MG4 in Australia

[wattmatters]

Lots of people have reported ABRP being unrealistic without the dongle - generally too conservative.

I've got ABRP but find it to be unhelpful, misleading and confusing to use.

It keeps adding charge stops I either don't want (and won't let me edit them out) or, worse, puts in stops at charge stations which are not operational.

I would never rely ABRP it to guide me, I would be left stranded.

Why does the ABRP phone app require me to log in with an email address and password? That's seems rather antiquated for a phone app.

If I visit my brother, who is further south between Taree and Forster, I am screwed if the two charge stations at Taree are out of order. Last time I was there the service centre had a power failure, including the charge stations. Fortunately power was restored but I have to say, the highway charge network here sucks.

 

[Rolfe]

I thought exactly that when I started, because I found it absolutely unintuitive to use. But I played around with it for a while and found out how to do all these things, and then it got uselful.

But I wasn't using it as I travelled. I used it on my PC to investigate different possibilities and settle on a route and preferred charging stops. I confess I actually printed out the route from my PC rather than use the app while I was driving.

 

[wattmatters]

I thought exactly that when I started, because I found it absolutely unintuitive to use. But I played around with it for a while and found out how to do all these things, and then it got uselful.

Unless you use the app all the time it's hardly seems worth the frustration of trying to make sense of it.

e.g. I have a trip to Sydney in early December. I can plan all I like with this app but if its just going to suggest stopping at charge stations which don't work, then it's worse than useless.

 

[Rolfe]

I don't know about Australia, but as you have experience with the app, your decision is clearly the right one.

When I did my 450-mile trip even my back-up chargers had back-up chargers, but the only charger I tried that wasn't working was one at my destination I only wanted for an optional top-up charge (which I got a few streets away, albeit on a slower charger).

 

[Corindikev]

Some energy consumption numbers for reference.
Essence 64.

Did a 300km round trip today. ...

Charging infrastructure in Australia is woeful. A product of prior federal government head in the sand attitude. It is improving though.

I did my normal trip from Corindi Beach to my hangar at South Grafton aerodrome yesterday which is about 15km at 100km/h, 35km at 110km/h and 4-5km at 50km/h but went in to town across the bridge with a stop. I was in ECO mode OPD on & LKA off with aircon on, temp about 28° & usage was 15.1 kWh/100km. Most days it is around the 16-17 kWh/100km. It is sea level to sea level with a climb up the dirty creek range to about 170m (550 feet) at the highest point. This gives a range of 407 km with 61.4 kWh.

I am going to Noosa (about 550 km) in a couple of weeks time. It is 110 km/h most of the way but there are always traffic jams in Brisbane even on the main Pacific Highway. I'll see how I go. My bet is that range at 110km/h will be in the low 300s. I'll need to charge once at least (Gold Coast or Brisbane). I have ABRP & Plugshare apps so will maybe run both. I have not used either yet.

 

[wattmatters]

Been scanning stations.

Plugshare recommends Cassegrain Winery (off the highway near Port Macquarie) for my car but the stop details says it's for Tesla only. Yet the app says it is filtering for vehicle compatibility.

It's hard to know what to believe with these apps.

 

[Corindikev]

Tesla Super chargers will work with the MG4. You need the Tesla app & you select non Tesla vehicle. The cost is most likely fairly high. The reviewer only had it plugged in for 3 1/2 minutes but got 45 miles (72 kM of range in that time. Useful if you are in a hurry and think you may be cutting it fine to get home.

 

[wattmatters]

Tesla Super chargers will work with the MG4.

Only some of them will.

Tesla limits which of their superchargers are available for non-Tesla vehicles. Anything installed with govt support will be available to all vehicles with CCS.

Of the Tesla superchargers on the Pacific Highway between Sydney and the QLD border, i.e. Tuggerah, Heatherbrae, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Maclean and Knockrow, only Knockrow is open to non-Tesla vehicles.

 

[tsedge]

Only some of them will.

Tesla limits which of their superchargers are available for non-Tesla vehicles. Anything installed with govt support will be available to all vehicles with CCS.

Of the Tesla superchargers on the Pacific Highway between Sydney and the QLD border, i.e. Tuggerah, Heatherbrae, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Maclean and Knockrow, only Knockrow is open to non-Tesla vehicles.

Over here Tesla will be forced to open them all to everyone within 2 years, what's the Australian government policy?

 

[Coulomb]

The MG4 XPOWER comes to Australia early; in showrooms by the end of the month:

MG4 XPOWER electric performance hatch arriving early in Australia

Showroom arrival now just days away for MG’s all-new 300kW-plus EV hyper hatch, from $59,990

www.carsales.com.au

 

[wattmatters]

what's the Australian government policy?

SFA

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport/driving-the-nation

but there are glossy brochures so I feel a lot better now:

https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport/national-electric-vehicle-strategy

Mind you, this is light years ahead of what the former troglodytes in charge were doing. What's that Top Gear saying, "still, it could be worse..."

NSW Govt charger network policy:

Electric vehicle destination charging grants | NSW Climate and Energy Action

There's never been a better time to get your location on the map! Grow your business, attract new customers and drive more visitors to your region thanks to our Drive electric NSW EV destination charging grants.

www.energy.nsw.gov.au

I have to admit I was led to believe the network was better than it actually is. There are notionally sufficient stops. What I hadn't understood was just how few actual charging booths there are and how often they are not working. I'm talking about National Highway #1 between two of Australia's largest cities, Sydney and Brisbane.

One thing I will definitely be avoiding if at all possible is any sort of road trip during a holiday period (school holidays, long weekends etc).

 

[JoeBlow]

how few actual charging booths there are and how often they are not working. I'm talking about National Highway #1 between two of Australia's largest cities, Sydney and Brisbane.

It is getting better, and quite quickly at that.

The other thing to look forward to is that pretty much all new Tesla sites in NSW have gotten NSW funding, so will need to be open to all.

If it's on the NSW EV plan map as approved, then it is government funded and will be open to all:
(on the map, enable the "Approved Fast Charging Stations" layer)

EV public charging master plan | NSW Climate and Energy Action

NSW will be the easiest place to buy and use an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, with a $149 million investment towards developing a world-class fast charging network. chargers in NSW. Under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, this investment will expand public fast charging across the State...

www.energy.nsw.gov.au

i.e. Albury, Gundagai, Yass, Marulan, Campbelltown, Raymond Terrace, Taree, Coffs, Ballina, for example will all be 12-15 stalls each and open to all.

Ampol is doing quite well too, 6 stalls on each side at Pheasants Nest for example. I think they will continue that where they can.

But yes, in the meantime I wouldn't want to be driving a non-Tesla anywhere interstate on a busy public holiday periods (to be honest I also avoided driving my ICE on those days too. servos aren't much fun on those days either).

 

[wattmatters]

It is getting better, and quite quickly at that.

The other thing to look forward to is that pretty much all new Tesla sites in NSW have gotten NSW funding, so will need to be open to all.

If it's on the NSW EV plan map as approved, then it is government funded and will be open to all:
(on the map, enable the "Approved Fast Charging Stations" layer)

EV public charging master plan | NSW Climate and Energy Action

NSW will be the easiest place to buy and use an electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, with a $149 million investment towards developing a world-class fast charging network. chargers in NSW. Under the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy, this investment will expand public fast charging across the State...

www.energy.nsw.gov.au

i.e. Albury, Gundagai, Yass, Marulan, Campbelltown, Raymond Terrace, Taree, Coffs, Ballina, for example will all be 12-15 stalls each and open to all.

Ampol is doing quite well too, 6 stalls on each side at Pheasants Nest for example. I think they will continue that where they can.

But yes, in the meantime I wouldn't want to be driving a non-Tesla anywhere interstate on a busy public holiday periods (to be honest I also avoided driving my ICE on those days too. servos aren't much fun on those days either).

Thanks, that's good to know. Going through the list looking at Pacific Highway north of Sydney it seems it will get a lot better.

But I can't see any timelines.

Coffs is getting 15 chargers, which is excellent.
Unfortunately the spot they have chosen has zero facilities. No cafes, food outlets or toilets. Unless you put up with the doof doof music emanating from the World Gym or want to go shopping at Sydney Tools or Anaconda The walk across the highway to the servo is not particularly pedestrian friendly.

Kempsey, nothing.

The one in Port is right in the town on the river, well away from the highway. 2 chargers in a restricted parking area. Meh. They need to fix the highway options there. Port is a problem for charging.

Taree 12 chargers - great!
In supermarket car park so more chance of somewhere to go.

Coolongalook 4 chargers
Not far from a servo and the cherry pie shop/cafe. Helpful for pee stop charge.
Bulladelah would have been a better site though.

Raymond Terrace 15 chargers
Again that's good news. Small set of shops.

M1 near Wyong 10 chargers.
Presumably at the existing highway service centre which is good.

North of Coffs is a bit skinny. Nothing for Grafton/Maclean, Ballina or Tweed Heads.
Edit: I see Ballina has one marked for town 12 chargers.

Kempsey and Ballina already have large and busy highway service centres perfect for a decent banks of DC fast charger stations. Kempsey highway service centre even just had a second large servo open in the past year. No chargers there just seems weird to me.

 

[Corindikev]

For my trip to Noosa next month there are plenty of options on the Gold Coast & Brisbane just off the Pacific highway. I'll only need one stop but have planned several in case there are issues. Some of the comments from other Plugshare users are a bit concering as there are so many about difficult connectivity and chargers not working. I'll post my experience as it will be my first.

With the technology avaiable today I can't figure out how chargers can be so unreliable or not working unless physically damaged. My home charger works perfectly every time. It did need a reset after a power cut but that is just a push of a button & the app told me how to do it & showed a picture of the reset button. I knew anyway but it is a good feature.

 

[wattmatters]

Taking the car in for its one month service check tomorrow morning. I've not really got much to ask/tell them, other than perhaps to check on any software update. Everything seems to be working OK. Had some early challenges with the granny charging but not using that any more.

 

[Corindikev]

Me too. 7.45am. Maybe see you there.

 

[wattmatters]

Me too. 7.45am. Maybe see you there.

Mine's due in at 8:30. If you are hanging and see a guy with a prosthetic leg show up, that'll be me. I'm heading to the gym for a rehab session after I drop it off.

 

[JoeBlow]

But I can't see any timelines

I believe the rest of that site has some information. There are funding “rounds”. Approved chargers from the first round have until 2024 to use the funding.

 

[wattmatters]

I believe the rest of that site has some information. There are funding “rounds”. Approved chargers from the first round have until 2024 to use the funding.

OK thanks. I couldn't see an ETA for any of the proposed charge stations.

 

[wattmatters]

So picked up car from service check. Didn't do much as expected. Check fluids, top up washer fluid, check basic systems and give the car a wash.

I asked about any software changes - nope, nothing done on that front.

BUT - Carplay is now dead. It was fine when I drove there and has been OK up to now.

I've tested three cables, none of them work. The one I've been using is an Apple cable. All cables work with the rear seat USB port for charging the phone but the USB port in the front is now dead. No charging, no Carplay.

Waiting for dealer response.

This is a PITA - Carplay is integral to the usability of the vehicle for us - it was a must have when buying. MG need to sort this crap out.