MG4 in Australia

[Ian Key]

We're actually considering offering to go halves with the difference. Neither of us feels very comfortable with the situation ethically.
I agree they could say that they'll provide a 64 Essence as the contract says.
We need to sleep on it.

Repay them by taking out a service contract with them.

 

[salty]

Hi everyone ? I'm the only Australian EV journalist covering MG4 in detail with helpful information for you about software updates, undertray fix etc.

[ Moderator: Rest of rule breaking post's quote removed. ]

Like the model car; I've been looking for an orange MG4 (preferably an X Power but not essential). But so far no luck. ???

 

[ReintjeWA]

Hello friends,

I've joined team orange last Friday with an Essence 64. Always used to drive Peugeots, so it's something different, but I'm enjoying the drive!

 

[FitJourney72]

Hi MG4 owner,

I’m located in Melbourne and test-drove the MG4 yesterday. It’s a nice car to drive, thinking to upgrade from my 22 years old car and it will be my first EV. I have a few questions I’m hoping someone can clarify.

I’m considering the Excite 51, but is it worth upgrading to the Excite 64, which offers more power and extended range?

Also, MG is providing a 10-year warranty — does this include coverage for battery degradation if the battery's performance drops below the threshold?"

 

[ReintjeWA]

Hi MG4 owner,

I’m located in Melbourne and test-drove the MG4 yesterday. It’s a nice car to drive, thinking to upgrade from my 22 years old car and it will be my first EV. I have a few questions I’m hoping someone can clarify.

I’m considering the Excite 51, but is it worth upgrading to the Excite 64, which offers more power and extended range?

Also, MG is providing a 10-year warranty — does this include coverage for battery degradation if the battery's performance drops below the threshold?"

If you think you need the range, then I would say it's worth it. If you don't need the extra range you might prefer having the LFP battery chemistry, especially if you are concerned about battery degradation.

 

[FitJourney72]

If you think you need the range, then I would say it's worth it. If you don't need the extra range you might prefer having the LFP battery chemistry, especially if you are concerned about battery degradation.

is the excite 51 and 64 used different type battery and is LFP preferred type battery in EV cars?

 

[ReintjeWA]

is the excite 51 and 64 used different type battery and is LFP preferred type battery in EV cars?

Here in Australia at least, the Excite 51 has LFP (lithium iron phosphate) which happily charges to 100%, although it is slightly less energy dense (ie. bigger battery for less max charge as I understand it). The 64 and 77 versions use lithium-NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) which packs more charge for a similar size, however these batteries are generally best charged to 80%, and only to 100% for longer trips. In the end, none of these batteries should fail before anything else on the car will (as in from old age). But it is a distinct difference between the two versions.

I think the preference for LFP comes mostly from it's lesser environmental impact because you don't need to mine for cobalt. Which I understand is a pretty gnarly process.

I'm sure there are more knowledgeable people around here that can better explain the difference and the pros and cons.

Edit: found a short article about the differences, just be mindful they talk about generic differences, not specifically between the batteries in the MGs.

LFP vs. NMC Batteries: Which is the Best Choice?

Discover the key differences between LFP and NMC batteries, from price and energy density to safety and lifespan. Find out which battery suits your needs best.

www.evlithium.com

 

[wattmatters]

I’m considering the Excite 51, but is it worth upgrading to the Excite 64, which offers more power and extended range?

What sort of driving are you planning to do? The extra range and faster DC charging is handy if you do plan on doing highway journeys. Else as a mostly town/city/urban runabout the 51 is perfect.

 

[FitJourney72]

What sort of driving are you planning to do? The extra range and faster DC charging is handy if you do plan on doing highway journeys. Else as a mostly town/city/urban runabout the 51 is perfect.

It will be used mostly to drive to work which only take me 5min, then groceries and sometimes to the city.
But I would also like to do a road trip once in a while.

 

[salty]

Hello friends,

I've joined team orange last Friday with an Essence 64. Always used to drive Peugeots, so it's something different, but I'm enjoying the drive!

Nice motor! Particularly nice colour! ???

 

[decrep]

Follow Rolfe's trips around Scotland in her MG4, she manages fine, but Scotland may have more DC chargers than us.

 

[Rolfe]

Not just me, Archev and QLeo and others, all in different cars. I have the 51 kWh car, QLeo has the 64 kWh car. But then he doesn't have home charging.

In a country the size of Australia I think there is something to be said for the bigger battery if you're going on road trips, but the smaller battery can be made to work perfectly well. Bear in mind the faster charging can be a boon as well as the extra range - but on the other hand you may want to stop for 40 minutes anyway.

I'm off tomorrow on a 360-mile round trip to look at a new electric bike and hopefully order one. Not expecting any difficulty. Two charge stops, one will be lunch time and the other tea-time.

 

[Archev]

Not just me, Archev and QLeo and others, all in different cars. I have the 51 kwh car, QLeo has the 64 kwh car. But then he doesn't have home charging.

In a country the size of Australia I think there is something to be said for the bigger battery if you're going on road trips, but the smaller battery can be made to work perfectly well. Bear in mind the faster charging can be a boon as well as the extra range - but on the other hand you may want to stop for 40 minutes anyway.

I'm off tomorrow on a 360-mile round trip to look at a new electric bike and hopefully order one. Not expecting any difficulty. Two charge stops, one will be lunch time and the other tea-time.

Take it easy and have a good successful trip.

 

[Rolfe]

Should be fine. Except, a cousin just emailed asking herself for morning coffee on Saturday, and I'm now short on tidying-up time...

 

[Archev]

Should be fine. Except, a cousin just emailed asking herself for morning coffee on Saturday, and I'm now short on tidying-up time...

Does she not have an HVG (Hoovers Very Good) license for a vacuum ??

 

[wattmatters]

But I would also like to do a road trip once in a while.

I guess it depends on how far, how often and where. I'm less familiar with the DC charge station density and reliability in Victoria.

Certainly I'd expect most trips would be quite doable in the 51, just the extra 80km of range can be pretty helpful depending on where you are headed.

 

[clayton4115]

From my experience currently owning the Ioniq 28 (which I drove from Brisbane to Melb and back) I will always go for the biggest battery possible. 95% of the time I am driving around 30 / 50 kms per day around home but the time when we want to go for a long road trip is the time when I have to start planning where to stop and hopefully the chargers are working and not being used by someone - with more and more EVs on the road you want something that can go as far as possible range wise and remove that ev charging anxiety factor, because of the bad experience I had with the 28 Ioniq I can go from Bne - Melb - Bne using only Tesla chargers open to other EVs and eliminate my biggest worry and horrible experience I had on my last trip that is why I am going with the 77 early next year. 300 kms should get me to all the Tesla chargers where I know it will be working and most likely available when I show up to them.

 

[Rolfe]

Take it easy and have a good successful trip.

No hassle at all. Charging plan worked perfectly. I had to wait 15 minutes for a charger at Tebay, but I'd factored that in. The bike was fantastic. I'm officially a cycling goddess. I'm in love . I ordered one.

 

[wattmatters]

From my experience currently owning the Ioniq 28 (which I drove from Brisbane to Melb and back) I will always go for the biggest battery possible. 95% of the time I am driving around 30 / 50 kms per day around home but the time when we want to go for a long road trip is the time when I have to start planning where to stop and hopefully the chargers are working and not being used by someone - with more and more EVs on the road you want something that can go as far as possible range wise and remove that ev charging anxiety factor, because of the bad experience I had with the 28 Ioniq I can go from Bne - Melb - Bne using only Tesla chargers open to other EVs and eliminate my biggest worry and horrible experience I had on my last trip that is why I am going with the 77 early next year. 300 kms should get me to all the Tesla chargers where I know it will be working and most likely available when I show up to them.

I think for MEL-BNE the NSW coastal route is faster, a better road by far, and more charger options.

With one exception (Coffs Harbour which will have an all access Tesla supercharger by end of this year), this is a Tesla supercharger-only option which works for our Essence 64:

For the VIC portion of the drive then you can stick to the Hume Hwy if you choose to use a different network option between Melbourne and Albury:

 

[clayton4115]

I think for MEL-BNE the NSW coastal route is faster, a better road by far, and more charger options.

With one exception (Coffs Harbour which will have an all access Tesla supercharger by end of this year), this is a Tesla supercharger-only option which works for our Essence 64:

View attachment 31430

For the VIC portion of the drive then you can stick to the Hume Hwy if you choose to use a different network option between Melbourne and Albury:

View attachment 31431

Thanks but I do not like the coastal route and hate going through Sydney and I stop at Gunnedah and Cootamundra for a day or two when I do these trips, I prefer the inland route.