The EV is FULL

[Hadrian]

I have an MG4 Trophy Long Range, purchased in April 2023.

The car is mainly used for short journeys and is charged at home using my Zappi 2.1 charger from my Intelligent Go account with Octopus Energy.

With Intelligent Go, the charging schedules are created automatically via the wi-fi link connecting Octopus Energy to the Zappi (Myenergi) charger and the car.

The target maximum charge is set at 80% within the MG App (iSMART) and I always ensure that there are, no charging schedules manually set within either the iSMART App,

Myenergi App or the car.

The total charging schedules are assigned by Intelligent Go.



For several weeks, the charger was plugged into the car overnight with Intelligent Go creating three or more on/off charging schedules operating during the night.

Repeatedly I found that the car had received around 0.86 kWh and when the Myenegri App was inspected it was displaying “EV IS FULL,” even when in fact the total battery cargo was 40%.

I had extensive communications with both Octopus Energy and Myenergi as I believed that I was making some error in initiating the charging process.

The conclusion of both Octopus Energy and Myenergi was that the charging system within the car was defective.



I restarted one of the charging schedules and was present when the Zappi started to charge the car.

I observed that the charging initiated and lasted a few minutes before shutting down.

When the Myenergi app was inspected, it was seen to display the caption “THE EV IS PREVENTING CHARGING,” before displaying “EV IS FULL.”



It was obvious that the charging system within the MG4 was defective.



The car was delivered to the local MG Dealership – Frasers Cars, Falkirk on 9 December 2024 for repair and it still remains there with the fault not remedied.



In these days of Hi-tech plug-in analysis, I find it difficult to understand why my car charging fault cannot be found and repaired.



I would be interested to hear of any other members with similar experiences.

 

[APMG]

Can you charge without using any of the Octopus stuff and see if it actually works?

 

[Everest]

And has the dealership confirmed there is an issue?

 

[Hadrian]

I have not tried to charge the EV without using the Octopus Intelligent Go system
Octopus have diagnosed the issue as being within the EV itself and this has been supported by Myenergi.
The Dealership have not actullay said that there is an issue but as they return from their festive break on 6 January 2025, having had the car for a month, I think that they recognise that there is a problem.
The Dealership told me that they solve problems 'in house' with highly trained technicians and don't consult MG as a matter of course.

 

[Tuareg]

Have you tried a simple granny charger, the one that came with the car so you can bypass all of the 'octopus' stuff?

 

[Hadrian]

I have not tried a granny charger as Octopus Go was working properly and then stopped charging.
As the car is not now in my possession, I cannot try a granny charger.
In any case, I want to re-establish proper 7 kW charging at a reasonable cost.

 

[siteguru]

The point of the questions/advice was to validate that it was indeed the car that was the problem. (You only have Octopus' word that the car is the problem). You can even suggest to the dealer that they try charging it using the granny lead and/or a 7kW wall box (that is NOT subject to any schedules).

 

[Anon70]

We had an issue with an Ohme charger that would not charge at more than 3kW and it turned out to be a fault with the Ohme and also for my wife's Mini a setting in the car.

The problem is there are several links in the charging chain and they all run different software and hardware that has to be functioning and communicate. You need ensure each element in the chain is working.

Things that are relatively easy to eliminate:
The car - either borrow a loan car from the dealer and see if that works or charge your car at another 7kW charger and see if it works
Charging cable - if it is not a captive lead, try another lead
Software settings - always a fun one with so many settings, so start with a a basic charge now with no timers or tariff options
Hard reboot all the charging hardware - turn off at the isolation switch then turn on again

 

[Hadrian]

The car is unfortunately at the dealership which is closed until 6 January.
They are the 'experts!'
I know that their technicians have been carrying out some testing on the car as I have received by text and email security alarm warnings concerning brake and airbag interference.
I appreciate the fact that there are many links in the charging chain, all with their specific software.
I had ensured that the Zappi was updated to the latest firmware.
It seems unbelievable that a dealership does not appear to have access to the latest diagnostic equipment which can pinpoint and rectify a defect in a short space of time.
Labour is very expensive!!!

 

[Jomarkh]

Did the Zappi deliver the correct charge current when in Fast mode?
I think that you should have tried a Rapid DC CCS charger and various AC 7kW EVSE (charge points) including the granny, before taking it to the dealer.

 

[Hadrian]

The Zappi and Intelligent Go worked well for some considerable time, delivering 7 kWh, before the fault occurred.

 

[webhiker]

Main point being, there is no credible evidence which of the objects (car, pod, app) is at fault.
"obviously" Zappy have identified that it is not their problem.
Pushing blame.
There is a need fo objective tests to rule out each of the involved components, as suggested above.

 

[Tight Git]

I will take a guess that your car doesn't have a rear wiper?

If it doesn't have a rear wiper it will most likely have a failed CCU and will not charge on any AC charger, granny or other and will stop after a short while.

Any decent dealer will be able to diagnose this and should be aware that this has been reported many times...

 

[Martinonline]

@Hadrian, your car probably has the charging fault and I hope it gets fixed quickly.

However some simple tests could have localised the fault and, perhaps, resolved it earlier or given damning evidence to the garage. (For example see the case at the end of the thread 'MG4 Spotted'). As other posters have said testing the links in the charging chain would have been useful, particularly as, I suspect, the garage does not operate with Octopus Intelligent Go and may not have your EVSE and cable

We EV Owners are, in some ways, pioneers and I am certain that members of this Forum could educate the dealers a lot. Some dealers might resent this but others will welcome the fact that initial fault-finding had been carried out. And the fact that pointing out that early Trophys suffer CCU failures (search the Forum) might have helped them avoid nugatory tests and software changes.

I note you say that the app declares the EV to be 'Full'. As far as I know the MG4 does tell the EVSE its state of charge, so this must be an estimation by the EVSE/App which could be wrong. (As far as I know, MG has not released its charging API.)

 

[Hadrian]

I am very appreciative of the advice being offered, but as an ordinary mortal member I cannot match the depth of technical knowledge held by some members.
My MG4 does not have a rear wiper and I take it that CCU means Combined Charging Unit and
EVSE stands for Elelectrica Vehicle Supply Equipment.
The Zappi App (Myenergi) displays the failure to charge - "The EV is Full," and "The EV is Preventing Charging." The Zappi has a tethered cable.
Armed with the knowledge supplied by our members, I will now be able to go to Frasers of Falkirk on Monday 6 January 2025 and ask the Senior Technician for the details of his diagnostic tests.
I will keep this forum updated on the progress towards a solution of this problem.

 

[Tight Git]

We wish you luck getting it sorted and it certainly looks like another CCU failure.

Procedure seems to be that the dealer, once they establish a CCU problem, will be instructed by MG UK to try a software update first and when/if that fails be given authority to replace the CCU.

You are correct on all of your acronyms and it would be good to hear your results!

 

[Ejaydee]

@Hadrian I had to have the CCU replaced in my car last year (2023Trophy), this was done relatively quickly (I think about three weeks if my memory serves me correctly) and it has not ben a problem since.

I am amazed however, that there does not seem to be any replacement units held in stick somewhere in the UK as this is a known problem with the earlier cars, I was told my unit had come from Germany.

 

[Hadrian]

Thanks again for all the advice which seems to confirm that the charging fault lies within the car and there is a high probability that the CCU may be the source of the problem.

I will keep you all updated.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

 

[Slipstream]

Thanks again for all the advice which seems to confirm that the charging fault lies within the car and there is a high probability that the CCU may be the source of the problem.

I will keep you all updated.

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Just a thought but could you get a friend/ neighbour/relative with a EV to try a charge on your charger.

 

[MG4k]

I have an MG4 Trophy Long Range, purchased in April 2023.

The car is mainly used for short journeys and is charged at home using my Zappi 2.1 charger from my Intelligent Go account with Octopus Energy.

With Intelligent Go, the charging schedules are created automatically via the wi-fi link connecting Octopus Energy to the Zappi (Myenergi) charger and the car.

The target maximum charge is set at 80% within the MG App (iSMART) and I always ensure that there are, no charging schedules manually set within either the iSMART App,

Myenergi App or the car.

The total charging schedules are assigned by Intelligent Go.



For several weeks, the charger was plugged into the car overnight with Intelligent Go creating three or more on/off charging schedules operating during the night.

Repeatedly I found that the car had received around 0.86 kWh and when the Myenegri App was inspected it was displaying “EV IS FULL,” even when in fact the total battery cargo was 40%.

I had extensive communications with both Octopus Energy and Myenergi as I believed that I was making some error in initiating the charging process.

The conclusion of both Octopus Energy and Myenergi was that the charging system within the car was defective.



I restarted one of the charging schedules and was present when the Zappi started to charge the car.

I observed that the charging initiated and lasted a few minutes before shutting down.

When the Myenergi app was inspected, it was seen to display the caption “THE EV IS PREVENTING CHARGING,” before displaying “EV IS FULL.”



It was obvious that the charging system within the MG4 was defective.



The car was delivered to the local MG Dealership – Frasers Cars, Falkirk on 9 December 2024 for repair and it still remains there with the fault not remedied.



In these days of Hi-tech plug-in analysis, I find it difficult to understand why my car charging fault cannot be found and repaired.



I would be interested to hear of any other members with similar experiences.

Hi, I have a Trophy LR 2023 too and a Zappi2 charger. I also moved recently to Intelligent Octopus Go from a simpler Octopus tariff.
Since this change I have had exactly the same issue you described, ie: Octopus sets up the charging schedule, l wait patiently until the following morning when l find that only about 0.5kWh of charge was added to the car, after which the 'EV is full' message.

I therefore have to revert to manually setting the Zappi to Fast charge the car, which is a pain if you want to capitalise on the Octopus cheap rate periods.

Have you found a solution to this problem?