I'm thinking about buying a ZS EV

[Stevekc]

I wonder if anyone can help with a few questions:
1. I would like to charge overnight but my current wall mounted home charger can not delay charging. Is there a fix?
2. is the heating and air conditioning satisfactory?
3. are the headlights up to scratch?

 

[bloggsy]

I wonder if anyone can help with a few questions:
1. I would like to charge overnight but my current wall mounted home charger can not delay charging. Is there a fix?
2. is the heating and air conditioning satisfactory?
3. are the headlights up to scratch?

Hi Stevekc :
1) It depends on what charger you have. Can you provide more details, please?
2) I find it satisfactory for my needs. It's not as good as others as there's no thermostat, so it's either on or off, regardless of the temp, but I'm fine with it.
3) I, and some other members, have changed the headlight bulbs as we found them very poor in unlit areas (countryside, etc.) and have installed LED's.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Stevekc]

Thanks for your reply Bloggsy.
My wall-mounted charger dates from October 2018 and was fitted for my Zoe. It's a Rolec 32 amp tethered unit.

 

[Kithmo]

The car doesn't have inbuilt timed charging so the charger will need to control it.
Heating is great if you set it high enough but the higher you have it the more it eats into your range.
Headlights are pretty poor, they have HB3LL bulbs as standard, where LL stands for Long Life, making them dimmer than most standard HB3 bulbs. Even standard bulbs would be an upgrade.

 

[SCB86]

As above - headlights are terrible and lots of us have upgraded to LED.
Personally I HATE the air con. Not only is there no climate control, it doesn't get very cold compared to some cars I've owned. Also, although there are separate air con controls, there is no separate display. This means it comes up on the infotainment and it's SLOW. It can take a 1-2 seconds for the display to show your choice and then the same time for the infortainment display to return to it's previous screen - meaning you may have just missed your turning on the sat nav.
It's a really stupid design.

 

[Stevekc]

thanks for your replies Kithmo and SCB86. I think I can overcome the headlight and heating/air con issues, but the overnight charging is a challenge. My Zoe had in-car delayed charging and a simple wall-mounted charger, so still looking for a solution (if one is available) for timing the charge to cheaper overnight electricity. Any ideas? Can you fix a timer to 32amp cabling?
Thanks in anticipation.

 

[TassiedEVil]

thanks for your replies Kithmo and SCB86. I think I can overcome the headlight and heating/air con issues, but the overnight charging is a challenge. My Zoe had in-car delayed charging and a simple wall-mounted charger, so still looking for a solution (if one is available) for timing the charge to cheaper overnight electricity. Any ideas? Can you fix a timer to 32amp cabling?
Thanks in anticipation.

I notice the newer Rolecs have an app and sim card built in. Maybe there‘s one of those ‘things’ you can attach back at the main box (ie on that circuit) that you can monitor and control via your phone? Probably need to find a very smart sparkie to assist - should be doable...surely

 

[Gomev]

Thanks for your reply Bloggsy.
My wall-mounted charger dates from October 2018 and was fitted for my Zoe. It's a Rolec 32 amp tethered unit.

Your Zoe did use a type 2 for home charging didn't it ? I sometimes get confused with the Zoe connectors/charging speeds

 

[Archev]

I have a Rolec unit with the ability to charge only during my off peak times (day and / or overnight) and it is grand.
the car can get toasty warm / the car can get comfortably cool ( or open the glass roof a bit if you have one )
the car has headlights that work fine for all the night time driving I do - I once fitted powerful spot lights to supplement the headlights on a car and found I never really used them.

 

[Lovemyev]

Can you fix a timer to 32amp cabling?

Hi @Stevekc
I am assuming that you have a dumb ( non smart ) Rolec wall box here, given the age of the unit ?.
If so, you ( or some kind spark ) can install a Wi - Fi relay into the wall box to enable you to control, via your phone ( free App ) to facilitate “Off Peak” charging.
A quick search on the forum will be you friend here !.
Personally, I have a Rolec dumb 7kw walk box that was install way back in 2016.
My previous car could charge by setting the charge times in the the head unit of the car.
When the MG ZS EV arrived, this then became a big problem !.
Some owners charge using a standard tariff and find there not to be a lot of difference in the overhaul cost in their bills ?.
It really depends on your usage case.
If you intend to cover a lot of miles and are charging a lot from home, then a cheaper “Off Peak” rate may benefit you a lot.
I have a “Sonoff” Wi - Fi relay installed to my wall box.
There is also a “Shelly” device that will do the very same thing.
When I last looked, they where around £20 ish to purchase on-line.
The install time is less than 1 hour and your up and running.
It is not a a difficult job, but I would NOT recommend carrying out this type of work unless you are completely comfortable with opening up your wall box and the supply has been first isolated, locked off and proven dead.
Enlist the help of a qualified spark to help you if required.

 

[Kithmo]

Forgot to say AC is pretty poor if you forget to press the snowflake button, don't ask me how I know.