No Locking Charger?

[EVSteve]

So new to the F150 Lightning and something I noticed compared to some of my older EV's is that the charger doesn’t lock when I lock my truck. I haven't seen this being a big issues but I remember being a bored teenager and I worry that somebody would just unplug me mid charge without it being locked. Or what if I have my own charge cord plugged in or adapter possibly being stolen with waiting so long for them. Am I over thinking this?

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[hturnerfamily]

I may actually be from the school that believes that 'unlocked' connections are the best route, although I also live and travel mainly in rural areas, cities, towns, where I don't see charging to be some type of fear or issue...
for some, it seems like you'd want to 'lock' your cable/connection, either only while charging, or, for some, ANYTIME it is plugged in. Maybe there's a fear that someone will 'unplug' you without your consent, and if you've walked away, maybe that's a concern. I've unplugged several vehicles before, due to owners/drivers being no where in sight, and their vehicle already fully charged. I've knocked on several windows before when this happens and the owner/driver is asleep in the vehicle, sometimes in the middle of the night, when I need to also charge. Neither have ever been any issue, as most of the time they are actually apologetic.

Another issue is if the 'lock' doesn't 'unlock'... that could be more of an issue than the other way around. If someone wants to rip out the CCS plug from your car, they can if they really want to, no matter what type of 'lock' you may have on it. If they want to unplug your J1772 plug from your car, maybe to 'steal' your EVSE, then, well, maybe they need it more than you do. Any 'lock' won't really stop them.

 

[MickeyAO]

You can manually lock the J1772...notice the little hole on the top of the handle? You can slip a little padlock through there so that it cannot be removed.

 

[EVSteve]

I am also mostly rural but if I have to take a trip to the city thats where I have concerns. Most of the time, I am just charging at home in my garage so it's not every day. But if I have to go to the airport, to the city for a nice dinner, or travel to the neighnoring towns for work, this is when I worry.

 

[62F1004x4]

When charging at home, which for me is most of the time, it is a pain to have to unlock the vehicle to remove the charging cable and leave. I would rather use the padlock on the few times that I publicly charge like on the . I have the locking feature on a Volkswagen Golf and it is always an “why is this like this”.

 

[Grumpy2]

it is a pain to have to unlock the vehicle to remove the charging cable and leave

How do you instruct the truck to lock the charging cable when the truck is locked? Must be on higher level trims, not on my Pro.

 

[EVSteve]

How do you instruct the truck to lock the charging cable when the truck is locked? Must be on higher level trims, not on my Pro.

It doesn't do it right now but my old tesla did lock it.

 

[EVSteve]

When charging at home, which for me is most of the time, it is a pain to have to unlock the vehicle to remove the charging cable and leave. I would rather use the padlock on the few times that I publicly charge like on the . I have the locking feature on a Volkswagen Golf and it is always an “why is this like this”.

My old tesla did and I think I just got used to it. That's why I wonder what others think that haven't had it or just didn't get forced into it being the norm like I did with my tesla.

 

[Peddyr]

Maybe I'm naive, but given enough time and motivation, if someone wants your truck bad enough they'll take it. Locks or not.

 

[Nolander]

I had it on my EV6. I am torn. On one hand, with all the charge cable theft going on, one could argue it's a good as the thief doesn't to rip it out of vehicle. On the other hand, at Tesla stations, my concern is someone stealing my adapter.

 

[62F1004x4]

How do you instruct the truck to lock the charging cable when the truck is locked? Must be on higher level trims, not on my Pro.

I have the locking feature on another electric car, not the Lightning. I don’t think the charging cable locks on any trim levels. I am glad that the lightning doesn’t lock the charge cable because it is a hassle at home where I do most of my charging. Thanks for asking!

 

[VTbuckeye]

I charge 99 percent of the time at home. Ford/Chevy volt and bolt did not lock. Volvo XC40 EV locks when the car is locked. Xc90 phev is always locked if the cable has been plugged in for more than 30 seconds (even if the car is unlocked). The xc90 charge cable locking behavior is the WORST. Can't even unplug while walking by to get into the car. The procedure is to walk past the plug, open the unlocked door, hit the unlock button, close the door (there is a pillar/wall near the door) unplug, hang up plug, go back past the door, open door get in car. It should be unplug, hang up cord, open door, get in car.

At the least just make the locking behavior follow the door locks.

 

[Maquis]

I charge 99 percent of the time at home. Ford/Chevy volt and bolt did not lock. Volvo XC40 EV locks when the car is locked. Xc90 phev is always locked if the cable has been plugged in for more than 30 seconds (even if the car is unlocked). The xc90 charge cable locking behavior is the WORST. Can't even unplug while walking by to get into the car. The procedure is to walk past the plug, open the unlocked door, hit the unlock button, close the door (there is a pillar/wall near the door) unplug, hang up plug, go back past the door, open door get in car. It should be unplug, hang up cord, open door, get in car.

At the least just make the locking behavior follow the door locks.

The XC90 behavior annoys me to no end. Pressing “unlock” on the fob eliminates the door dance!

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