MG ZS EV Connected but not charging

[Gomev]

Hi Jomarkh, we did a successful charge on podpoint but the car didn't release the cable and we had to use the emergency release for the cable. Post this the car has not handshaked and not charging on any charger. MG suggested a communication controller needed to be swapped which they have tried but still not resolved the issue. The garage is waiting for further guidance from MG, interested to find out what could go so wrong a new car.

Silly question as I'm sure you did, but did you unlock the car to release the cable and it stayed stuck ? Also have you tried the 10mm spanner, disconnect the 12v battery to reset the car in case it thinks it's still charging ?
Dammed computers are so thick.

 

[hurst7enterprise]

We unlocked the car and the cable remained stuck, see post above and when we got home did the 12v disconnect to see if we could convince the car to behave. The car is currently in the service garage keeping them and us guessing. You are right is frustrating with technology.

 

[hurst7enterprise]

@8969Steph,. I know your issue was a year ago and as we have experienced the same problem after only 3 weeks of owning our mg5, wondered what part was replaced and how long did it take to solve?

Belated update but we also had a faulty,/failed charger port. Only took 8 weeks to resolve. Now really enjoying the car.

 

[AK OK]

Might be a daft question but you don't mention if you locked the car or not.
My sequence is, (with the car switched off) plug car end in first, then charger end, then lock the car, at this point it's charging, then finally confirm the charge on the app.

That's all good if it works for you ?

With my mk1 ZS EV & on type 2 pod points I:- pull up, switch off, get out, cable up, by the time I get back in drivers seat charging has started (for the 15min grace period), i then use the podpoint app to confirm & off to the store or read the paper. No locking up unless I'm leaving it.
Never had anything go wrong except one time I came out to find it wasn't charging (and wasn't "full")

 

[Kithmo]

That's all good if it works for you ?

With my mk1 ZS EV & on type 2 pod points I:- pull up, switch off, get out, cable up, by the time I get back in drivers seat charging has started (for the 15min grace period), i then use the podpoint app to confirm & off to the store or read the paper. No locking up unless I'm leaving it.
Never had anything go wrong except one time I came out to find it wasn't charging (and wasn't "full")

FWIW, I've tried plugging charger end in first then car end and that works fine as well.

 

[AK OK]

FWIW, I've tried plugging charger end in first then car end and that works fine as well.

Yes I should have detailed that I found it easier & never had to rethink the order that it's charger first, car second - like you describe.

I also have a little strip of double sided velcro to keep most of the 5m charger cable looped up out of the puddles ?

 

[KunalKansara]

Hello, my MG ZS EV (Trophy) is now for three months running fantastic. Just one issue, at home 7kW Type 2 charger works very well, with no problem at all. But outside charging on public stations with Type 2 (43 kW) or CCS is very unreliable. It originally used to charge outside very well, but I stopped using outside charging since I got home a 7kW charger. After that, most of the time, when I try charging at a public station, it is very unreliable (8 out of 10 times, it won't charge on fast Type 2 or CCS with three pins in the top plug). With this, the work commute is fine, but taking the car on a long journey, I feel very anxious. Spoke to a dealership, but they don't seem to know about such issues. Did anyone else feel such a thing? Or, am I missing something very basic here? Thanks. - Kunal

 

[hmadsen]

Hello, my MG ZS EV (Trophy) is now for three months running fantastic. Just one issue, at home 7kW Type 2 charger works very well, with no problem at all. But outside charging on public stations with Type 2 (43 kW) or CCS is very unreliable. It originally used to charge outside very well, but I stopped using outside charging since I got home a 7kW charger. After that, most of the time, when I try charging at a public station, it is very unreliable (8 out of 10 times, it won't charge on fast Type 2 or CCS with three pins in the top plug). With this, the work commute is fine, but taking the car on a long journey, I feel very anxious. Spoke to a dealership, but they don't seem to know about such issues. Did anyone else feel such a thing? Or, am I missing something very basic here? Thanks. - Kunal

The "fast type 2" will still only be 11 KW or 7 KW, depending on what AC charger is in your car.

UK : 7 KW charger
Mainland Europe : 11 KW charger.

The thing i found when charging on CCS or Type 2 destination chargers is, the following.

1. Each company seems to have their own method, some needs the CCS inserted before doing anything, others need you to initiate the transaction and only when it has contacted the charger, will you be asked to connect the CCS and confirm in the app.

2. No matter what charger i use, the charger will not be able to start, until i have actively locked the car, after inserting the CCS, only then is the CCS locked in place and the car allows the charge to start.

When i go to a charger from a company i used before, and i know the procedure, starting the charging process is fairly simple, but when i get to a new "brand" it takes a few tried so get the sequence right, and have the charging start.

The easiest one i have ever used was a new charger at a local petrol station, where they owned and operated the charger.

Pull up, plug in the CCS, hold my wireless payment card to the reader and lock the doors on the car and off it went.

The worst was one i tried in Germany yesterday, i have charged 2 times there without any big problems, but yesterday it was an absolute nightmare, that started with a Dutch man trying to end his charging, but the car would not stop, he was unable to stop it via the app, and in the end he had to call a number on the charger to get them to force close the charger.

After that they rebooted the charge point alltogether, but it would still not initiate the charge when i did as i had done before.

 

[KunalKansara]

The "fast type 2" will still only be 11 KW or 7 KW, depending on what AC charger is in your car.

UK : 7 KW charger
Mainland Europe : 11 KW charger.

The thing i found when charging on CCS or Type 2 destination chargers is, the following.

1. Each company seems to have their own method, some needs the CCS inserted before doing anything, others need you to initiate the transaction and only when it has contacted the charger, will you be asked to connect the CCS and confirm in the app.

2. No matter what charger i use, the charger will not be able to start, until i have actively locked the car, after inserting the CCS, only then is the CCS locked in place and the car allows the charge to start.

When i go to a charger from a company i used before, and i know the procedure, starting the charging process is fairly simple, but when i get to a new "brand" it takes a few tried so get the sequence right, and have the charging start.

The easiest one i have ever used was a new charger at a local petrol station, where they owned and operated the charger.

Pull up, plug in the CCS, hold my wireless payment card to the reader and lock the doors on the car and off it went.

The worst was one i tried in Germany yesterday, i have charged 2 times there without any big problems, but yesterday it was an absolute nightmare, that started with a Dutch man trying to end his charging, but the car would not stop, he was unable to stop it via the app, and in the end he had to call a number on the charger to get them to force close the charger.

After that they rebooted the charge point alltogether, but it would still not initiate the charge when i did as i had done before.

Thanks, @hmadsen. I have tried different sequences for charging and also followed the sequence instructed on the charger units. But not sure if I actively ensured door-locked within the sequence. I will try yet again and see if any luck strikes. Thank you.

 

[hmadsen]

Thanks, @hmadsen. I have tried different sequences for charging and also followed the sequence instructed on the charger units. But not sure if I actively ensured door-locked within the sequence. I will try yet again and see if any luck strikes. Thank you.

I hope you get it working, the 2 main things that has made me unable to start a charge has been not locking the doors (on CCS you can unlock as soon as the charge started) and then CCS not inserted all the way (I have a very energetic 8 year old that can insert the plug, but not always all the way)

 

[MTS]

Sorry if I'm going a bit off topic, if the charging only starts upon locking the car, if I wanted to sit in the car whilst it's charging then I can still do that but need to lock the door I suppose ? Could I leave the window open and lock the doors or will it not let me?

 

[Alb]

You can lock the doors with windows open.

 

[Gomev]

I hope you get it working, the 2 main things that has made me unable to start a charge has been not locking the doors (on CCS you can unlock as soon as the charge started) and then CCS not inserted all the way (I have a very energetic 8 year old that can insert the plug, but not always all the way)

No idea on the Gen 2 but on the Gen1 if you have all the updates then you should be able to start charges locked or unlocked on both fast (type2) and CCS Rapid chargers and they will continue charging if you lock or unlock (after a brief pause on AC/Fast/type2) during charging.

 

[MichaelJHunt]

Sorry if I'm going a bit off topic, if the charging only starts upon locking the car, if I wanted to sit in the car whilst it's charging then I can still do that but need to lock the door I suppose ? Could I leave the window open and lock the doors or will it not let me?

No requirement with GEN 2 to lock the doors to start charging

 

[AK OK]

No requirement with GEN 2 to lock the doors to start charging

Nor for mk1 ?

Having read the thread ? it seems some mk2s are having issues...

 

[hmadsen]

No requirement with GEN 2 to lock the doors to start charging

But that will change when your car is updated.

Mine will actually sometimes lock the Type 2 at home, as soon as i plug it in and start the charging process, without locking the doors.

Also it will stop for 1 minute if you unlock, but then it will restart the charging process if you do not unplug it.

 

[Lovemyev]

Nor for mk1 ?

Having read the thread ? it seems some mk2s are having issues...

Early Gen 1 ZS EV's will only charge with the doors unlocked IF you have had the EVCC module updated.
This was usually conducted as a "Add On" tick box exercise when the BMS software upgrade was done.

This clarify's the situation:-

Charging unlocked/locked update for ZSEV​

The ZSEV has always supported unlocked charging on CCS (rapid chargers) and in 2020 a software update was released to add this function to charging on type 2 (6.6 kWh fast chargers). You are less likely to want to sit in your car for this slower charging, although it can still be occasionally useful.
This is a side update to the BMS update: specifically to the EVCC module of the car.
Once this is installed, the car will charge both locked or unlocked.

To stop the charge after the update, lock the car, then simply unlock with the key fob whilst at the front of the car. You will hear the car unlock the charge lead locking pin will disengage, and you can then remove the lead. If you do not unplug the lead, it will re-engage the lock and resume charging about 15 seconds later.

 

[Philekent]

HI Everyone,

We've just bought a 2020 / Dec MG ZS EV, and since driving it home 3 days ago I have ONLY had 'Connected but not Charging" come up when using the 'granny' cable .

I've changed the socket I plug into in the house, to the one for our Cooker - so the ampage must be OK. I'm doing everything correctly at the car end (locking etc - get the 'click' when the plug locks into the socket ).

Ive even tried isolating our solar PV array, to ensure thats not messing things up.
But so far no joy.

Our cable has just arrived this afternoon, so I'm off to the nearest Charging Point tomorrow Fingers Crossed.

The sales team have been no help - and of course the Service dept at my dealership dont work weekends. HO HUM

Any thoughts, other than those mentioned aboove would be gratefully received.


We'

 

[Jomarkh]

Worth trying a rapid too while you are out but don't go over 90%.
Could you use a neighbours socket?

 

[Coulomb]

You could check for dirt or corrosion on the type 2 plug pins. Carefully remove any muck and perhaps clean with contact cleaner (not oil based like rust remover, it must not leave a residue). Alcohol (metho) and a cotton bud would also work. Similarly at the car end.

Edit: you could also use one of those socket testers. If it says something like active and neutral swapped or something about earth, it could be that something has gone wrong with the earths on your sockets. EVSEs (like the granny "charger") are picky about earths.