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Polaris Express Docs

Tap your card to start a charge

This guide is for drivers who use the ExpresScan app on iPhone to start a charge with an EV card. You’ll open the app, wait for a scan prompt, and hold your card to the top of your iPhone. You need the app installed, a signed-in account, and your EV card in hand.

Before you start

Section titled “Before you start”
  • You’re signed in to ExpresScan on your iPhone.
  • Your iPhone is connected to the internet (Wi-Fi or cellular).
  • You have your EV card with you.
  • A charging station or an admin is ready to start a scan for you.

Goal Start a charge by tapping your EV card

Time~2 min

  1. Open ExpresScan and wait on the Ready screen

    Launch the app. You’ll land on the Ready to Scan screen with an animated NFC glyph in the middle.

    Keep the app open and your iPhone unlocked. The app holds a secure connection to ExpressCharge in the background and listens for scan requests.

    The Ready to Scan screen. Keep this open while you wait for a scan prompt.

  2. Check that you're online

    Look for a status chip below the hero text.

    • If no chip is shown, you’re online and ready.
    • If you see Connecting, wait a moment — the app is linking to ExpressCharge.
    • If you see Offline, reconnect to Wi-Fi or cellular. The app will reconnect on its own.

    You can tap the chip to open the diagnostics sheet for more detail.

  3. Wait for the scan prompt

    When the charging station or an admin starts a scan for you, your iPhone vibrates and the screen changes. You’ll see:

    • A large upward chevron pointing at the top edge of your iPhone.
    • A countdown indicator in the top-right corner showing how many seconds you have left.
    • A subheading describing what the scan is for — for example, “Use this card to sign in” or “Add this card to your account.”

    The iPhone’s built-in NFC reader sheet also slides up from the bottom of the screen.

    The chevron points at your iPhone's NFC antenna. The countdown shows time remaining.

  4. Hold your EV card to the top of your iPhone

    Hold your EV card flat against the top edge of your iPhone — that’s where the NFC antenna is. Keep it there until the phone reads the card.

  5. Confirm the result on screen

    Once the card is read, the app switches to a result screen showing whether the scan succeeded.

Verify

Section titled “Verify”

You’ve started the charge when:

  • The success screen appears in ExpresScan.
  • The charging station begins charging your vehicle (a light turns on, the connector locks, or your car shows charging in progress).

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”

The countdown ran out before I could tap. Ask the charging station or admin to start a new scan. Each scan request has a server-set expiry — once it runs out, you need a fresh one.

My iPhone didn’t vibrate. Check the status chip on the Ready screen. If it shows Offline or Connecting, your phone wasn’t linked to ExpressCharge when the scan was sent. Reconnect to the internet and ask for a new scan.

The card didn’t read. Hold the card against the very top edge of your iPhone, not the back or middle. If you have a thick case or a wallet with other cards, remove them and try again.

I want to stop a scan in progress. Tap Cancel on the iOS NFC sheet, or tap the Cancel button on the ExpresScan screen. The person who started the scan will be notified.

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