How do we suggest updates and fixes to MG? 80% charging restriction!

[draxxmenvone]

Hi folks. After the success of getting the KERS 3/brake light problem addressed by MG, how was that issue presented to MG?

On the MG website, it’s recommended that the car is generally charged to 80% and yet there’s no way of restricting charge to 80% without making calculations to stop the charge at approximately the right time every single time I plug in. I don’t know about anyone else but I find it a bit of a pain in the hoop.

I can’t imagine adding an 80% charge option to the MG5 would be rocket science but how do I get that suggestion to MG?

Please note, I don’t want to discuss whether I should be worrying about charging to 80% or not. It’s recommended by MG.

 

[Biccys]

I'm not sure that charging it to exactly 80% is that big a deal. I would suggest that 80% figure has a tolerance of +/- 5% or even more. I think the key word in your post is "generally".

I agree though, there should be a means of setting a charging target on the car. I reckon this is resolved in the new one through the iSmart app.

 

[Deleted member 2158]

Not sure what the advantage is restricting to 80% - unless you are fast charging where I understand it only fast charges to 80%. Seems a lot of talk about battery life but I understood the software already has allowances.
If we only charge to 80% and not drive below 20% it means the effective range is only 60% of battery capacity! .

 

[Alb]

There is no comparison with the KERS 3 Brake Light problem as that was about whether the car was meeting a legal safety requirement.
The 80% charge thing is a non issue in my mind so I can't see MG wasting any time on it.

 

[biffo]

There is no comparison with the KERS 3 Brake Light problem as that was about whether the car was meeting a legal safety requirement.
The 80% charge thing is a non issue in my mind so I can't see MG wasting any time on it.

Yeah - this sounds like a feature request - which MG have done previously for the ZS but not for the MG5 - assuming this type of functionality is even possible with the car's hardware

 

[PonteMG5]

EV man on YouTube touched on this on one of his member videos recently, when covering the C4 dispatches program. Whilst most manufacturers would recommend the 80% limit (and I think it’s more targeted at rapid), there is not much of an issue if you charge beyond this. He compared it to general medical advice to eat a balanced diet, we don’t always do that but it doesn’t necessarily cause us problems.

I think it would be a nice feature to have and it’s in the new MG ZS menu, but can’t see it in the current version of MG5 and will prob be a facelift option down line.

 

[ALANB]

Hi folks. After the success of getting the KERS 3/brake light problem addressed by MG, how was that issue presented to MG?

On the MG website, it’s recommended that the car is generally charged to 80% and yet there’s no way of restricting charge to 80% without making calculations to stop the charge at approximately the right time every single time I plug in. I don’t know about anyone else but I find it a bit of a pain in the hoop.

I can’t imagine adding an 80% charge option to the MG5 would be rocket science but how do I get that suggestion to MG?

Please note, I don’t want to discuss whether I should be worrying about charging to 80% or not. It’s recommended by MG.

I think they have already worked that out, but it won't come until a new model arrives. I've seen that option is available in the new Long Range ZS EV and you can also do it with the app that it now has. At a guess when/if we get the new facelift MG5 it will be in that. But it needs the new infotainment system with more processing power.....

 

[EVsince2016]

Not sure what the advantage is restricting to 80% - unless you are fast charging where I understand it only fast charges to 80%. Seems a lot of talk about battery life but I understood the software already has allowances.
If we only charge to 80% and not drive below 20% it means the effective range is only 60% of battery capacity! .

This is for day to day when 95% we only do a few miles.

Long trips = 100%v down to whatever!

 

[Deleted member 6627]

Can't see myself following the 80% rule when I get my car. I drive 70 miles a day so only using 60% of the battery is likely to be a pain.... And likely for very little benefit. Likewise I won't be charging to 100% every day so hopefully a happy medium.

 

[biffo]

Can't see myself following the 80% rule when I get my car. I drive 70 miles a day so only using 60% of the battery is likely to be a pain.... And likely for very little benefit. Likewise I won't be charging to 100% every day so hopefully a happy medium.

The 80% is just a guide, given charging speed drops off a cliff around 83% - check Miles’ thread on ZS charging, the MG5 is comparable.

You can go as high or low as you feel like, but it’s diminishing returns at the top end and risky at bottom end unless guaranteed an available charger - such as heading home.

MG ZS EV Long Range - Rapid Charging Test - 76kW Peak?

Last night, myself and Jake @MG ZS EV WEST YORKSHIRE took the Chorley Group Burnley demonstrator on a journey to test the real-world rapid charging capabilities. I picked up Jake around 7pm from Oakworth, and we headed to the Ionity chargers at Leeds Skelton Lake Services. I used the "Battery...

www.mgevs.com

 

[marcopolomt]

Your battery retains the battery capacity better in the long term (one of several ways to minimise dendrite build-up). My leaf doesn't have a limiter BUT it does have a timer. I charge overnight on a granny cable at off-peak octopus go rates when I get below 50%. Works fine for me. do some quick maths and program your home charger to do something similar. it's one of the reasons we didn't consider the original ZS. Not got a smart charger fitted at home as the grant wouldn't be applicable and it's a monster job.

 

[Petriix]

EV man on YouTube touched on this on one of his member videos recently, when covering the C4 dispatches program. Whilst most manufacturers would recommend the 80% limit (and I think it’s more targeted at rapid), there is not much of an issue if you charge beyond this. He compared it to general medical advice to eat a balanced diet, we don’t always do that but it doesn’t necessarily cause us problems.

I think it would be a nice feature to have and it’s in the new MG ZS menu, but can’t see it in the current version of MG5 and will prob be a facelift option down line.

That's a great analogy about a balanced diet, except that while it's possible to lose weight again and get back into shape (apparently, although I'm not finding it easy), you can never undo the small amount of additional degradation to your battery.

The point is, charging to 100% is a bit like eating a pudding after dinner. Fine occasionally, or if you're particularly active, but not ideal for every day, especially if you're not very active.

I guess rapid charging is like eating a takeaway: expensive and pretty unhealthy, but sometimes you just need to grab something on the run.

 

[draxxmenvone]

OK, so to reiterate from my original post: "I don’t want to discuss whether I should be worrying about charging to 80% or not. It’s recommended by MG". I'd like to change the wording from reporting it as an issue to a feature request to MG. Charging is very much a personal preference (I'm guessing primarily split by owners/leasers) and on our previous EV was a simple selection on a menu. At the moment, I'm having to use a charge calculator and then program my home charger which is a pain in the hoop. I understand many people charge as required without concern but I also suspect there are many of us that would benefit from a simple 80% restriction on charging. As recommended by mg!

That being said, does anyone know how I would submit a feature request?

 

[draxxmenvone]

I think they have already worked that out, but it won't come until a new model arrives. I've seen that option is available in the new Long Range ZS EV and you can also do it with the app that it now has. At a guess when/if we get the new facelift MG5 it will be in that. But it needs the new infotainment system with more processing power.....

I'm guessing if MG have added the 80% mode as a feature on a newer model, it's a feature worth having! Thanks for that info!

 

[catkins]

I found this info re battery state of health and charge limits:

pushev.com
Battery charging: Full versus Partial

• Cycling from 100 to 0 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 10 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 20 % we get 1.000 cycles

• Cycling from 90 to 0 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 10 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 20 % we get 2.000 cycles

• Cycling from 80 to 0 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 10 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 20 % we get 3.500 cycles

• Cycling from 70 to 0 % we get 5.000 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 10 % we get 5.500 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 20 % we get 6.000 cycles

 

[MonsterMonster]

I found this info re battery state of health and charge limits:

pushev.com
Battery charging: Full versus Partial

• Cycling from 100 to 0 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 10 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 20 % we get 1.000 cycles

• Cycling from 90 to 0 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 10 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 20 % we get 2.000 cycles

• Cycling from 80 to 0 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 10 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 20 % we get 3.500 cycles

• Cycling from 70 to 0 % we get 5.000 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 10 % we get 5.500 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 20 % we get 6.000 cycles

Can you provide a full link to the article please? Did you mean pushevs.com?

 

[catkins]

whoops. Yes.
pushevs.com
and search for:
Battery charging: full versus partial

 

[MonsterMonster]

I found this info re battery state of health and charge limits:

pushev.com
Battery charging: Full versus Partial

• Cycling from 100 to 0 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 10 % we get 500 cycles
• Cycling from 100 to 20 % we get 1.000 cycles

• Cycling from 90 to 0 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 10 % we get 1.500 cycles
• Cycling from 90 to 20 % we get 2.000 cycles

• Cycling from 80 to 0 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 10 % we get 3.000 cycles
• Cycling from 80 to 20 % we get 3.500 cycles

• Cycling from 70 to 0 % we get 5.000 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 10 % we get 5.500 cycles
• Cycling from 70 to 20 % we get 6.000 cycles

Full v partial charging