The Time Has Come..... (public charging)

[RTB]

Have now had my vehicle for 4 weeks today and so far very happy, but have only charged at home so the time has come to charge at public charging station is this straight forward procedure? I read that to use rapid charging both blanking plugs need to be removed, do all charging stations rapid charge?
Regards RTB

 

[MG Clive]

Not all public charging stations provide rapid charge, for example, some Tesco Pod Points only do 7kW, but you'll get rapid charging at all the main charging 'service stations'.

 

[hmadsen]

Yes, you need to find a DC Fast charger, the connector is larger than the normal AC connector you are used to and the cable will be thicker and connected to the charger, you dont use your own cable like with AC slow charging.

What you need to do is, read what the specific charger wants you to do when you get there.

Some wants you to plug in, then pay in the app, some wants you to pay and THEN plug it in.

My experience is, the ZS EV is pretty picky, if you do it in the wrong order, it might not want to start charging.

 

[mj224]

These days, the charging system works pretty robustly.

In the old days, you had to stand on one leg with a rolled Daily Telegraph under your arm...

Joking aside, Most just plug in and play. Some you do have to use the credit card before plugging in, but even then they seem to charge OK.

The main variation is when you have to use their app to start the charge, but there are not many that I know of that need that...

 

[RTB]

Yes, you need to find a DC Fast charger, the connector is larger than the normal AC connector you are used to and the cable will be thicker and connected to the charger, you dont use your own cable like with AC slow charging.

What you need to do is, read what the specific charger wants you to do when you get there.

Some wants you to plug in, then pay in the app, some wants you to pay and THEN plug it in.

My experience is, the ZS EV is pretty picky, if you do it in the wrong order, it might not want to start charging.

Thank you very much

These days, the charging system works pretty robustly.

In the old days, you had to stand on one leg with a rolled Daily Telegraph under your arm...

Joking aside, Most just plug in and play. Some you do have to use the credit card before plugging in, but even then they seem to charge OK.

The main variation is when you have to use their app to start the charge, but there are not many that I know of that need that...

Thank you for your help

These days, the charging system works pretty robustly.

In the old days, you had to stand on one leg with a rolled Daily Telegraph under your arm...

Joking aside, Most just plug in and play. Some you do have to use the credit card before plugging in, but even then they seem to charge OK.

The main variation is when you have to use their app to start the charge, but there are not many that I know of that need that...

Thank you will be giving it a go very soon

 

[MG Madness]

Does the car need to be locked when charging? I’ll be using a public charger for the 1st time next month.
I’m just thinking if I’m sat inside and car locked the alarm will go off.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Does the car need to be locked when charging? I’ll be using a public charger for the 1st time next month.
I’m just thinking if I’m sat inside and car locked the alarm will go off.

Not anymore. Just switch the car off before you plug in. Once the charge is started, you can lock, unlock, switch it on and watch videos on the screen etc.

 

[fred12345]

Does the car need to be locked when charging? I’ll be using a public charger for the 1st time next month.
I’m just thinking if I’m sat inside and car locked the alarm will go off.

You should go somewhere locally and "try before you buy". You don't want to wait until you are in desperate need, just to find out you don't know what to do or something's not working as it should... Try 2 different charger locations and Tesla if you have any nearby

 

[RTB]

Yes, you need to find a DC Fast charger, the connector is larger than the normal AC connector you are used to and the cable will be thicker and connected to the charger, you dont use your own cable like with AC slow charging.

What you need to do is, read what the specific charger wants you to do when you get there.

Some wants you to plug in, then pay in the app, some wants you to pay and THEN plug it in.

My experience is, the ZS EV is pretty picky, if you do it in the wrong order, it might not want to start charging.

"

Thank you very much


Thank you for your help


Thank you will be giving it a go very soon

Have found charger in quiet location, can you explain the attached please. 1

 

[hmadsen]

"

Have found charger in quiet location, can you explain the attached please. 1

Looking at the picture it seems like you have found a charger that supports multiple standards.

ChaDeMo = A predominently Japanese standard, mostly used by older EV's and Nissan's. Nissan used this standard, even in Europe until very recently. The ChaDeMo standard has it's own plug, so the charger you have visited will have had 2 cables and 2 connectors.

CCS = The Standard that all vehicles in Europe must use nowadays, this is the Standard used for the ZS EV you drive and this is "DC Fastcharging"

Type-2 = The standard AC "slow charging" standard, will give max 7KW on cars with single phase chargers and max 11KW on cars with 3 phase chargers. This is the same one as used at home, and usually you have to plug in your own cable.

The ChaDeMo and CCS connectors are different, you can not plug one into a car with the other standard (Though, nowadays you can actually get an adaptor that converts from CCS charger to ChaDeMo car). So no risk of plugging the "wrong" connector into the car as only one of them will fit.

 

[RTB]

Looking at the picture it seems like you have found a charger that supports multiple standards.

ChaDeMo = A predominently Japanese standard, mostly used by older EV's and Nissan's. Nissan used this standard, even in Europe until very recently. The ChaDeMo standard has it's own plug, so the charger you have visited will have had 2 cables and 2 connectors.

CCS = The Standard that all vehicles in Europe must use nowadays, this is the Standard used for the ZS EV you drive and this is "DC Fastcharging"

Type-2 = The standard AC "slow charging" standard, will give max 7KW on cars with single phase chargers and max 11KW on cars with 3 phase chargers. This is the same one as used at home, and usually you have to plug in your own cable.

The ChaDeMo and CCS connectors are different, you can not plug one into a car with the other standard (Though, nowadays you can actually get an adaptor that converts from CCS charger to ChaDeMo car). So no risk of plugging the "wrong" connector into the car as only one of them will fit

Looking at the picture it seems like you have found a charger that supports multiple standards.

ChaDeMo = A predominently Japanese standard, mostly used by older EV's and Nissan's. Nissan used this standard, even in Europe until very recently. The ChaDeMo standard has it's own plug, so the charger you have visited will have had 2 cables and 2 connectors.

CCS = The Standard that all vehicles in Europe must use nowadays, this is the Standard used for the ZS EV you drive and this is "DC Fastcharging"

Type-2 = The standard AC "slow charging" standard, will give max 7KW on cars with single phase chargers and max 11KW on cars with 3 phase chargers. This is the same one as used at home, and usually you have to plug in your own cable.

The ChaDeMo and CCS connectors are different, you can not plug one into a car with the other standard (Though, nowadays you can actually get an adaptor that converts from CCS charger to ChaDeMo car). So no risk of plugging the "wrong" connector into the car as only one of them will fit.

Thank you for your prompt reply all very helpful, do I have to use my own cable for CCs charging?

 

[GaryMG4]

The older chargers are more likely to be difficult. The BP one at Snozone I've used took a couple of attempts to get it to start and also release the cable, locking and unlocking the car usually works. The MFG on H6 worked fine with no issues, it can be quite busy though, this may be an advantage as there's usually someone else charging who is happy to assist.
Edit, DC charging always has a tethered cable so you don't need your own.

 

[hmadsen]

Thank you for your prompt reply all very helpful, do I have to use my own cable for CCs charging?

NO

CCS Charging is "DC Fastcharging" you push about 400 Volts and 90 KW through the cable, this requires a rather thich cable so these are always a part of the charger. (Some of these can actually do 300KW, so even if the ZS EV only accepts 90KW, it still need a cable that will be able to do 300KW for cars that support that much)

The "AC Slow charging" you do at your home and destination chargers is a lot less current so you use your own cable most of the time.


The battery in your car only accepts DC voltage, if you charge at a DC Fast charger the charger, supplying the 400 Volt and loads of amps is built in to the charger or a seperate enclosure close to the box with the fat CCS cable.

When AC charging the car is using its onboard Charger to convert 230V AC into 400V DC.

This is also why, when people talk about the wallbox they use for AC Charging and they call it their "Wall charger" that's actually incorrect, as that box contains little more than a control board and a set of relays. The control board talks to the car about its capabilities and if they agree on a charge, the contactors are closed and the box feeds the 230V directly to the car that then does the rest.

Inside the AC cables are a resistor, this resistor is used to signal to the wallbox, what the max amperage the cable can handle, this is to prevent someone buying the cheapest cable, able to do 3.6KW and then charging at 7KW.

 

[lordsofthewaun]

If you live close to Milton Keynes you should go and try out AW Energy LU7 9LG. They are far cheaper than everyone else. When I went a few weeks ago it was about 36p kWh. Lots of space, quite a few chargers and there’ll be others there who can help you if you need it. I used the Electroverse card from Octopus.

 

[WBewick]

Have now had my vehicle for 4 weeks today and so far very happy, but have only charged at home so the time has come to charge at public charging station is this straight forward procedure? I read that to use rapid charging both blanking plugs need to be removed, do all charging stations rapid charge?
Regards RTB

Public charging works ok but they take your eyes out price wise most of the time it’s dearer than the equivalent in petroleum or diesel.

 

[hmadsen]

Public charging works ok but they take your eyes out price wise most of the time it’s dearer than the equivalent in petroleum or diesel.

Its the same in Denmark.

I can not fathom why some of these companies invest £100.000 to install 6 DC chargers at some location and then they charge £0.45 per kilowatt.

There's one, they made not to far from where i live, at a gas station, i hardly ever see any cars charging there, because they charge £0.45.

For reference, my car needs about 4 kw to drive 20 kilometers, so to drive 20 kilometers at motorway speeds would cost £1.8

My previous diesel could do 20 kilometers on one liter of diesel and that cost £1.42 at the pump right now.

The weirdest thing is...There are a lot of different companies in Denmark putting up chargers right now, some are the petrol station companies, adding EV chargers to their lot, some are independent, but still, there seems to be NO "competition" to get costumers, they are all asking silly money, that as you said, makes, driving an EV, not economical, strictly from a "fuel" perspective. Why they dont want to compete for the costumers is beyond me.

I know its a big investment, putting up these chargers, both the charger and the need to dig to get more cable to these sites is expensive, but to be honest, i dont see the usecase, where it is better to sell 0 KW at £0.45, as compared to if they halfed the price and sold a lot of KW because it was then affordable.

 

[fred12345]

There's one, they made not to far from where i live, at a gas station, i hardly ever see any cars charging there, because they charge £0.45.

I was just about to post about my happy experience that I recently charged for £0.51 per kW in an area were average prices were around £0.70 and how Tesla with off-peak prices of about £0.35 (after midnight) is amazing ... £0.45 sounds great .

With more competition the prices should hopefully come down ...

 

[MG Madness]

Yes, you need to find a DC Fast charger, the connector is larger than the normal AC connector you are used to and the cable will be thicker and connected to the charger, you dont use your own cable like with AC slow charging.

What you need to do is, read what the specific charger wants you to do when you get there.

Some wants you to plug in, then pay in the app, some wants you to pay and THEN plug it in.

My experience is, the ZS EV is pretty picky, if you do it in the wrong order, it might not want to start charging.

What happens when you have to pay first then you plug in and it won’t charge? You lost your cash?

 

[hmadsen]

I was just about to post about my happy experience that I recently charged for £0.51 per kW in an area were average prices were around £0.70 and how Tesla with off-peak prices of about £0.35 (after midnight) is amazing ... £0.45 sounds great .

With more competition the prices should hopefully come down ...

Yeah, and this petrol station is within 2 miles of a 16 stall Tesla SuperCharger site and lots of people that come by the petrol station, will be on the very same road that leads to the Tesla SuC's so that's probably another reason why they see so little "action"

If they want to make a bit of the invested money from their chargers back, they would need to lower their prices to ATLEAST match the "Tesla charging for non Tesla vehicles" prices.

They will probably never get any Tesla's anyway as Tesla charges £0.23 per kilowatt (For Tesla vehicles). right now.

To be honest, i personally am not that bothered as we have 2 EV's and the MG is doing a 60 mile daily roundtrip, taking my wife to and from work, so it is "always" charged at home.

Last week we did take it on a 180 mile roundtrip on the motorway, but that was 90 miles and then we were at the headquarter of the company i work for, they have destination chargers that are discounted prices, even compared to at home, so we just charged there.

The car has never been DC Charged since we got it.

 

[hmadsen]

What happens when you have to pay first then you plug in and it won’t charge? You lost your cash?

It probably works the same everywhere, but atleast here, what actually happens when you "pay first" is...

The company that owns the charger, reserves a certain amount of money, usually a bit more than what you are realistically going to be able to put in your car.

This is done to verify that you have money in the account / Your bank will allow them to take the actual amount.

When the charging ends, they then charge you the actual amount.

It's no different than what happens at the petrol station, if it is a self serve.

Here, most petrol stations nowadays are self serve, where you put your card in a machine directly at or near the pump, and there is no actual shop or employee, you can pay to.