Charging without internet: your charger just keeps working

When you connect your charger to Joulo, charging data travels over the internet to your dashboard. A fair question follows: does charging itself now depend on the internet • or on Joulo? The short answer: no. Your charger starts and stops on its own, even without a connection.

Does Joulo decide when I can charge?

No. Joulo reads along, but doesn't decide. Our connection to your charger exists to collect the metering data needed for NEa registration: the charged kWh per session, measured by the built-in MID meter. We don't send start or stop commands to control your charging. You charge the way you always do: plug in, charge.

What happens if the internet goes down?

Nothing special. On the first connection we configure your charger to authorize charging sessions locally, on the device itself. If your wifi or internet drops, a new session simply starts and a running session simply continues. Once the connection returns, your charger delivers the missed sessions to Joulo • you lose no kWh and your earnings continue as normal.

How does that work technically?

Chargers that connect via OCPP automatically receive a set of configuration keys that make the device autonomous. The key ones: LocalAuthorizeOffline (authorize locally when the connection is down) and AllowOfflineTxForUnknownId (start normally even while offline). Brands with their own autostart feature, such as Peblar, are additionally configured to start the session themselves on plug-in • no external command is involved at all. Your charger confirms these settings to us, and for most chargers your dashboard then shows the confirmation: "Charging works without internet too."

Does this also apply to cloud-connected chargers?

Yes, there the question doesn't even arise. With a cloud connection (such as Easee or Wallbox) Joulo only talks to the manufacturer's servers, after the fact, to collect your sessions. We are never between you and your charger.

What about my charge cards?

Using a card or a whitelist? That keeps working offline too: your charger remembers approved cards in its local memory. A card that has been used before simply keeps working during an outage.

Are there exceptions?

A small number of brands have no autostart feature of their own. If you choose cardless charging on such a charger, Joulo sends the start signal when you plug in • that's the only route the brand itself offers. If you charge with a card, that charger is fully autonomous as well. Your dashboard shows what applies per charger.