MG5 Instavolt charging problems.

[gaberone rex]

Anyone getting a very low charging rate with InstaVolt rapids? At Stroud Park (M40 at Banbury).
Currently it’s taken 10 minutes to reach the heady heights of 29kW having started at 23 kW. This is the second one I’ve tried here, with the same issue.
Can see other cars are getting around 90kW. Is it the MG5 (20-22) or bad luck with the charging points, I wonder…?

 

[xblackwolf90]

Anyone getting a very low charging rate with InstaVolt rapids? At Stroud Park (M40 at Banbury).
Currently it’s taken 10 minutes to reach the heady heights of 29kW having started at 23 kW. This is the second one I’ve tried here, with the same issue.
Can see other cars are getting around 90kW. Is it the MG5 (20-22) or bad luck with the charging points, I wonder…?

What's your battery SOC at time of plugging in?

From experience, plugging in at 30% in this cold weather yields under 40kW charge rate. Around 10%, mine maxes out around 55 kW in the cold.

 

[gaberone rex]

Update: I think it’s these ‘ultra-rapid’ chargers actually!
There’s a Leaf getting 18 kW, an MGSV on 62 kW and an Audi on 100 kW. The place is only half full

 

[gaberone rex]

What's your battery SOC at time of plugging in?

From experience, plugging in at 30% in this cold weather yields under 40kW charge rate. Around 10%, mine maxes out around 55 kW in the cold.

Thanks. I wasnt aware of that difference. Soc was actually 56% on starting charge though.

Re my update above I think it must be the variable charging points. But not ruling out the bitter cold today as a possible factor affecting us all!

 

[xblackwolf90]

Thanks. I wasnt aware of that difference. Soc was actually 56% on starting charge though.

Re my update above I think it must be the variable charging points. But not ruling out the bitter cold today as a possible factor affecting us all!

Starting at a higher SOC has a huge impact on the maximum charge speed you'll achieve, even in ideal weather conditions.

Starting between 10-20% with a pre conditioned battery will get you the fastest speeds. Particularly at 50% or higher, you will be lucky to pass 40kW.

My last stop was at a Tesla charger in 14 degree conditions with 53% charge remaining, and the maximum speed achieved was 37kW.

I've reached 80kW on one occasion when charging from 12% in the summer.

Of course,, the charging hub you're at may still have issues.

 

[MickeySw]

with a pre conditioned battery will get you the fastest speeds.

Can you elaborate on how to achieve that in freezing temperatures?

 

[xblackwolf90]

Can you elaborate on how to achieve that in freezing temperatures?

Battery Heating is available in the vehicle settings. It will use additional battery charge to heat it prior to arrival at a charging station.

 

[MickeySw]

Battery Heating is available in the vehicle settings. It will use additional battery charge to heat it prior to arrival at a charging station.

Have you ever managed to successfully use this feature, I.e. get ‘summer-ish’ charge rates?

 

[xblackwolf90]

Have you ever managed to successfully use this feature, I.e. get ‘summer-ish’ charge rates?

I've enabled it and charging speeds were still around 40kW in the cold, although my SOC was a little high so full speeds weren't to be expected.

 

[MickeySw]

I've enabled it and charging speeds were still around 40kW in the cold, although my SOC was a little high so full speeds weren't to be expected.

It’s more likely it wasn’t working at all as it’s difficult to get the timing right (some say impossible, if you don’t have an OBD reader to get the to cell/coolant temperatures)?

 

[Wibble]

I have always found Instavolts to be reliable, but the trick is too lock the car before commencing charge. Once the charge starts you can open the car with no issues.

MG5 PFL winter charging speeds are generally around the 30kw mark, summer 40-60 kw depending on SOC and this is for any charger capable of 100kwh or more. My Leaf would be lucky to pull 15-20 kw in the cold regardless!

 

[macroba1]

I got about 25 Kwh in my 74 FL charging at Instavolt Dumfries last Friday from about a 20% starting charge after a long run on the motorway but it was very cold 1 deg C. Ionity Lancaster and Tesla SC Stoke were a bit faster at 40 to (Ionity) 60 kwh (Tesla).

 

[MickeySw]

20% starting charge after a long run on the motorway but it was very cold 1 deg C.

It’s a common misconception that driving at motorway speeds will heat the MG5 battery sufficiently to allow decent Rapid charge rates.
The system is designed that to keep the cells around 10 deg C or ambient, whichever is higher..