Do I have to charge with 3 pin plug sometimes?

[stuartr1977]

Driving a MG ZS and over recent weeks the charging has depleted from around 170 miles to 130. Took it into the garage and they claim that the reason this is happening is that I always charge using the EV type 2 charger, never with a 3 pin plug. They said I need to vary it a little bit, sometimes witht he EV charge, sometimes with the 3 pin plug. This sounds like bunkum to me and I can find no evidence of MG recommending this. Anyone had this issue?

 

[slmorgan42]

There a few things to keep in mind. The cold weather and drop in temp will have a big impact. Also means things like heating etc.. are being used. These also impact millage.

Keep in mind it is just a best guess as to millage based on resent driving.

The manual does say it good to do a charge to 100% once a month at which point the car will run a maintenance on the battery to equalise/balance the cells. I think this will really depend on how many miles you are doing and how often you use a rapid charger.

This does not require the 3 pin it just needs to not be a rapid charger. e.g. any 7kwh charger would be fine. If you are using a home charger this will be fine.

 

[stuartr1977]

thank you for the superquick reply. I never use a rapid charger, only 7kwh home charger. So could temperature change affect it by that much ? It has definitely been since things have got colder.

 

[slmorgan42]

thank you for the superquick reply. I never use a rapid charger, only 7kwh home charger. So could temperature change affect it by that much ? It has definitely been since things have got colder.

To be fair I am new to EV too and still waiting for my car. But I do not have the option of a home charger so I have been spending many hours asking and reading information on here.

Cold and wet weather does seem to make a big impact. Others may be able to comment more on this.

The thing to keep in mind the estimated millage is just a guess based on how you have been driving since the trip counter was last reset. You could reset it now and it would jump back to the default max. Then as you drive over the next few days you will see change again to a lower value.

You can look at the millage per khw hours. This is more meaningful. e.g. in the summer people were getting 3.5m/kwh but they are now seeing 3 or lower.

 

[rpannell]

Hi Stuart. I assume that you have a MK1 ZS? If so, just reset both trip counters (a long hold on the OK button) and the reported range should return to around 163 miles at 100% charge.

 

[slmorgan42]

To be fair I am new to EV too and still waiting for my car. But I do not have the option of a home charger so I have been spending many hours asking and reading information on here.

Cold and wet weather does seem to make a big impact. Others may be able to comment more on this.

The thing to keep in mind the estimated millage is just a guess based on how you have been driving since the trip counter was last reset. You could reset it now and it would jump back to the default max. Then as you drive over the next few days you will see change again to a lower value.

You can look at the millage per khw hours. This is more meaningful. e.g. in the summer people were getting 3.5m/kwh but they are now seeing 3 or lower.

PS yes your home charger is perfect for the balencing to take place. It will do this once the battery hits 100%. You have to leave it for an hour or two depending on how much you are using a rapid charger. If you are not using a rapid charger it should not really need much doing to it.

 

[stuartr1977]

thanks so much for the replies, I will try the suggestions!

 

[Jomarkh]

Any type2 AC connector will battery balance just not DC CCS

 

[5teep]

thank you for the superquick reply. I never use a rapid charger, only 7kwh home charger. So could temperature change affect it by that much ? It has definitely been since things have got colder.

Absolutely yes, the colder the weather the less range you have. My MG5 on a really good hot summer day can go 240 (average 210-220) miles but the range drops to 150 when it's below zero.

 

[manictomb]

Yes when colder then less miles even those ice vehs lose miles when in the cold and in the summer be back to normal ?

 

[Deleted member 7316]

One of the many reasons why I switched to the MG5 from my LEAF was the cold weather effect. In the summer the LEAF could easily achieve 160 miles even with aircon set to a limited level.

Once winter set in it was sub 100 miles which didn't fit with making the best use of the limited sun for the solar panels. I would get close to 200 miles with the 1st winter in the MG, much better as we could leave charging based on the forecasts.

 

[tsedge]

As I understand it a 30% range drop in winter is not unusual.

 

[Gomev]

Driving a MG ZS and over recent weeks the charging has depleted from around 170 miles to 130. Took it into the garage and they claim that the reason this is happening is that I always charge using the EV type 2 charger, never with a 3 pin plug. They said I need to vary it a little bit, sometimes witht he EV charge, sometimes with the 3 pin plug. This sounds like bunkum to me and I can find no evidence of MG recommending this. Anyone had this issue?

As verified by all the other posts above, you are correct, the garage was talking bunkum.

 

[am84]

We charged to 100% last night and wife said there was 161 miles in car this morning .
It was -5 last night(Scotland)?

 

[manictomb]

Yes 30%winter time and if miles is not what you think it should be it works by setting the the trip to 0 and see the correct rough milage

 

[Shrink Proof]

So could temperature change affect it by that much ? It has definitely been since things have got colder.

Definitely. VERY noticeable in the Highlands. The current cold snap has decimated range.