Our highest-mileage electric vehicle came through the shop a few weeks ago with a charging issue. The car charges without any problem at public fast-charging stations, but at home, nothing works.

Let’s switch into diagnostic mode. The vehicle is a 2019 Kia Niro EV. Before even pulling it into the garage, we run a quick test on one of our charging stations to rule out anything we’d classify as a home-side issue. Sure enough, the vehicle shows as connected, but nothing happens.

Once the scanner is plugged in, we find fault code P0D5C BATTERY CHARGER HYBRID/EV BATTERY OUTPUT POWER PERFORMANCE. The diagnostic chart is fairly short and lacks clarity, which is why it’s important to consult the scanner directly to understand what’s going on.

For those less familiar with EVs, the onboard charger is a module found in every plug-in vehicle. It converts the alternating current from the charging station into direct current so the high-voltage battery can charge. Simply put, without it, the vehicle doesn’t work.

The chart in ProDemand for the Niro leaves something to be desired. We’re asked to clear the codes, and if the code returns after a charging attempt, we’re directed to an empty link. It’s difficult to make a decision based on that alone.

However, using the scanner, we can run a quick check that may help guide the process. The onboard charger gives us a voltage reading for both input (110V or 240V from the charging station) and output. On the Niro, we can clearly see 240V coming in, but nothing on the output side. Since this reading is taken from within the module itself, we can conclude that it needs to be replaced.

Part replaced, charging restored — the little Niro, now sitting at 498,000 kilometres, was back on the road with a very happy owner behind the wheel!