On the road charging

[barry7153]

I am about to go on a trip to Kent and it will be the first time that I will have to charge the car away from my house. What is the best/cheapest network to use that provides rapid charging and will I need to download an app to use it? As this will be an exceptional occurrence. I would prefer a network that does not require a monthly subscription. Ideally I would like to pay by card/contactless but do not want to turn up at a charging station and find out then that's not an option.

 

[Bam Bam]

I am about to go on a trip to Kent and it will be the first time that I will have to charge the car away from my house. What is the best/cheapest network to use that provides rapid charging and will I need to download an app to use it? As this will be an exceptional occurrence. I would prefer a network that does not require a monthly subscription. Ideally I would like to pay by card/contactless but do not want to turn up at a charging station and find out then that's not an option.

Tesla is by far the cheapest and among the most reliable, but you might need an app if it is a V3 site. I think that V4s take cards though, so you'd have to find the site you want and see if it takes a card. I didn't find it difficult to download the app - you have to add card details to it.

Zapmap allows you to filter for places that accept card payments, so I'd have a look on there. Filter for 100kW+ DC charging if you want it to be speedy.

I use ABRP to plan long journeys because it is quite clever in working out charge stops.

 

[Jomarkh]

I am about to go on a trip to Kent and it will be the first time that I will have to charge the car away from my house. What is the best/cheapest network to use that provides rapid charging and will I need to download an app to use it? As this will be an exceptional occurrence. I would prefer a network that does not require a monthly subscription. Ideally I would like to pay by card/contactless but do not want to turn up at a charging station and find out then that's not an option.

If you are with Octopus check out the Electroverse app. It covers a number of networks. You get a small discount but you can you it as a stand alone account.
I use Zapmap and filter charge hubs with 5/6 plus chargers.

 

[DixieTGS]

I would recommend:
a) Have a practice doing a small charge on two or more different chargers before you go.
b) Get the electroverse card (delivered free even if not with octopus), as if it works on particular charger it is much easier than mucking around with apps.

Note some chargers take contactless and Electroverse, each with their own place to tap on the charger.

If you go up to the Teslas at Lifton near Launceston as a test run, they are tucked away in a pub car park. I had no signal with Vodafone, but luckily they are V4 so I could use contactless instead.

 

[Ian Key]

If you are with Octopus check out the Electroverse app. It covers a number of networks. You get a small discount but you can you it as a stand alone account.

You don't need to be with Octopus to have the Electroverse card/app. Just link the card to a debit or credit card.

 

[Rolfe]

I would recommend choosing your charging stops with reference to location and charger power, then figuring out how to use the chargers that are there.

You don't want to be going out of your way or charging at inappropriate times just because you have decided to use Tesla chargers (for example). And, as you have a Trophy, you don't even want to look at a charger less than 150 kw rating, unless you plan to stop for over an hour anyway.

I find Ionity, Gridserve and Tesla to be very reliable and favour these. But the older Tesla chargers don't take contactless and there's a heavy rumour that these ones are going to be closed to non-Teslas soon so if you are heading for a Tesla site make sure it has the new chargers.

But you would do best to play around with ABRP for a while, decide where the most convenient charging stops are likely to be, then see what chargers are available in these locations that are at least 150 kw and from a reliable provider.

 

[BishiBoshi]

Gridserve I've found to be the most reliable and easy to use. Just park up, plug in and swipe your credit card. BP Pulse have been consistently poor. Most / all networks don't require a subscription just many offer cheaper prices if you do subscribe.

 

[JonnyG]

As above I always plan my route with a normal SatNav and then use ZapMap to identify fast chargers en-route (preferably somewhere with a loo and coffee !!) . These have normally been Gridserve or MFG for me.

I also have an Electroverse Card and the app.

Whichever charger you identify I find it's worth downloading the appropriate app as (i) sometimes they give you a discount (Gridserve 10% at the mo) and (ii) I've had a few chargers where the contactless pads hav'nt worked (out of order). You can then go into the app, enter the location and charger number and start the charge from the app and get a full digital receipt. Also using an Electoverse Card or using Apps direct often don't take a "holding" amount off your debit / credit card.

Good luck with your trip

 

[MGFour]

I also like to have Wattsup app running when on a long journey then when down to like 25% have a look and see what chargers are on my route coming up and what miles they are away. Can then head to plan a and know how long to plan b etc

 

[Rolfe]

MFG are good too. And sometimes have canopies. As have Fastned.

My routine is to identify the charger I intend to make for, and use that as my destination in Google maps. I have that running on Android Auto, so that the distance to the charger is displayed on the infotainment screen. Meanwhile the remaining range the car thinks it has is displayed on the driver's screen. If I don't like the way these two numbers match up then I ease off my speed a bit until it looks better. Or if really adverse conditions mean that the distance doesn't seem to be practical after all, I just speak the name of the charger before my originally intended one into Android Auto and the system helpfully re-routes me. (To do that, you do need to know of a charger maybe 20-50 miles closer than your original choice. Otherwise you have to stop and look it up.)

 

[Anon70]

Plymouth to Kent, roughly a 250 - 300 mile trip. So I would probably plan in 2 x 20-30 min charging stops.

If you run the charge down to under 50% before you reach a stop you will be able to get the maximum charge rate (if the charger allows). Once above 50% the charge curve will drop off the rate the battery can top up.

I also build in a 30-50 mile contingency for any top ups just in case of hills, HVAC us and roadwork detours.

I use the Telsa network with the app and just subscribe for the 1 month I am travelling in (£8.99). The difference in charging costs can be more than recouped over a 300 mile trip.

 

[fshuk1]

Definitely get the TESLA app and register etc. Electroverse (the other one I use frequently and is very good) Does not show Tesla chargers. Also not all chargers are open to us MG4 owners. When you register with the Tesla app and it knows your car, it will only show you chargers which are open to you. As others have said, my first port of call is Tesla chargers open to us.

 

[Rolfe]

Plymouth to Kent, roughly a 250 - 300 mile trip. So I would probably plan in 2 x 20-30 min charging stops.

If you run the charge down to under 50% before you reach a stop you will be able to get the maximum charge rate (if the charger allows). Once above 50% the charge curve will drop off the rate the battery can top up.

I also build in a 30-50 mile contingency for any top ups just in case of hills, HVAC us and roadwork detours.

I use the Telsa network with the app and just subscribe for the 1 month I am travelling in (£8.99). The difference in charging costs can be more than recouped over a 300 mile trip.

I'm always surprised by people who even contemplate a stop on a long journey before they're below 30%. I'm happy to run down well below that, and got in to Tebay services on 7% last week.

The fastest part of the car's charging curve is 10% to 50% or so, so if you always stop with quite a lot left in the battery you're not getting the advantage of this. Also, you're giving yourself far more stops than you need to make. I don't see why someone driving a Trophy would need to make more than one stop on a 300 mile trip unless charger locations were extraordinarily poor.

Obviously it depends on whereabouts in Kent you're headed for, but ABRP suggests a single stop at the Tesla superchargers at Amesbury. You'd be getting there on 34% so no worries, and how long you charge for would depend on how far into Kent you're going and how much charge you want to have remaining when you get there.

I can see why ABRP has chosen this, although 34% is a bit early to stop. There are chargers a bit further on at Andover, but they're lower powered. Even the Fastned ones are only rated at 100 kw. Then beyond that is a bit of a desert. I'd go for these Teslas, and just make the one stop. Unless you're trying to get all the way to Broadstairs or somewhere like that.

 

[siteguru]

I usually charge at/near Gretna even though I'm at 45%+ when I'm heading to/from Newcastle-way. That's because a) I need a stop anyway, and b) I'd be tight to make it the whole way from 100% start so a top-up there just makes things easy.

 

[Rolfe]

Yes, sometimes it makes sense depending on the length of the journey and the availability of chargers. If you only need a little bit extra to make the distance then it doesn't much matter. But if you're going a long way, stopping at a high SoC is going to make it a slow trip.

I just got a message about a day-long event at Glyndebourne in late November, succumbed, and booked a ticket and two nights in the Premier Inn in Lewes (I don't want to impose on my friends in Portslade yet again). Now to find out how many charges the SE SR is going to want to get to Sussex in winter weather. I'm relaxed about it. Caliban knows his way there by now!

 

[Anon70]

I'm always surprised by people who even contemplate a stop on a long journey before they're below 30%.

As I general rule my body requires more stops than my car so little and often kind of works out more in line with that schedule. Although not all stops require a battery top up.

 

[Rolfe]

I guess so. I'm quite happy to drive until the car needs a stop though. Four hours to the Fort William superchargers is probably my record so far in the SR.

 

[barry7153]

Tesla is by far the cheapest and among the most reliable, but you might need an app if it is a V3 site. I think that V4s take cards though, so you'd have to find the site you want and see if it takes a card. I didn't find it difficult to download the app - you have to add card details to it.

Zapmap allows you to filter for places that accept card payments, so I'd have a look on there. Filter for 100kW+ DC charging if you want it to be speedy.

I use ABRP to plan long journeys because it is quite clever in working out charge stops.

I have a mg4 trophy phase 2, will I need an adapter to use a Tesla charger?

 

[Tight Git]

I have a mg4 trophy phase 2, will I need an adapter to use a Tesla charger?

No - simply plug in.

 

[kenneth104]

I have a mg4 trophy phase 2, will I need an adapter to use a Tesla charger?

Simply put, you can use it as long as it looks the same