Rapid Charging Speed

[fishbee]

I wouldn't be surprised if 350kW chargers would end up being exclusive to lorries, buses, and the like. So a very specialised bulky charging cable wouldn't be too much of an issue, because it would mostly be used by professionals.

At the risk of making the same mistake as Bill Gates did in the 80s, I think 150kW ought to be enough for regular cars. You only need about 70kWh of battery capacity for a range of 300 miles (which seems like enough for most people). Charging such a battery from somewhere near 20% SOC to 80% would require less than 45kWh of energy, which would take under 20 mins at 150kW. (All rough calculations, as I'm talking about hypotheticals.) I suspect that would be fast enough for the vast majority. We just need chargers that will actually deliver 150kW -- at the moment it seems like they don't even expect to deliver 50kW at the best of times.

 

[Jeff]

Can you use a150kw charger on the mg5

 

[Jomarkh]

Yes but only at 75kwh.
Edited....
Sorry should be 80kWh...

 

[Jeff]

Will it damage the battery, also as I have not tried a 150kw charger is there a 75 kw setting or us it automatic

 

[biffo]

Will it damage the battery, also as I have not tried a 150kw charger is there a 75 kw setting or us it automatic

Automatic - works fine, the car negotiates with the unit.

I used the 150kW MFG at Crow Orchard and was the fastest I've seen - achieved the 80kWh maximum initially before reducing as approached 80%. Charged 35.12 kWh in 32:20 minutes - so averaged about 65 kW rate.

 

[Fluffykins]

Done it several times on the Gridserve forecourt in Braintree. The car has a discussion with the charger and sets the actual max. rate. If I recall correctly, the max rate the 5 supports is 80kW.

 

[EVsince2016]

Done it several times on the Gridserve forecourt in Braintree. The car has a discussion with the charger and sets the actual max. rate. If I recall correctly, the max rate the 5 supports is 80kW.

A couple of us getting our MG5s soon are planning an outing to Braintree to try it out!

 

[Fluffykins]

A couple of us getting our MG5s soon are planning an outing to Braintree to try it out!

There's a new Gridserve forecourt nearing completion just to the east of Norwich, close to the Northern Distributor (a horrible junction designed by a lunatic closely in touch with his inner idiot)

 

[Chris154]

Automatic - works fine, the car negotiates with the unit.

I used the 150kW MFG at Crow Orchard and was the fastest I've seen - achieved the 80kWh maximum initially before reducing as approached 80%. Charged 35.12 kWh in 32:20 minutes - so averaged about 65 kW rate.

How much did that charge cost you, if you don't mind me asking you?
When I get mine I'm unsure if it's better to be at a 50kwh charger for longer, or head there for a quicker charge as I work near wigan. The cost is for kWh, not for the time? Is that correct?

 

[biffo]

How much did that charge cost you, if you don't mind me asking you?
When I get mine I'm unsure if it's better to be at a 50kwh charger for longer, or head there for a quicker charge as I work near wigan. The cost is for kWh, not for the time? Is that correct?

It was 39p per kWh, so £13.70. Cost is per kWh rather than time. Only thing to be careful with this location is you need to enter registration number into a display inside shop - or there is a fine if staying over 30 minutes.

 

[bob]

I'm interested in knowing what charging rate people have observed at service stations and the like? MG claim that the MG5 can charge at up to 80kW.

I've had my MG5 for a few months now, and when taking some long range trips that involved charging stops along the way, I've had the car charging at just under 30kW (Instavolt at Corley services on the M6, old-style Ecotricity on M1), 40kW (old-style Ecotricity on M6), and 50-60kW (at the new Rugby services on the M6). So not quite the same as what I expected before buying the car! I'm particularly disappointed by the 30kW chargers -- charging at 50kW or more means (at least for me!) that you don't really spend much more time at motorway services than with a petrol car. You drive in, plug in your car, get out, use the loo, maybe grab a snack or drink, get back to the car, and there you go, it's nearly back at 80% charge. But if the charger is only going at 28kW or so, you're there for at least an hour before you're ready to go!

Is the state of the motorway charging network simply poor at the moment? (I'm willing to believe that it's getting better -- as I said, the fastest charge I've had so far was at a brand new bank of Electric Highway chargers at Rugby services.)

Or is there a problem with my MG5? I suppose I should try it at one of the BP Chargemaster 100kW+ chargers, and see what happens there.

The maximum I got on a rapid charger yesterday was 54kw