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First public charging experience

defeatedbythecat

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Location
Bristol
Driving
MG5
Not gonna lie, wasn't perfect.

First stopped at Reading Eastbound services, both chargers being used and nobody around. So decided to keep driving.

Stopped at Mereoak Lane park and ride where there were two empty Charge Your Car points.
Couldn't use contactless so downloaded the app.
The app failed to register my card so resorted to phoning the number on the charger. That number did not work and so off I went again.

Decided to cut my losses and head home where I stopped at Reading Westbound Services where there happened to be a free Gridserve charger and managed to successfully charge to 80 before heading home over and hour late.

So as a new EV owner, it was disheartening and already made me start to wonder if I've done the right thing.

Too late now I guess!
 
Not gonna lie, wasn't perfect.

First stopped at Reading Eastbound services, both chargers being used and nobody around. So decided to keep driving.

Stopped at Mereoak Lane park and ride where there were two empty Charge Your Car points.
Couldn't use contactless so downloaded the app.
The app failed to register my card so resorted to phoning the number on the charger. That number did not work and so off I went again.

Decided to cut my losses and head home where I stopped at Reading Westbound Services where there happened to be a free Gridserve charger and managed to successfully charge to 80 before heading home over and hour late.

So as a new EV owner, it was disheartening and already made me start to wonder if I've done the right thing.

Too late now I guess!
Hey it happens sometimes…but not very often hopefully your next experience will be better.
 
Yes, one of those annoying things but hopefully the exception not the rule. One thing I have always thought of as an unassociated benefit with public charging is it does mean the driver is forced to take a break, which is probably a safety benefit if that road user was once the type to try and get from a to b without stopping.
 
Yes, one of those annoying things but hopefully the exception not the rule. One thing I have always thought of as an unassociated benefit with public charging is it does mean the driver is forced to take a break, which is probably a safety benefit if that road user was once the type to try and get from a to b without stopping.
Definitely a break is a good idea, although in the LR with MG Pilot it feels like you've barely been driving it's so effortless most of the time
 
Definitely a break is a good idea, although in the LR with MG Pilot it feels like you've barely been driving it's so effortless most of the time
Looking forwards to the experience, my MG5 should arrive this month. How do you find the mg pilot?
My last ev was a 2017 leaf, so plenty of stops at public chargers
 
Definitely a break is a good idea, although in the LR with MG Pilot it feels like you've barely been driving it's so effortless most of the time
To be honest I’ve had over 2 years and 25000 miles of ownership had only about 3 events where my charging could have been more positive / better, in the main most have been easy, but when it doesn’t go to plan it can be really annoying…
 
How is it driving in the dark with no tinted windows? Is there a lot of glare from the cars behind?
 
Looking forwards to the experience, my MG5 should arrive this month. How do you find the mg pilot?
My last ev was a 2017 leaf, so plenty of stops at public chargers

It's actually exceeded my expectations. It handles the motorway very well.

I've turned off LKA in the menu and only use it when it comes on with MG Pilot. As long as you treat it as an assist rather than a autopilot it's great
 
Not gonna lie, wasn't perfect.

First stopped at Reading Eastbound services, both chargers being used and nobody around. So decided to keep driving.

Stopped at Mereoak Lane park and ride where there were two empty Charge Your Car points.
Couldn't use contactless so downloaded the app.
The app failed to register my card so resorted to phoning the number on the charger. That number did not work and so off I went again.

Decided to cut my losses and head home where I stopped at Reading Westbound Services where there happened to be a free Gridserve charger and managed to successfully charge to 80 before heading home over and hour late.

So as a new EV owner, it was disheartening and already made me start to wonder if I've done the right thing.

Too late now I guess!
Honestly I have been driving for a year now and only queued once.

Over time you will learn your favourite and most reliable charging company. I love Gridserve InstaVolt and Osprey. Occasionally GeniePoint and BP Pulse if pushed.

I use Zap Map premium subscription on Car Play. Recommended. This gives nearest and nearly accurate free/busy information for pumps.

Mostly I have found issues can be removed by some light planning of my route.

You definitely haven’t made the wrong choice. It’s just a new way of travelling. Good luck.
 
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