TonyF
Established Member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2024
- Messages
- 81
- Reaction score
- 164
- Points
- 47
- Location (town/city + country)
- Australia
- Driving
- MG4 (2022-2025)
Went for my first "you'll have to charge if you want to to get home" drive on Monday. No reason, just seeing how the car went, & to give rapid charging a go.
I'd decided on a trip to the coast, & planned using A Better Route Planner. ABRP reckoned I'd need one brief charge on my way home.
I didn't believe it, so made certain I had alternatives!
I left the Blue Mountains with 99% charge, going through Campbelltown and Wollongong to Kiama.
The Illawarra coast is a stunning part of the world. More glorious than Sydney, IMO, and nowhere near as crowded. I've holidayed down there many times. I admired the Kiama blowhole (60% charge), but it wasn't doing much, so I went to Little Blowhole, which was small (duh), but more interesting, sending regular fine blows well above my head. Then up the climb past Jamberoo & Minamurra Falls to Mittagong. Turns out Minamurra Falls is a steep 2hr walk. Yeah nah. Not in thongs.
Jamberoo lookout was nice.
Charged from 30% (a little spirited up the hill) at the NRMA Insurance chargers at Mittagong RSL (Returned Services League, clubs throughout Australia). There was a sad looking device, & 2 newer chargers. I avoided the infamous Tritium, & chose 1A, a 160kW eLumina. I'd made sure the app was already set up, & it was a doddle to get going. Tap & go would be better still.
I wasn't dressed for a rissole - those thongs again
- so walked 150m to Maccas for a wee and chips. I needed both! I added 40% in that short time, but waited another 5-10 mins for 80%. 33kWh @$0.66 - $21.78. 23 minutes total - similar to what it would have taken to gear off, gear on, refuel, eat, drink, pay & wee had I been on a moto. I thought it was incredibly quick, especially after media reports about how slow EVs are to charge. Every time I looked the percentage had jumped. I saw 112kW to start, & 61kW for 70-80%.
Unplugging failed. My fault? I should have stopped by swiping left in the app, but stopped via the car screen. I realised my mistake when the charge gun wouldn't come out...
I rang support. Tried a few things. No go. They rebooted the charger. No go. I was ready to try the hidden release! Then I looked at the car's charging screen. There was an unlocked padlock displayed, so I locked it, then unlocked it again. FREEEDDOOOMMM! 
I'll remember my first time
About 5.5hrs driving, 370km all up, I seem to have used 86kWh, 60kWh on driving, 3kWh on AC, & regained 23kWh(!) via regen. I didn't drive for economy, staying in normal mode all day. I generally sat on or close to speed limits - ~110 on the motorway, but launched (normal mode slower launch) several times. Cruise was used where appropriate. AC was on all trip. Would I have made it home charging as ABRP suggested? Yes, but I'd have been very anxious.
ABRP's percentage remaining estimates were close to reality, but the free version doesn't work with my OBD dongle or via Android Auto. I just used ABRP as a reference.
My biggest complaint of the day? It's not a motorbike. Sure, it's fast like a moto, but it's a relatively large, lumbering beast, unlike my motos. Much more comfy, though...
I'd decided on a trip to the coast, & planned using A Better Route Planner. ABRP reckoned I'd need one brief charge on my way home.
I didn't believe it, so made certain I had alternatives! I left the Blue Mountains with 99% charge, going through Campbelltown and Wollongong to Kiama.
The Illawarra coast is a stunning part of the world. More glorious than Sydney, IMO, and nowhere near as crowded. I've holidayed down there many times. I admired the Kiama blowhole (60% charge), but it wasn't doing much, so I went to Little Blowhole, which was small (duh), but more interesting, sending regular fine blows well above my head. Then up the climb past Jamberoo & Minamurra Falls to Mittagong. Turns out Minamurra Falls is a steep 2hr walk. Yeah nah. Not in thongs.
Jamberoo lookout was nice. Charged from 30% (a little spirited up the hill) at the NRMA Insurance chargers at Mittagong RSL (Returned Services League, clubs throughout Australia). There was a sad looking device, & 2 newer chargers. I avoided the infamous Tritium, & chose 1A, a 160kW eLumina. I'd made sure the app was already set up, & it was a doddle to get going. Tap & go would be better still.
I wasn't dressed for a rissole - those thongs again
- so walked 150m to Maccas for a wee and chips. I needed both! I added 40% in that short time, but waited another 5-10 mins for 80%. 33kWh @$0.66 - $21.78. 23 minutes total - similar to what it would have taken to gear off, gear on, refuel, eat, drink, pay & wee had I been on a moto. I thought it was incredibly quick, especially after media reports about how slow EVs are to charge. Every time I looked the percentage had jumped. I saw 112kW to start, & 61kW for 70-80%.Unplugging failed. My fault? I should have stopped by swiping left in the app, but stopped via the car screen. I realised my mistake when the charge gun wouldn't come out...
I rang support. Tried a few things. No go. They rebooted the charger. No go. I was ready to try the hidden release! Then I looked at the car's charging screen. There was an unlocked padlock displayed, so I locked it, then unlocked it again. FREEEDDOOOMMM! I'll remember my first time
About 5.5hrs driving, 370km all up, I seem to have used 86kWh, 60kWh on driving, 3kWh on AC, & regained 23kWh(!) via regen. I didn't drive for economy, staying in normal mode all day. I generally sat on or close to speed limits - ~110 on the motorway, but launched (normal mode slower launch) several times. Cruise was used where appropriate. AC was on all trip. Would I have made it home charging as ABRP suggested? Yes, but I'd have been very anxious.
ABRP's percentage remaining estimates were close to reality, but the free version doesn't work with my OBD dongle or via Android Auto. I just used ABRP as a reference.
My biggest complaint of the day? It's not a motorbike. Sure, it's fast like a moto, but it's a relatively large, lumbering beast, unlike my motos. Much more comfy, though...
