Why isn't it charging?

A car is plugged in and nothing flows. One device read usually explains it: activeControlMode says which mode holds the charger, and notChargingReason says what is stopping the current.

1. Read the charger

curl https://api.amps.ai/ev-charger/device_abc123 \
  -H "x-api-key: $AMPS_API_KEY"

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "id": "device_abc123",
    "state": {
      "status": "available",
      "isConnected": true,
      "isCharging": false,
      "currentPower": 0,
      "notChargingReason": "authorization"
    }
  }
}

isConnected: true with isCharging: false means a car is on the cable and taking nothing. Here the charger is waiting for approval, so the driver needs to approve the session, not call an engineer.

2. Check the mode first

If activeControlMode starts with auto., the charger is running a smart charging mode and is waiting for a cheap hour or spare solar. That is the mode working: show “waiting for the right moment”, not a fault.

3. Read the reason

`notChargingReason`	Meaning	Tell the driver
`vehicle`	The car declined the charge or isn’t ready.	Check the car.
`target_reached`	The car reached its own charge limit and stopped.	Charging is finished.
`charger`	The charger is limiting or curtailing.	Check the charger.
`load_management`	A site power share is holding the charge.	Wait. It resumes when capacity frees.
`authorization`	Waiting for an RFID card or app approval.	Approve the session or present the card.
`schedule`	The charger’s own schedule blocks charging now.	Change the schedule in the manufacturer’s app.
`unknown`	The charger reports a pause but not why.	The charge is on hold.

The field is absent while charging, while nothing is plugged in, or when the charger doesn’t report reasons. Absent isn’t unknown: check the key exists before you read it.

const { state } = (await res.json()).data;

if (state.isCharging) return "Charging";
if (!state.isConnected) return "Plug the car in";
if (state.activeControlMode?.startsWith("auto.")) return "Waiting for the right moment";
if (!("notChargingReason" in state)) return "Paused";
return state.notChargingReason;

At push time

An immediate charge or auto.* push can come back with a warnings array: vehicle_not_connected or awaiting_authorization. The command is still accepted and takes effect when the condition clears. No warnings means nothing was blocking it when you sent it.

Next steps

Smart charging

The modes behind an activeControlMode that starts with auto..

Pull

Read shape, freshness, and absent fields.

Get started

API Reference

Guides

Cookbooks

1. Read the charger

2. Check the mode first

3. Read the reason

At push time

Next steps

Smart charging

Pull

​1. Read the charger

​2. Check the mode first

​3. Read the reason

​At push time

​Next steps

Smart charging

Pull

1. Read the charger

2. Check the mode first

3. Read the reason

At push time

Next steps