New ZS EV ower here with a couple of questions

[simon]

Hi folks,

I am picking up my new ZS EV on 1st September

The reloc charger is being installed in two weeks time

Could anybody help me with a couple of things please?

How do I check the car has the latest software? I have seen posts saying that the temperature and GOM is a feature of the comfort 2 update. How do I know if the BMS update has been applied?

Is there an about page I can look for that tells me the latest version of the software installed? What is the current version?

Do I need to be out of the car for the charging to start? Would I be able to stay in the car while rapid charging? With the air-con running?

Is it correct that the car can only go up to 7kw on AC and 50kw on DC?

Can the car be pre-cooled or warmed while plugged in?

The regen braking can't work when the car is at 100%, at what point does it start working? 99%?

Will the 70 plates be available with the new green plates? Any idea what it looks like?

Thanks for any info,
Simon

 

[DaveG]

You getting yours from Panda, I'm the same as you picking mine up with new reg

 

[simon]

Small world!

 

[Skippy]

Welcome. The way I have checked for BMS update (nothing to look at!) is:

Connect up granny charger.
Do not power it up.
Lock doors.
Wait for 20mins
Power up charger
Look through side window at instrument panel
If it says ‘charging’ you’re up to date / don’t have the sleep issue.

 

[simon]

Thank you Skippy.

Only with the granny charger, not the fast charger?

 

[Skippy]

Easier with the granny cable as you can just flick the switch. We also know you’ll have that when you get the car home.

 

[simon]

Thank you.

It would be better to be able to verify that at the garage before driving away tho.

 

[Skippy]

You can do that too, if you can make sure the charger is Type 2 and is not supplying to the car

 

[Oldgrice]

Thank you.

It would be better to be able to verify that at the garage before driving away tho.

Can you just ask the dealer as I'm sure you asked them to do the updates, as I'm aware some don't offer the updates unless asked.

 

[KasEV]

Can you just ask the dealer as I'm sure you asked them to do the updates, as I'm aware some don't offer the updates unless asked.

If you dealership is as good one they will volunteer the update information and explain what you need to do should any further updates come in after your purchase.
Unfortunately MG UK itself and the majority of MG dealers are very poor in customer service.
There was never a letter to the individual UK customers to advise us of any of the updates. In most cases we found out ourselves that the updates where in and approached the dealerships to have the updates done.
Long and short of it is that you have to ask the dealership. Make sure it is the most senior person or some at manager level in the dealership you are dealing so you can go but to if things are not to your satisfaction down the line.

 

[simon]

Thanks guys.

I have queried with the dealership about the software, they told me that the latest will be on the car and updates are free.

@KasEV Where can I find the latest version available? On the MG website?

Thank you again

 

[KasEV]

@simon
There is no official MG source that provides us technical details of the updates so unless you know a MG Technician who is happy to give you the Technical details I am afraid there isn't much information to answer that question.
The updates are apparently under strict Chinese Government State control as MG is owned by the Chinese State.
So each time your car is updated it needs to be connected to a computer in China and the update is transmitted over the Web. For some updates, the update is downloaded unto a USB but it is encoded with a chassis number so that USB will only be able to update the car with that specific chassis number.
That is how things are unfortunately.
MG has a list of all cars by chassis number which shows which cars have had an update and which ones have not but it is deemed top company secret for use by certified MG master technicians only.
So that is that about updates you just have to keep asking the managers and master techs at the dealerships and that is it.

 

[simon]

Thank you @KasEV.

I think MG have missed a trick not having OTA updates like Tesla does but I guess it is a cost cutting exercise.

 

[lee graham]

I don't think its cost cutting as all other regions have it. Norway, India, Netherlands, Thailand seem connected and have additional functionality such as SOS and voice recognition. For these markets OTA updates seem feasible, and might be added in future updates.

I think its down to concerns over collecting, transmitting data and information out of UK and back to China. The Mg Zs Ev is an amazing car as long as you can overlook the Chinese surveillance and can turn a blind eye to genocide.

 

[simon]

That's a fair point about data privacy.

Would it be a simple matter of a software update tho? Maybe the car don't have the hardware to connect to the internet?

 

[KasEV]

Folks I think we are always at risk of going deeply political and causing upset so we need to carefully keep to the topic under discussion.
Thanks

 

[Mike]

@simon
There is no official MG source that provides us technical details of the updates so unless you know a MG Technician who is happy to give you the Technical details I am afraid there isn't much information to answer that question.
The updates are apparently under strict Chinese Government State control as MG is owned by the Chinese State.
So each time your car is updated it needs to be connected to a computer in China and the update is transmitted over the Web. For some updates, the update is downloaded unto a USB but it is encoded with a chassis number so that USB will only be able to update the car with that specific chassis number.
That is how things are unfortunately.
MG has a list of all cars by chassis number which shows which cars have had an update and which ones have not but it is deemed top company secret for use by certified MG master technicians only.
So that is that about updates you just have to keep asking the managers and master techs at the dealerships and that is it.

I understand there is a server in the Netherlands now.... for updates.

 

[KasEV]

@Mike
Thanks for this info. I am not aware MG has any open Tech servers.
If this is true then it will be good if we can confirm this site and make the web address available.

 

[Mike]

@Mike
Thanks for this info. I am not aware MG has any open Tech servers.
If this is true then it will be good if we can confirm this site and make the web address available.

I understand it is for dealers access only.

 

[simon]

Hi guys, got the ZS and it is brilliant!