How did he do that?

[billdunstew]

I parked my MG5 in Love Lane carpark, Nantwich yesterday and connected to the charger there. The car was charging when I left, and I had of course locked the car.
When I returned about 40 minutes later the car had been disconnected and another car was using the same connector that I had used. The front flap was open, and the plugs out. My understanding is that the cable plug shoud be locked in while the car is locked. I tried with my own plug, and the lock works fine. How did he do it? Incidentally I have just checked my bank account, there are two items from Love Lane, a debit of £29, which is a lot more than I was expecting, There is also a credit for £16.97 marked as 'correction factor' £12 is about the amount I was expecting to pay, the battery went from 47% to 95%, and this fee included the car parking charge. Presumably the machine continued to charge me for the other chaps juice? Anyone else had this sort of issue?

 

[manictomb]

Wow don't sound good he took your cable out

 

[Jomarkh]

I am not sure that a CCS will stayed locked in. I used an Osprey yesterday and when I stopped the charge it unlocked the cable.

 

[5teep]

I parked my MG5 in Love Lane carpark, Nantwich yesterday and connected to the charger there. The car was charging when I left, and I had of course locked the car.
When I returned about 40 minutes later the car had been disconnected and another car was using the same connector that I had used. The front flap was open, and the plugs out. My understanding is that the cable plug shoud be locked in while the car is locked. I tried with my own plug, and the lock works fine. How did he do it? Incidentally I have just checked my bank account, there are two items from Love Lane, a debit of £29, which is a lot more than I was expecting, There is also a credit for £16.97 marked as 'correction factor' £12 is about the amount I was expecting to pay, the battery went from 47% to 95%, and this fee included the car parking charge. Presumably the machine continued to charge me for the other chaps juice? Anyone else had this sort of issue?

The £29 minus the £17 comes to £12 so you're good there. If you're paying by contactless they put a £20 hold on your account until the bill is agreed.

As for the cable not locked in, it's possible the charger rebooted (or was rebooted and the power cut released the cable. It's also possible that the guy hit the emergency stop on the unit which might have done the same thing. One thing he could not do was continue your charge session so don't worry there.

 

[5teep]

As to why.. it's generally considered bad form to go much over 80% on a rapid charger. The reason is that once past 80% your charge rate drops very low to protect your battery and you keep other waiting for very little advantage. If you were on 95% and nowhere to be seen then he might have said fk it and done the above.

 

[BugEyed]

Also the MG5 often stops Rapid charging at around 95% so could have ended the charge itself in which case it would have released the cable. Being charitable the other driver may have arrived then, found your car not charging and taken the opportunity to charge their car. They are probably telling their mates how some MG owner left their car hogging the Rapid even after it had finished charging.

 

[billdunstew]

Many thanks for the replies, I have only had the car a couple of months and am still learning! There were in fact six charging bays, only two were in use when I arrived, I took number 6 and number two was in use. When I got back the chap who took 'my' connector was parked diagonally across bays 3 and 4, presumably so that he could reach the cable from the charger serving 5/6 and still get out of the car. The fact that he used both bays suggests that he could have used the charger designated for 3/4. Maybe the car in 5 was using his preferred cable?
In my defence of trying to charge fully, I was about to set out on a 225 mile journey and wanted to get there in one go. I just made it on 95% with about 30 miles left.

 

[5teep]

Possible the other charger was faulty, it happens quite a lot.

 

[weedavemac]

MG cars release the cable lock once full charge had been achieved. Many rapid chargers stop in the mid nineties so 95% sounds about right. And it sounds like the cost of the charge is very close to what you were expecting.

In summary...... All good

 

[FormerOctavia]

When using a public charger, say a service station, I leave a note on my dash with my mobile saying call me if you need it. I often charge more than I need to, bit don't want to hog it if someone else needs it

 

[Jto]

Very interesting how did he do this
1 when you plugged in did you hear wearing noise once or twice if twice then the plug is not locked in. The cable pulls down on the plug which can make the car unlock the plug.

2 not sure if stopping the charger would make the car unlock if I switch off the power to my car the car will not unlock the plug until the car car is unlocked. Try this at home to see if turning the power off that it unlocks the car.

 

[Deleted member 9152]

Many thanks for the replies, I have only had the car a couple of months and am still learning! There were in fact six charging bays, only two were in use when I arrived, I took number 6 and number two was in use. When I got back the chap who took 'my' connector was parked diagonally across bays 3 and 4, presumably so that he could reach the cable from the charger serving 5/6 and still get out of the car. The fact that he used both bays suggests that he could have used the charger designated for 3/4. Maybe the car in 5 was using his preferred cable?
In my defence of trying to charge fully, I was about to set out on a 225 mile journey and wanted to get there in one go. I just made it on 95% with about 30 miles left.

If you were using GRIDSERVE and tapped your debit card to start, you don't need to tap your card to finish, just press STOP and it unlocks. This is what might have happened ... but even so, the other driver should have put the cap back on your car. Imagine if it started to rain whilst you were having a break. I bring a flask of boiling water and a tea kit with a deck chair and never leave the car 120kw charger gets me fully charged very quickly.

 

[Harry]

Also the MG5 often stops Rapid charging at around 95% so could have ended the charge itself in which case it would have released the cable. Being charitable the other driver may have arrived then, found your car not charging and taken the opportunity to charge their car. They are probably telling their mates how some MG owner left their car hogging the Rapid even after it had finished charging.

Which raises an interesting issue. Suppose you travel by ev to a destination where you are going to have a meal before attending a concert, but when arriving you will need to have your car charged in order to get home after the concert. Near the concert venue is a charging opportunity. You plug in and leave your car charging knowing that it will still need charging before the start of the concert, so you leave it there. The car gets fully charged during the concert but... Alternatively you drive to an out-of-town car park needing a charge for the return journey. From the car park you take public transport in - e.g. park and ride. You are in town all day... I am beginning to think I might need a notice for my windscreen to explain.. Alternatively one needs to find somewhere to charge before leaving the car so it does not need charging while away from it.

 

[Jto]

If you were using GRIDSERVE and tapped your debit card to start, you don't need to tap your card to finish, just press STOP and it unlocks. This is what might have happened ... but even so, the other driver should have put the cap back on your car. Imagine if it started to rain whilst you were having a break. I bring a flask of boiling water and a tea kit with a deck chair and never leave the car 120kw charger gets me fully charged very quickly.

i have just downloaded the user manual from MG and it clearly states that the plug can not be removed until the car is unlocked. A charge point could not override this to my mind.

 

[Jto]

Which raises an interesting issue. Suppose you travel by ev to a destination where you are going to have a meal before attending a concert, but when arriving you will need to have your car charged in order to get home after the concert. Near the concert venue is a charging opportunity. You plug in and leave your car charging knowing that it will still need charging before the start of the concert, so you leave it there. The car gets fully charged during the concert but... Alternatively you drive to an out-of-town car park needing a charge for the return journey. From the car park you take public transport in - e.g. park and ride. You are in town all day... I am beginning to think I might need a notice for my windscreen to explain..

I think the scenario you put forward would be irresponsible action of some one to take up a charge point for a whole day. Have a meal yes but go on to a concert NO. At the minute I drive a PHEV and some times when away will charge at a Tesco if not all in use will not leave a note as I know how they are used but if some are in use will leave a note to call me and I would go back and let them on to the charger it also gets my back where you have chargers in car parks that you have to pay parking to charge you car, I would bring a law that you would not have pay the parking and you would get 15 minutes after stop charging to remove the car as most car EV users know how long it takes to charge there car by experience or the app that the newer car are coming with.

 

[Harry]

I think the scenario you put forward would be irresponsible action of some one to take up a charge point for a whole day. Have a meal yes but go on to a concert NO. At the minute I drive a PHEV and some times when away will charge at a Tesco if not all in use will not leave a note as I know how they are used but if some are in use will leave a note to call me and I would go back and let them on to the charger it also gets my back where you have chargers in car parks that you have to pay parking to charge you car, I would bring a law that you would not have pay the parking and you would get 15 minutes after stop charging to remove the car as most car EV users know how long it takes to charge there car by experience or the app that the newer car are coming with.

Might be a bit harsh I'd say. I can see a situation where an ev driver (only car) is at work with an event in the evening after work which goes on to a late hour. Driving fully charged home after work to pick up family drive to event with not a lot of time to spare but needs to get a charge to get home afterwards. OK so you would say park normally and then after the event connect to charge (assuming the chargers still operate late - in case you think that silly - some ones in Milton Keynes stop at 7pm). That means a very late night. Or in my other scenario - you have to be able to arrive near destination early enough to get the necessary charge before leaving the car. All this inconvenience is a real disincentive to getting an ev. There must be a better way.

 

[Jto]

Might be a bit harsh I'd say. I can see a situation where an ev driver (only car) is at work with an event in the evening after work which goes on to a late hour. Driving fully charged home after work to pick up family drive to event with not a lot of time to spare but needs to get a charge to get home afterwards. OK so you would say park normally and then after the event connect to charge (assuming the chargers still operate late - in case you think that silly - some ones in Milton Keynes stop at 7pm). That means a very late night. Or in my other scenario - you have to be able to arrive near destination early enough to get the necessary charge before leaving the car. All this inconvenience is a real disincentive to getting an ev. There must be a better way.

I know it sounds a bit harsh but now a days cars charge faster then before but stop to think about what you said if you needed to get a full charge to get home you would probably stay in a hotel and not drive over 200 miles home late at night after a day at work apart from braking the law if you where stopped it would be a stupid thing to do.
on a rapid charge you should not go above 80% charge and most new car can do in less than a hour so you would plan this in and before you say there is a queue at the charger I would not queue for a charger I would use the sat nav to find the next nearest charger.

PS daft that some MK chargers stop at 7pm this what we both mean that thing have to change.

 

[Jto]

I parked my MG5 in Love Lane carpark, Nantwich yesterday and connected to the charger there. The car was charging when I left, and I had of course locked the car.
When I returned about 40 minutes later the car had been disconnected and another car was using the same connector that I had used. The front flap was open, and the plugs out. My understanding is that the cable plug shoud be locked in while the car is locked. I tried with my own plug, and the lock works fine. How did he do it? Incidentally I have just checked my bank account, there are two items from Love Lane, a debit of £29, which is a lot more than I was expecting, There is also a credit for £16.97 marked as 'correction factor' £12 is about the amount I was expecting to pay, the battery went from 47% to 95%, and this fee included the car parking charge. Presumably the machine continued to charge me for the other chaps juice? Anyone else had this sort of issue?

sorry I seen a post but i was reading wrong as thought it had the answer but not.

 

[5teep]

i have just downloaded the user manual from MG and it clearly states that the plug can not be removed until the car is unlocked. A charge point could not override this to my mind.

Your MG will unlock the plug when you stop a DC charge on the charger. I find I have to unlock the car to release it on an AC charger.