slmorgan42
Prominent Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2022
- Messages
- 1,094
- Reaction score
- 857
- Points
- 383
- Location
- London
- Driving
- MG4 Trophy LR
This is a great update and good to hear real world experience whether good or bad.We are back from our Spanish adventure ! As you can imagine, we now have real experience of a long distance drive in the MG4. The range is excellent and does not suddenly plummet or change its mind. Temperature is certainly a factor though. No the real challenge is whether the chosen charge point will actually work ie start charging. We spent up to 45 mins at a given charger just trying to get it to start charging. This despite the fact that another car had been charging successfully. Juggling apps and charge cards and the specific steps of each charger (in Spanish) was very challenging leading to great camaraderie with other EV drivers seeking to help resolve the issue. Occasionally we just had to give up and move on; only to restart the charger challenge all over again!
So, in our week away and probably a dozen charges, I’d say that 2/3rds were problematic with 1/3rd being plugin, tap my card and go!
So it takes a certain individual to deal with this. Were you to be less than tech savvy you would fail miserably. Also you need to be willing to constantly re-think the options and the order in which you do things. The majority of chargers expect you to plugin first then validate your payment method. Others require the other way around. Yet others will debit you with €25 and still not deliver the charge (requiring me to call their helpline!)
Anyway, apart from the blip on the first morning, the car was faultless, comfortable and smooth. Perfect.
Thank you to all your comments; appreciated.
So far I have only gone to France which amazing for available chargers and price. Too late now and you may already do this but I find google translate great for taking photos of instruction. Also helped when I had a French person trying to help me once.