General questions

Frequently asked questions

• I’m not the owner of the Tesla. How can I pair it?
• What if I have an older Tesla model?
• What if I own multiple Teslas?
• What if I have multiple Tesla accounts?
• What if my Tesla is offline during setup?
• Are rewards affected without the Virtual Key?
• What is the Virtual Key, and why is it important?
• How do I set up the Virtual Key?  
• How can I remove the Virtual Key and disconnect ev.energy?
• What data does ev.energy access?
• How is my data protected?
• Why do I need to reconnect my Tesla account?

I’m not the owner of the Tesla. How can I pair it?

Even if you are not the official owner of your Tesla, you can still setup the Virtual Key. You will have to go into your car and tap the key card to pair the virtual key. 

What if I have an older Tesla model?

Pre-2021 Tesla Model S/X vehicles do not require Virtual Key setup but can still use ev.energy for smart charging. All other models require a virtual key. 

What if I own multiple Teslas?

Repeat the pairing process for each vehicle through the ev.energy app. You can find more information on how to switch between vehicles here.

What if I have multiple Tesla accounts?

Use the primary account associated with each vehicle for pairing.

What if my Tesla is offline during setup?

Ensure the vehicle is connected to Wi-Fi or has a strong mobile signal. Wake it up by interacting with it, e.g. starting the AC, or other features in the car.

Are rewards affected without the Virtual Key?

Yes, the Virtual Key ensures you are eligible for all rewards and incentive programs.

What is the Virtual Key, and why is it important?

The Virtual Key enables ev.energy to securely receive charging data, such as the state of charge, directly from your Tesla.

It allows the vehicle to send this data automatically when it is online, such as during charging or driving. This eliminates the need for ev.energy to wake the car from an offline state, reduces the impact on your battery and ensures the most efficient participation in managed charging programs.

By authenticating ev.energy as a trusted third party, the Virtual Key enables a secure and seamless connection.

You can remove the Virtual Key at any time directly from your Tesla, giving you full control over your access settings. 

How do I set up the Virtual Key?  

Follow the step-by-step guide in Connecting your Tesla - Step by step. Use your Tesla app and key card as needed.

How can I remove the Virtual Key and disconnect ev.energy?

Removing the existing ev.energy Third Party Access can be done via the Tesla Portal. This link will take you directly to the page. You will need to log in with your Tesla account details.

This can also be done manually in the Tesla Portal by following these steps:

1.     Log in to your Tesla account on the Tesla Portal
2.     Navigate to the Profile Settings tab within your Account Settings
3.     Select "Third Party Apps" and then click on "Manage". You may have to log in a second time.‍
4.     Finally, choose "Remove Access"

This will disconnect ev.energy from your Tesla and stop the data sharing. You can reconnect anytime by following the setup process again. 

What data does ev.energy access?

When enabling ev.energy access to your Tesla account, you will be asked to select what information you'd like to share with us. 

Although you’ll need to provide access to required information, ev.energy will not use the full scope of these permissions and will only access what’s required to provide our service.

Read more about the data we require here: What Tesla permissions are required?

How is my data protected?

You can find ev.energy’s privacy policy here.

Why do I need to reconnect my Tesla account?

Reconnecting ensures optimized charging schedules, full app functionality, and eligibility for rewards and incentives. By reconnecting you will be asked to provide missing data permissions or set up the Virtual Key for your vehicle.