Why your charging speed changes at a shared (load-managed) site

Why your charging speed changes at a shared (load-managed) site

If you charge at an apartment, workplace, or other site managed by Wevolt, your charging is overseen by the Wevolt Load Management System (LMS). This guide explains, in plain language, why your charging speed sometimes changes, what is perfectly normal, and when to ask for help. You do not need to do anything differently — just plug in as usual.

✓ The one thing to remember

If your charge seems slower than usual, it is almost always because the site is busy and power is being shared. It speeds back up automatically when power frees up. This is the system working as designed, not a fault.

What is load management?

Every building can only draw so much electricity at once. If every EV charger ran at full power together, they could exceed the building's limit and trip its main supply, cutting power to everyone. Load management prevents that: Wevolt continuously measures how much power the building and the chargers are using, then adjusts how much each charger delivers so the total always stays within safe limits. Think of it as a smart traffic controller for electricity.

It works in one of two ways at your site:

  • Static load management — a fixed, pre-agreed amount of power is shared between the chargers (used at simpler sites without a meter).
  • Adaptive load management — a meter measures the whole building's use in real time, and the chargers receive whatever is spare after the building's own needs (lifts, lighting, air-conditioning). This usually means faster charging when the building is quiet, such as overnight.

Why your charging speed can change

It is completely normal for charging speed to rise and fall during a session.

You might notice…Because…
Charging slows when more cars plug inThe available power is now shared between more vehicles, so each one gets a smaller slice.
Charging speeds up later in your sessionOther cars finished or the building got quieter, so more power became free and was handed back to you.
Slower in the early evening, faster overnightBuildings use the most power in the early evening. Late at night there is far more spare capacity for EVs.
Your car briefly pauses, then resumesAt very busy moments the system may pause some cars briefly so others can charge, then rotate. Your car resumes automatically.
A high-power (DC) charger gives less than its maximumThe site or its cabling has a shared limit, and the charger is being kept within it.

✓ Good to know

Wevolt never lowers your charge below the minimum a car needs to keep charging (typically about 6 amps). If there genuinely is not enough spare power for everyone at once, some sessions are paused rather than run too low — and they resume as soon as power is available.

What's normal, and what needs attention

SituationNormal?What to do
Charge speed goes up and down during a session✔ NormalNothing — power is being shared.
Slower charging at a busy time of day✔ NormalLeave it plugged in; it will catch up when the site quietens.
Car paused for a while during a very busy period✔ NormalIt resumes automatically. No need to unplug.
Charger shows a fault light or error message✘ Needs attentionTry a different bay if available, then contact support.
Charger completely dead / no lights✘ Needs attentionReport it (see below).
Your car won't start a session at all, at any time✘ Needs attentionCheck your cable is fully seated, then contact support.

⚠ Please don't

Repeatedly unplugging and replugging to “force” a faster charge does not help — it can actually send you to the back of the queue. When power is being shared, the fairest result comes from leaving your car plugged in.

Getting the most from your charge

  • Plug in early and leave it. The system tops you up whenever spare power appears — even while you sleep or work.
  • Favour off-peak times. Overnight and mid-morning usually have the most spare capacity, so charging is fastest then.
  • Don't worry about small fluctuations. A charge that ebbs and flows is the system doing its job.
  • Set your car's charge limit sensibly. If you only need 80%, set that — it frees power for others and is better for your battery.

Frequently asked questions

Is the slower charging costing me more?
No. You pay for the energy you receive, not for time. Sharing power changes how quickly energy arrives, not the price per unit.

Will load management stop my car from charging fully?
No. As long as you leave it plugged in, your car will reach your chosen charge level. Busy periods simply spread the charging over a little more time.

Why does the car next to me seem to charge faster?
Different cars and chargers accept different maximum rates, and a session that started earlier may be further along. The system shares power fairly in proportion to what each charger can take — it isn't first-come-first-served beyond the busiest moments.

The app or screen says “suspended” — is that bad?
No. “Suspended” means charging is paused for the moment (often to share power during a peak). It resumes on its own. If it stays suspended for a very long time with no other cars charging, contact support.

Can I get guaranteed full-speed charging?
Some sites offer priority charging bays. Ask your building manager whether priority charging is available at your site.

When to get support

Contact support if a charger is faulty, physically damaged, or you genuinely cannot start a session at any time of day. For speed changes during a session, the cause is almost always power-sharing (explained above). It helps to include the site name, the charging bay number, the date and time, and what you saw (for example, “Bay 3 shows a red light and won't start”).

Related articles

    • Related Articles

    • Do I Need to Bring My Own Charging Cable?

      Use this guide to work out whether the charger you’ve picked has a cable in-built, or whether you’ll need to bring your own. Tethered vs untethered chargers Chargers on the Wevolt Network fall into two patterns: Tethered (cable in-built) — the cable ...
    • Wevolt charging station status updates

      Use this page to check the current status of Wevolt-listed chargers that are known to be experiencing issues. If the unit you wanted to use is not listed below, see The charger I'm trying to use isn't working for general troubleshooting, or How to ...
    • Charging cable stuck in the charge point?

      A charging cable that won’t release is usually caused by one of a few common things, most of which you can resolve yourself. This article walks you through what to try, and who to contact if you’re still stuck. ✓ Try the Help button first For most ...
    • Can I Leave My Car After It Has Finished Charging?

      Use this guide if you want to know whether you can leave your car parked at a charger after your session has finished. The short answer is that it depends on the site, so there are two things to check: any idle fee, and the site's parking rules. Idle ...
    • How Do I Pay for Charging?

      Use this guide if you have questions about how Wevolt charges you, what the $25 hold on your card is, or how to request a refund if you think you were billed incorrectly. How payment works Add a payment method. Link a credit or debit card in the ...