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UK MG App? (From ZS Refresh Announcement)

jgpev

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I seem to have noticed @MilesperkWh mentioned an app for the new ZS refresh on youtube in the last few days! I'm curious if anyone knows more about it and if there is any likelihood we can get a retrofit for any of the existing ZS and MG5 models.

Capture d’écran 2021-10-10 à 21.24.07.png


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLZn-waWn_k
 
The current ZS doesn't have the hardware to support the app, so any retrofit would be significant I'd guess. Still, probably cheaper than a new car!
 
The current ZS doesn't have the hardware to support the app, so any retrofit would be significant I'd guess. Still, probably cheaper than a new car!
Obviously the new ZS has a new head unit, but since the Thailand version has an app in the current generation, I'm curious what hardware is hidden behind the scenes, at a canbus level that might allow these new UK functions and what dependencies they might have on the head unit or actual car platform.
 
Surely the hardware would be no different from the ovms. So can’t be that expensive.
We don't have access to the firmware in any of the ECUs, including the TBOX (Telematics). It's also doubtful that MG would sell a TBOX to us for reasonable money. So I think for existing models, OVMS is the best and only way to go. But the people developing that have hit some snags, and progress has been very slow of late.

So all around, it's not great news for people with the existing models that want an app. With the second hand market like it is, upgrading starts to look pretty darned tempting.

I was wondering if and when the facelift model would make it to Australia and other markets. But it seems to me that they'll likely never make any of the existing models again, so we should get the new ones when stock runs out here. We'll likely be a few months behind, because Australia remains such an EV backwater, but I can wait.

Edit: the other thing about the TBOX is that it requires support from a server somewhere, I believe. MG are not going to give away or sell at a reasonable price server resources to old customers, I suspect.
 
We don't have access to the firmware in any of the ECUs, including the TBOX (Telematics). It's also doubtful that MG would sell a TBOX to us for reasonable money. So I think for existing models, OVMS is the best and only way to go. But the people developing that have hit some snags, and progress has been very slow of late.

So all around, it's not great news for people with the existing models that want an app. With the second hand market like it is, upgrading starts to look pretty darned tempting.

I was wondering if and when the facelift model would make it to Australia and other markets. But it seems to me that they'll likely never make any of the existing models again, so we should get the new ones when stock runs out here. We'll likely be a few months behind, because Australia remains such an EV backwater, but I can wait.

Edit: the other thing about the TBOX is that it requires support from a server somewhere, I believe. MG are not going to give away or sell at a reasonable price server resources to old customers, I suspect.
the other option may be to work with the owners of the new models as while MG might not sell it to us, it might reveal what is missing in the current OVMS setup. I just got another obd ii reader so I can connect torque and see how well the PIDs that have been published in conjunction with ABRP work and then see what I'd need to do next if there's anything I can do to help.
 
The question of :- "Could the GEN1 models be upgraded to operate with the new App ?".
Was asked in the Monday night pod cast.
Miles was quick to say that it is HIGHLY unlikely for this to be considered, due to the level of equipment needed / missing in the original ZS EV.
I had a similar situation on my previous VAG car.
It should have come equipped with all the necessary equipment to allow the VW App to work with the car, however the first cars that left the factory where rushed through and built purely as "Demo" models only.
I spoke to VW customer services before purchasing the car and was told :-
"You will buying the car, in the full knowledge that it can NEVER be upgraded to facilitate any functions that can be controlled via an App - It ( the car ) was NOT equipped with any of the hardware needed to allow this function at the time of build".
 
The question of :- "Could the GEN1 models be upgraded to operate with the new App ?".
Was asked in the Monday night pod cast.
Miles was quick to say that it is HIGHLY unlikely for this to be considered, due to the level of equipment needed / missing in the original ZS EV.
I had a similar situation on my previous VAG car.
It should have come equipped with all the necessary equipment to allow the VW App to work with the car, however the first cars that left the factory where rushed through and built purely as "Demo" models only.
I spoke to VW customer services before purchasing the car and was told :-
"You will buying the car, in the full knowledge that it can NEVER be upgraded to facilitate any functions that can be controlled via an App - It ( the car ) was NOT equipped with any of the hardware needed to allow this function at the time of build".

Too bad we don’t have richrebuilds and Co over here… you know if he was in this group we would be modding all day and night lol
 
I have a new LR trophy Zs. It connects itself to the internet every time you turn it on, thus you have an emergency services call button on board irrespective of whether you have a phone in the car. The internet connection establishes itself seconds after switch on, though to control the car from a phone it has to be able to be woken up even when the car is shutdown. Then things like the screen defrost and heater can be switched on via internet link.
 
I have a new LR trophy Zs. It connects itself to the internet every time you turn it on, thus you have an emergency services call button on board irrespective of whether you have a phone in the car. The internet connection establishes itself seconds after switch on, though to control the car from a phone it has to be able to be woken up even when the car is shutdown. Then things like the screen defrost and heater can be switched on via internet link.
Doesn't need internet or even a sim for an emergency services button to work. Any mobile phone can make those calls without a sim in it.
I wish the MG5 had the hardware to support an app like yours though, it should have been so simple to fit it.
 
Doesn't need internet or even a sim for an emergency services button to work. Any mobile phone can make those calls without a sim in it.
I wish the MG5 had the hardware to support an app like yours though, it should have been so simple to fit it.
I think it does log on to the internet as the green light up by the button, flashes like a router as it logs on and goes solid once connected. The app seems to work quite well.
 
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