CCS Communications Problems

[siteguru]

In the grand scheme of things, a 50KW charger isn't so bad for the SE SR (provided that you get near the charger capability when charging), given that the battery capacity is only ~50kWh.

 

[Rolfe]

I agree and I'd settle for it under normal circumstances, but I've seen videos of SEs getting up to 88 Kw from an ultra-rapid, so I'd probably try for that if it was available and I was in a hurry.

That Applegreen was the only charger of over 50 Kw I've ever had the car on, and it was already at a high SoC at the time - I was only trying it to see if I could get connected. So I don't know what I'd have got if I'd rocked up at 10% charge.

 

[SimonS]

Just for info I've had my SE LR phase 2 since Thursday and have tried three 50kW CCS chargers. The first was a Chargeplace Scotland unit in Dalmellington which had definitely seen better days. The screen was unreadable due to UV damage so I was unable to persuade it to charge.
the other two, also Chargeplace Scotland units, one in Ayr and one in Fife have both worked as I would expect at the first time of asking.
Maybe MG have cured the problem.

 

[Rolfe]

Welcome to the club! Pictures go in the "Show us yours!" thread. My car had a software update on Monday which I suspect was the cure, although in fact I never had the disease to begine with - must have missed that update. I think all is now well.

 

[Richmorr]

Tried my first super charger today, grid serve electric highway at Wetherby services. Faultless went straight up to 78 kWh, me the fam went for a drink n toilet, quick 15 min stop didn’t really need to charge but had to give it a try, also got 4.2 kWh on Eco, adaptive region, adaptive cruise control, and the option where it steers for you. I was quite impressed.

 

[brundela]

So, have had my car in for CCS charging issues (i.e. it didn't anymore) after updates carried out on 6th Jul 23. Went on a longer journey on 21st Jul and on returning I could not charge using any CCS Chargers. Had to wait for around 3 hours on motorway service station as there was only one Type 2 charger that worked. Had car booked in straight away for today.

Now back from yet another software update (that was stated as a recall [yet another]) and this fixed the charger issue that happened (I'm guessing) at the last update. The recall update was for the EVCC (I'm guessing that was the Electric Vehicle Charge Controller) and resolved the CCS charging issue, as when I collected it it was still on the CCS charger at the garage (therefore seemed to be working [96% SOC]), I stopped it at that point as you should only charge to 80% but it was part of the recall and in essences free (although I had to get there in the first place).

So the takeaway here is, if you have had recent updates, try to charge with CCS and if there is a problem get the recall update for the EVCC module. Don't need that stress when you have somewhere to go with a little bit of urgency and finding out the issue.

Happy journeys and I still am liken the MG, they did have a MG4X (matt green) there but so did try to get it as a loaner but no plates

Hi.. Bruno from West of France with the same problem as yours...no more CCS charging till wednesday update.
Can yu gîte me the exact ref for this Last update plz?
I ll ask my dealer for solving this issue as fast as possible.
Mgmotors France isnt anymore the good contact: yu need to be standing for real rescue only if the mg4 can t be driven...better ask directly your dealer.
Can you gîve the exact Technical referencing code for this Last update plz.
Tanks in advance.
Bruno.

 

[brundela]

Have put my car on a local resseller .
He had updated once Again Ccu according to Sc47 campain.
No luck with ccs charging.
Then he updated EVCC Just as he was told by MGFrance.
Lucky luck...charging is now OK with ..at leat 3 différent kind of charging set.

This took 5mn for each update.
Going to spain now...

 

[Deleted member 14300]

I had this Thursday. Ironically it works now. I hate this car I really do.

Tried my first super charger today, grid serve electric highway at Wetherby services. Faultless went straight up to 78 kWh, me the fam went for a drink n toilet, quick 15 min stop didn’t really need to charge but had to give it a try, also got 4.2 kWh on Eco, adaptive region, adaptive cruise control, and the option where it steers for you. I was quite impressed.

Not wanting to brag, but got 4.8 wotsits per hectare with the roof tray on.

 

[KH11]

Tried my first super charger today, grid serve electric highway at Wetherby services. Faultless went straight up to 78 kWh, me the fam went for a drink n toilet, quick 15 min stop didn’t really need to charge but had to give it a try, also got 4.2 kWh on Eco, adaptive region, adaptive cruise control, and the option where it steers for you. I was quite impressed.

I have had a go today at Gridserve at Woolly Edge services in readiness for later on in the year when we will be heading up to Scotland. The procedure for starting the charge was clear enough and we we’re charging at 48 KW and went in to the services for a quick coffee and the loos.

Wasn’t sure what to do about ending the charge procedure. The screen on the charger had a stop button so pressed that and my car stopped charging and I was able to release the cable.

I looked at the screen on the charger and it seemed to be saying about zapping my card again I did it but wasn’t sure if that was necessary or not as I had released the cable and the car had stopped charging.

There seems to be no set procedure for all the different charging networks.

We also noticed on the way out there was some rapid chargers which I hadn’t noticed on the way in. I think they were 350KW ones. So might try them next time I am passing and needing a top up.

Generally I won’t be needing to use these chargers as I have the facility to do it home but was just trying to get some practice in for any long distance trips we might do.

 

[Rolfe]

Yeah, Gridserve have been rolling out banks of six 350 Kw chargers to join their existing one or two 50 Kw units at some motorway service stations. Burton-in-Kendal and Cherwell Valley are like that, and Annandale Water is set to join them in a couple of weeks. At Burton-in-Kendal the new ones are on the opposite side of the car park, but there are helpful signs pointing to "medium power" one way and "high power" the other way.

 

[KH11]

Yeah, Gridserve have been rolling out banks of six 350 Kw chargers to join their existing one or two 50 Kw units at some motorway service stations. Burton-in-Kendal and Cherwell Valley are like that, and Annandale Water is set to join them in a couple of weeks. At Burton-in-Kendal the new ones are on the opposite side of the car park, but there are helpful signs pointing to "medium power" one way and "high power" the other way.

The route I have saved in Zapmap for our trip up Scotland I have selected options for charging at Gridserve, Ionoity, BP Pulse and Charge Place Scotland.

I won’t necessarily be stopping at all these but I was trying to cover a few possibilities in case some weren’t available. I’m not sure if the ones at Todhills are still working on the M6 but there are a couple of options round Gretna Green area and then further on on the A70 there is the Charge Place Scotland one.

If I can get a charge at Gretna Green then I think I will be okay for getting to our destination without another charging stop but it will be winter time and I am not expecting the same range availability as it would be currently.

 

[siteguru]

Gretna Green has Gridserve, Applegreen and Ionity chargers.

 

[KH11]

Gretna Green has Gridserve, Applegreen and Ionity chargers.

Which sites, I haven’t seen any Applegreen ones in Zap Map off hand albeit it’s a little while since I saved the route

 

[siteguru]

The Applegreen ones are fairly new, and are located near the Gridserve and Tesla (not open to all) chargers - there are a fair number of charge points there now. The Ionity ones are over near the BP garage.

 

[Rolfe]

I had trouble with the Applegreen chargers at Gretna in May, but when I tried the ones at Abington more recently I did get connected, albeit with some difficulty. One way or another you should get charged there.

I was surprised by the Applegreen ones when I saw them because they weren't in ZapMaps then, but I think I saw them listed last time I looked.

The route I have saved in Zapmap for our trip up Scotland I have selected options for charging at Gridserve, Ionoity, BP Pulse and Charge Place Scotland.

I won’t necessarily be stopping at all these but I was trying to cover a few possibilities in case some weren’t available. I’m not sure if the ones at Todhills are still working on the M6 but there are a couple of options round Gretna Green area and then further on on the A70 there is the Charge Place Scotland one.

If I can get a charge at Gretna Green then I think I will be okay for getting to our destination without another charging stop but it will be winter time and I am not expecting the same range availability as it would be currently.

Oh, and get a ChargePlace Scotland card if you haven't already. Well worth it. Sometimes you can get on a charger with their card even though the bank card reader is broken. They have some that don't take bank cards at all, including some free ones.

 

[KH11]

The Applegreen ones are fairly new, and are located near the Gridserve and Tesla (not open to all) chargers - there are a fair number of charge points there now. The Ionity ones are over near the BP garage.

Thank you, I have just had a fresh look at the route I don’t think the Applegreen ones were there when I saved the route initially. I have put them on my route. It’s looking like that might be a good place to stop. As you say if there is a few chargers there now then chances are I’ll get on one at arrival or at least not have long to wait. I am not bothered what brand they are as long as I can get one that is working and reasonably quick.

Oh, and get a ChargePlace Scotland card if you haven't already. Well worth it. Sometimes you can get on a charger with their card even though the bank card reader is broken. They have some that don't take bank cards at all, including some free ones.

I did get a charge place Scotland card early on as the trip up there is more than likely when I will be using chargers away from home.

The ones I have used so far have been more practice so that hopefully when I go on that long trip I won’t be fumbling around as much.

 

[Rolfe]

The new chargers at Annandale Water aren't open yet, but apparently will be in a couple of weeks. So give Annandale Water a miss for the moment. Also don't go near Killington Lake on the way back. ABRP recently relegated these chargers (only a couple) to 40 Kw and told me that if I wanted to charge there I'd have to wait for two hours! Greenlands Farm is a decent alternative, although only one charger was commissioned when I called in there a couple of weeks ago.

 

[KH11]

The new chargers at Annandale Water aren't open yet, but apparently will be in a couple of weeks. So give Annandale Water a miss for the moment. Also don't go near Killington Lake on the way back. ABRP recently relegated these chargers (only a couple) to 40 Kw and told me that if I wanted to charge there I'd have to wait for two hours! Greenlands Farm is a decent alternative, although only one charger was commissioned when I called in there a couple of weeks ago.

It’s going to be a couple of days before Christmas Eve when we travel to Scotland so hopefully by then Annandale Water will be fully operational which will give me an additional option.

According to Zap Map my route will be 252 miles so I am banking on one stop should be sufficient.

The hotel where we stay has a couple of chargers on site and when we booked this time I asked about them and they said they were free to use for guests but the lady I spoke to wasn’t sure what rate of charge they were.

 

[Rolfe]

I may pass you going in the opposite direction. I usually drive to Halifax a couple of days before Christmas Eve.

I always thought my route was about 195 miles, but apparently shaving off a couple of corners gets that down to 186 miles. I could do that in one go in the SR in summer, but even then I'd have to curtail my speed on the motorway a bit. In winter it wouldn't be sensible. Also, since the type 2 chargers outside my friend's house have a 4-hour limit on them, I don't want to arrive too empty. Since Tebay Southbound and Killington Lake are both a bust, it's either stop early at Southwaite, or go on to Kirkby Lonsdale and the Booth's Instavolts at 131 miles. I can always see what my SoC is at Southwaite and decide whether to go in or not.

If Annandale Water is open by then, and judging by the advanced state of the works it's pretty much bound to be, it's a nice stop and has been fairly recently refurbished. I'll probably stop there on the way back.

I had heard (from my Halifax friend who stopped there at Easter in her ICE car) that new chargers were pending at Tebay Southbound, but so far I'm not seeing anything on the apps. It would be good if that did happen, because without anything at Tebay (except Tesla-only) and with what seems to be restricted power at Killington Lake, that's a long stretch of motorway with minimal charging opportunities - from Southwaite to Forton, and even at that, both Southwaite and Forton only had the old 50 Kw Gridserves last time I looked.

 

[KH11]

I may pass you going in the opposite direction. I usually drive to Halifax a couple of days before Christmas Eve.

I always thought my route was about 195 miles, but apparently shaving off a couple of corners gets that down to 186 miles. I could do that in one go in the SR in summer, but even then I'd have to curtail my speed on the motorway a bit. In winter it wouldn't be sensible. Also, since the type 2 chargers outside my friend's house have a 4-hour limit on them, I don't want to arrive too empty. Since Tebay Southbound and Killington Lake are both a bust, it's either stop early at Southwaite, or go on to Kirkby Lonsdale and the Booth's Instavolts at 131 miles. I can always see what my SoC is at Southwaite and decide whether to go in or not.

If Annandale Water is open by then, and judging by the advanced state of the works it's pretty much bound to be, it's a nice stop and has been fairly recently refurbished. I'll probably stop there on the way back.

I had heard (from my Halifax friend who stopped there at Easter in her ICE car) that new chargers were pending at Tebay Southbound, but so far I'm not seeing anything on the apps. It would be good if that did happen, because without anything at Tebay (except Tesla-only) and with what seems to be restricted power at Killington Lake, that's a long stretch of motorway with minimal charging opportunities - from Southwaite to Forton, and even at that, both Southwaite and Forton only had the old 50 Kw Gridserves last time I looked.

Well so far give a take working out the procedure for each different charger brand I have used so far I have had no problems getting a charge