FYI: A quirky hack involving hazard lights might just improve the charging speed of your Jaguar I-Pace, but is it too good to be true?
A Mysterious New Hack for Faster EV Charging
For years, EV owners have been swapping tips and tricks to boost their charging speeds. While some, like the notorious wet towel trick for Tesla Superchargers, are discouraged by manufacturers, a new technique that’s catching attention seems almost too strange to be real. According to a recent video by EverythingEVs, turning on your hazard lights in a Jaguar I-Pace might significantly speed up your charging time.
The Quirk Behind the Technique
The idea that turning on hazard lights could impact charging speeds seems absurd at first glance. There’s no apparent logic or technical explanation why this would work. Unlike the wet towel trick, which cools down temperature sensors to boost power delivery, there’s no sensible mechanical reason for the hazard light method to be effective. Yet, evidence suggests it actually might work.
Bumping the Charging Curve
Electric vehicles charge at varying rates influenced by multiple factors:
- State of charge
- Load at the charging station
- Exterior temperature
- Cable cooling, and more
Given these complexities, any small change can sometimes make a notable difference. Historically, unconventional methods have been explored to get the best out of EV charging systems, even if they don’t always come with a stamp of approval from the manufacturers.
Real-World Testing
In a compelling test by EverythingEVs, the host used his personal 2019 Jaguar I-Pace to test the hazard light theory. Typically, his vehicle struggles to maintain over 90 kW after the battery reaches an 11-12% charge. However, with hazard lights on, he reported pulling over 100 kW at a 30% state of charge. This resulted in a 10-80% charge time of just 42 minutes—an 8-minute improvement over previous tests, marking the fastest charge he’s ever achieved.
Skeptical? You Should Be
While this single test provides intriguing results, there are reasons for caution:
- Inconsistent Charging Stations: Variability in charging stations can affect results.
- Safety Concerns: Unverified methods that pull more power might exceed what the car safely handles.
- One-Off Test: More comprehensive testing is needed to validate these findings objectively.
Indeed, the session ended abruptly at 93%, with the charger refusing to re-initiate. While EverythingEVs blamed the charger, it’s plausible that the high power drawn contributed to this abrupt termination. If this method were truly safe and reliable, one would expect Jaguar to integrate it into their system design without users needing to activate a ‘cheat’ mode like in a video game.
Awaiting Official Word
To settle the speculation, we’re reaching out to Jaguar to clarify if this is a designed feature, why it might work, and whether it’s safe to use regularly.
For continuous updates and insights, feel free to connect with us at tips@automotive.fyi, or on Twitter @automotivefyi.
Conclusion
While the hazard light trick for the Jaguar I-Pace presents itself as a fascinating new hack in the EV community, its validity and safety remain unverified. As with all untested methods, users should proceed with caution. Stay tuned for further insights as we await official responses from Jaguar.
William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
