in after each power loss / switch socket switched off. However, using a dummy charge point (no switching) and the vehicle API allows me to at least program PV charging and switch charging on and off. Now it's only about the range / SOC predictors which seem to be off, due to the vehicle API not responding towards requests periodically as defined by parameters cahce time (15m) and 'update API-calls while charging only'..