First Long Journey

[P6cat]

Well I’m home now but it was hell, I spent ages planning a route to pick my daughter up from university in York.
I have a ZS EV Mk1, I’ve done over 17,500 miles and I charge mainly at home on 7kw.
So I planned a route using Tesla chargers and checked with Tesla on the app and over the phone.
So I set off with a fully charged battery, (165 miles in eco mode) and arrived at Trafford Park Tesla super charger.
I had spent many hours watching YouTube videos and reading the MG forum so I felt confident it should work.
But unfortunately it didn’t , Vehicle not authorised was the message I got on two different chargers.
I rang the tesla help line and was told “ it’s a Tesla charger and not for MGs,”I tried to explain that an MG 4 was
Charging away happily next to me , but he just repeated the above.
So with about 10 miles range left I panicked.
8am rush hour in the Trafford park area is pretty scary, I live in the countryside !
So I found a evyre charger nearby in Aldi car park at 75p not the 44p I was hoping for at Tesla,
I charged up and headed off for York, I got to Askham bar York and at a BPulse
Topped up at 59p a kw on the app with my credit card.
On the journey home I planned on using the Aldi charger again,it was in use this time
So I waited about 30 minutes and plugged in, it would not recognise my credit card
I tried several times to no avail, luckily my daughter had Apple Pay on her phone
So we got going again, we arrived home with nothing on the gom .
This was my first long journey (360 miles there and back)
And maybe my last, or I’ll upgrade to a long range EV, but I’m looking at about 10k
On top of mine for anything decent.
Any comments are welcome
Thanks

 

[fred12345]

So I planned a route using Tesla chargers and checked with Tesla on the app and over the phone.

My approach to EV is - always assume the charger where you plan to stop will be unavailable for whatever reason and have 50 miles spare to find another ...

 

[MG steve]

I don’t know why you let the SOC get so low on both journeys.

I’d have stopped half way ish and charged a bit then charged at the destination then halfway home.

It doesn’t sound like you do many long journeys so you don’t need a LR. Once you have used a few different charger types it gets much easier.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I had a nightmare journey back from Heathrow a couple of years ago trying to use the cheapest networks.

As I make so few long journeys, I pay premium rates and use networks I trust.

Don't be put off by long journeys. A few months back I travelled from somerset up to Nantwich and back unplanned. I just used Android Auto and picked the neasrest chargers as I went. No problems.

When you get below 30%, start looking for local chargers.

 

[P6cat]

I had a nightmare journey back from Heathrow a couple of years ago trying to use the cheapest networks.

As I make so few long journeys, I pay premium rates and use networks I trust.

Don't be put off by long journeys. A few months back I travelled from somerset up to Nantwich and back unplanned. I just used Android Auto and picked the neasrest chargers as I went. No problems.

When you get below 30%, start looking for local chargers.

Thanks for your advice,I think I was looking for cheap chargers, and they are
Rare, I’m using home charging 99% of the time, and think 75p plus is too much.

 

[P6cat]

I had a nightmare journey back from Heathrow a couple of years ago trying to use the cheapest networks.

As I make so few long journeys, I pay premium rates and use networks I trust.

Don't be put off by long journeys. A few months back I travelled from somerset up to Nantwich and back unplanned. I just used Android Auto and picked the neasrest chargers as I went. No problems.

When you get below 30%, start looking for local chargers.

Good advice thanks ?

 

[MG steve]

Thanks for your advice,I think I was looking for cheap chargers, and they are
Rare, I’m using home charging 99% of the time, and think 75p plus is too much.

If you want cheap chargers then do so at your destination as it will take much longer but it will be half the cost. My favourite is pod point at Tesco but watch out for the stores with parking restrictions like 3 hours max.

 

[Robf]

Well I’m home now but it was hell, I spent ages planning a route to pick my daughter up from university in York.
I have a ZS EV Mk1, I’ve done over 17,500 miles and I charge mainly at home on 7kw.
So I planned a route using Tesla chargers and checked with Tesla on the app and over the phone.
So I set off with a fully charged battery, (165 miles in eco mode) and arrived at Trafford Park Tesla super charger.
I had spent many hours watching YouTube videos and reading the MG forum so I felt confident it should work.
But unfortunately it didn’t , Vehicle not authorised was the message I got on two different chargers.
I rang the tesla help line and was told “ it’s a Tesla charger and not for MGs,”I tried to explain that an MG 4 was
Charging away happily next to me , but he just repeated the above.
So with about 10 miles range left I panicked.
8am rush hour in the Trafford park area is pretty scary, I live in the countryside !
So I found a evyre charger nearby in Aldi car park at 75p not the 44p I was hoping for at Tesla,
I charged up and headed off for York, I got to Askham bar York and at a BPulse
Topped up at 59p a kw on the app with my credit card.
On the journey home I planned on using the Aldi charger again,it was in use this time
So I waited about 30 minutes and plugged in, it would not recognise my credit card
I tried several times to no avail, luckily my daughter had Apple Pay on her phone
So we got going again, we arrived home with nothing on the gom .
This was my first long journey (360 miles there and back)
And maybe my last, or I’ll upgrade to a long range EV, but I’m looking at about 10k
On top of mine for anything decent.
Any comments are welcome
Thanks

If You have not got an electroverse card then I would strongly (very strongly) advise you get one. Even works on the Dragon chargers in Wales (was brilliant for me in France, and for the Mrs on holiday in Wales).

 

[Jomarkh]

Had you done a test rapid charge on a Tesla charger before you setoff?
Planning a trip to Scotland from Southampton last year I had 3 charge locations at each stop just incase and had to use the second location on a few occasions.
Doing the same this year going to the outer Hebrides.
ABC always be charging ?

 

[P6cat]

Hi this was my nearest Tesla charger at the time
The flint one was showing closed!

 

[DB Go Rex]

Hi this was my nearest Tesla charger at the time
The flint one was showing closed!

It sounds like your MK1 ZS needs the Tesla fix. Risky to have got down to 10 miles range with probably the most uncertain charger if you haven't previously checked your car has the fix.

The MK1 ZS does have less range than both the MK2 SR/LR versions so the longer journeys need backup plans on chargers.

 

[Conrad3]

If You have not got an electroverse card then I would strongly (very strongly) advise you get one. Even works on the Dragon chargers in Wales (was brilliant for me in France, and for the Mrs on holiday in Wales).

Agree with Robf I think the electroverse car/app is an essential we used it to find a charger a few miles from our recent trip to Disneyland Paris an charged from 29 to 60 in 20 minutes (Fastned)

Also used it to top up after getting g off the eurotunnel on our return amused an IONITY charger and also got 5% off for using the card