diff --git a/scripts/generate_config_md.py b/scripts/generate_config_md.py
index 5e48099..e1bfe11 100755
--- a/scripts/generate_config_md.py
+++ b/scripts/generate_config_md.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def generate_config_table_md(
         table += ":::\n\n"  # Add an empty line after the table
 
         ins = create_model_from_examples(config)
-        if ins is not None:
+        if ins:
             # Transform to JSON (and manually to dict) to use custom serializers and then merge with parent keys
             ins_json = ins.model_dump_json(include_computed_fields=False)
             ins_dict = json.loads(ins_json)
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/config/config.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/config/config.py
index 10fbe95..200c3da 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/config/config.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/config/config.py
@@ -341,10 +341,13 @@ class ConfigEOS(SingletonMixin, SettingsEOSDefaults):
         self._setup()
 
     def _create_initial_config_file(self) -> None:
-        if self.config_file_path is not None and not self.config_file_path.exists():
+        if self.config_file_path and not self.config_file_path.exists():
             self.config_file_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-            with open(self.config_file_path, "w") as f:
-                f.write(self.model_dump_json(indent=4))
+            try:
+                with open(self.config_file_path, "w") as f:
+                    f.write(self.model_dump_json(indent=4))
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Could not write configuration file '{self.config_file_path}': {e}")
 
     def _update_data_folder_path(self) -> None:
         """Updates path to the data directory."""
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic.py
index 025549b..a8118e0 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/optimization/genetic.py
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ class optimization_problem(ConfigMixin, DevicesMixin, EnergyManagementSystemMixi
 
         # EV charge hours as a NumPy array of ints (if optimize_ev is True)
         eautocharge_hours_index = (
+            # append ev charging states to individual
             np.array(
                 individual[self.config.prediction.hours : self.config.prediction.hours * 2],
                 dtype=int,
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/elecpriceimport.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/elecpriceimport.py
index 83ddff0..1ec6684 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/elecpriceimport.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/elecpriceimport.py
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ class ElecPriceImport(ElecPriceProvider, PredictionImportProvider):
         return "ElecPriceImport"
 
     def _update_data(self, force_update: Optional[bool] = False) -> None:
-        if self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_file_path is not None:
+        if self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_file_path:
             self.import_from_file(
                 self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_file_path,
                 key_prefix="elecprice",
             )
-        if self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_json is not None:
+        if self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_json:
             self.import_from_json(
                 self.config.elecprice.provider_settings.import_json, key_prefix="elecprice"
             )
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/loadimport.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/loadimport.py
index f2c5ac1..456107c 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/loadimport.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/loadimport.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class LoadImport(LoadProvider, PredictionImportProvider):
         return "LoadImport"
 
     def _update_data(self, force_update: Optional[bool] = False) -> None:
-        if self.config.load.provider_settings.import_file_path is not None:
+        if self.config.load.provider_settings.import_file_path:
             self.import_from_file(self.config.provider_settings.import_file_path, key_prefix="load")
-        if self.config.load.provider_settings.import_json is not None:
+        if self.config.load.provider_settings.import_json:
             self.import_from_json(self.config.load.provider_settings.import_json, key_prefix="load")
diff --git a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/weatherimport.py b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/weatherimport.py
index 7f0cc10..fa70003 100644
--- a/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/weatherimport.py
+++ b/src/akkudoktoreos/prediction/weatherimport.py
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ class WeatherImport(WeatherProvider, PredictionImportProvider):
         return "WeatherImport"
 
     def _update_data(self, force_update: Optional[bool] = False) -> None:
-        if self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_file_path is not None:
+        if self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_file_path:
             self.import_from_file(
                 self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_file_path, key_prefix="weather"
             )
-        if self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_json is not None:
+        if self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_json:
             self.import_from_json(
                 self.config.weather.provider_settings.import_json, key_prefix="weather"
             )