Loss of power due to empty battery / uphill driving / acceleration / overtaking

[firewall76]

hello, my father purchased a MG ZS+ in February 2025. He got some problems: Loss of power due to empty battery. He went to the car seller, but he was told everything is ok and no update is required. Some flash drives don't work correctly (the songs stop, the system crash and reboot),other have no problems. Sometimes the steering wheel, just after star the engine , moves: my father was told it's depending on the wheels if parked straight no movement otherwise the car tries to make the wheels stay. But it is not like this. Someone could help me? Thank you

 

[Corvo]

Hi, I also have an MG ZS Hybrid+ that I bought a month ago. The power loss problem when going uphill is likely due to the HCU and ECU software not being updated, which was released in March 2025. Since your father's car was purchased in February, I assume it hasn't been done. However, it's easy to check even without going to the shop. Set the "energy flow" display and keep it there. If the battery never drops below two bars, it means you already have the latest update. Otherwise, go to the shop. Since you're from Pesaro, I recommend Arauto in Villa Fastiggi. I've had good experiences with them. As for the car in motion, when you put the gearshift in Drive, press the brake and release it and you'll see that the car won't move anymore. It will remain stationary until you press the accelerator pedal. Don't worry, it never does this uphill or downhill, at least mine. If yours behaves differently, go to the shop. Hello and happy driving.

 

[Emanuel]

Regarding this very “issue” (which is actually quite common in all hybrid cars, not just MG), I’ve been following an interesting YouTube channel (unfortunately for you, only in Italian) called “Pedalsprint.” It’s an Italian company that designs and sells a control unit that plugs into the accelerator pedal connector and remaps the signal sent to the ECU. It’s a very simple operation.

It can be activated/deactivated and adjusted as desired in the following modes: Eco2, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Race. Many reviews speak positively about it, saying that it almost completely solves the issue of high engine revs during long uphill drives and provides a much more responsive throttle (even in Comfort mode).

Moreover, according to them, it should not void the warranty, since it does not directly modify the ECU (the engine control unit).

Here are the links:

 

[Emanuel]

I’m not completely convinced yet, but I’m continuing to follow reviews for more examples before buying it and testing it myself.

 

[Emanuel]

Many mention that the engine revs, which previously went well beyond 4000, now reach a maximum of around 3500. In addition, some show that the battery can even charge while going uphill, which I have never seen happen.