reddeviluk
Standard Member
Hi All, we’re very new to EVs and am looking for some advice, I’ve scoured the internet, even called MG themselves and, 24 hours later, and am no further forward.
Firstly the car in question is a Mk2 ZS EV Trophy Long Range. It’s only done approx 2000 miles and was purchased in June 2023.
All going great till it comes to a balance charge, to date, we have no charger at home and have not used the granny charger, so all charging has been at 22kW charger at Lidl etc, nothing too fast or slow.
We’re now concerned that the car needs a balance charge as mentioned by a few here, so I have basic questions that I cannot find the answer to online and even MG seem unable to answer.
For a balance charge, does the battery have to be at a certain % before starting?, or could I charge to 80% on a 22kW charger, then the remaining 20% as the balance charge?
Most chargers near me seem to be type 2, but 11.5kW chargers, plugging the car in shows it’s charging at a max of 7.4kW, is this ok, or does the balance charge NEED to be done on ONLY the granny charger or (as per MG) “any type 2 charger will do”, when asked if a 11.5kW type 2 charger was ok, they couldn’t answer……
The instructions say to do a balanced charge every month, but then MG said to only use the granny charger sparingly or in case of emergencies…..and to avoid charging to 100%.....which is it?.
I don’t really want to use the granny charger to balance the battery, certainly not once a month, so is any type 2 charger ok?. On speaking to others with other brands, they simply don’t bother, but the car is leased and so I don’t want it to get 2 years down the line and the leasing company say “you should have done this”, figure if we get into a good habit now, it’ll be less chew later.
I understand the concept is to charge to 100%, then leave it charging, once the blue lights under the flap are solid (and the car is at 100%), leave it charging till the blue lights go out, only then is it balanced.
Please Guys, there’s so much contradiction I’m flummoxed.
Rich
Firstly the car in question is a Mk2 ZS EV Trophy Long Range. It’s only done approx 2000 miles and was purchased in June 2023.
All going great till it comes to a balance charge, to date, we have no charger at home and have not used the granny charger, so all charging has been at 22kW charger at Lidl etc, nothing too fast or slow.
We’re now concerned that the car needs a balance charge as mentioned by a few here, so I have basic questions that I cannot find the answer to online and even MG seem unable to answer.
For a balance charge, does the battery have to be at a certain % before starting?, or could I charge to 80% on a 22kW charger, then the remaining 20% as the balance charge?
Most chargers near me seem to be type 2, but 11.5kW chargers, plugging the car in shows it’s charging at a max of 7.4kW, is this ok, or does the balance charge NEED to be done on ONLY the granny charger or (as per MG) “any type 2 charger will do”, when asked if a 11.5kW type 2 charger was ok, they couldn’t answer……
The instructions say to do a balanced charge every month, but then MG said to only use the granny charger sparingly or in case of emergencies…..and to avoid charging to 100%.....which is it?.
I don’t really want to use the granny charger to balance the battery, certainly not once a month, so is any type 2 charger ok?. On speaking to others with other brands, they simply don’t bother, but the car is leased and so I don’t want it to get 2 years down the line and the leasing company say “you should have done this”, figure if we get into a good habit now, it’ll be less chew later.
I understand the concept is to charge to 100%, then leave it charging, once the blue lights under the flap are solid (and the car is at 100%), leave it charging till the blue lights go out, only then is it balanced.
Please Guys, there’s so much contradiction I’m flummoxed.
Rich