The Leaf 2 40kW is easier to access the charge port.

 

I'm wondering if the bungs could be dispensed with and their "keep the weather out" function achieved with squishy layers of bubble wrap glued to the inside of the charging cover, to obscure the charging ports when the cover is latched into place...
Might be worth experimenting.

 

Yeah, The MG's port is definitely not ideal. Was nearly a deal breaker, but the overall package was what I wanted.

Zoe would be another car that has easy open flap for the charging. Could she make do with AC only?

 

Zoe would be another car that has easy open flap for the charging. Could she make do with AC only?

I guess she probably could, as I think she will only ever charge from home. Although Zoe may be a little too small for her.

 

Can you thread a length of ribbon/rope/string (whatever your Mum finds easier to hold and pull) through the bung so it can be “tugged” out of the socket?

Must be easier than trying to grad the small moulded handle/tag on the bung.

 

Is she looking at Chademo or CCS rapid charge vehicles. For Chademo, there are no bungs on the vehicle., so maybe a Leaf would suit.

 

Is she looking at Chademo or CCS rapid charge vehicles. For Chademo, there are no bungs on the vehicle., so maybe a Leaf would suit.

I think it would be good for her to have CCS, however in practice I think she will always charge from home. So yeah, the leaf could be a viable option.

 

Model 3 does it best

 

But out of budget

 

Do you really need the charging bung?

On a number of occasions I have forgotten, after putting the charging cable in the boot, to replace the bung and close the flap. It was pouring with rain on the journey home. My mistake caused no problems. I was thinking of just cutting it off as I also find it difficult at times to remove/ refit. You might have to clean dirt from the socket connector from time to time, however it would seem to me to be a dust cap.

I am sure MG would have tested the vehicle with no bung inserted, in view of the fact it can be easy for users to forget to replace it and close the flap in occasions.

 

The MG 5 has a better arrangement with the opening flap, still has bungs though. Given the high currents flowing through I wouldn't want dirt in there, could be a risk of heating/overheating. I can't help but think that MG will improve the arrangement on the next version of the ZS. As Mike said, a second hand leaf might be just the thing, they are rated as being reliable.

 

My elderly mother is in the market for a new car and absolutely loves my MG. She is a nervous driver and does not like driving long distances. The range would be plenty for her, and a car with a larger range would be wasted on her.

Would a second-hand Leaf suit her needs, with flaps with catches rather than bungs (or is she wanting a previously unloved car)?

 

Charging bungs are a really poor piece of design.

Makes me wonder why they didn’t fit the rubber to the charging flap like BMW do or put a door over with a rubber seal round the outside like the leaf.

maybe you could have something 3D printed with a rubber gasket round it that would stick onto the rear of the charging flap?

Has anyone just removed one and not bothered using it, once these cars get into the hands of the mass public those things are going to get binned!

Will that really break it? If it’s warrantied would you really care if it did?

just a thought, if they start having to replace lots of charging sockets under warranty will they just improve the design!

 

If you are prepared to just do AC charging, the ID3 has the weather protection attached to the charging flap. You have to remove a bung to get at the CCS part of the socket, though.

 

Hmm curious that the e-tron’s charging socket doesn’t seem to suffer from this affliction though?

Why do you think VW find it totally acceptable to give you a crappy bit of rubber when you’ve “only spent 30k”

But when you’ve purchased an Audi they have engineered a solution??

Is this really acceptable?

 

I was thinking the same for the ID 3 bit I am not so sure she would like many of the controls being in software menus and the current problems with the software. But something that does concern me I'd that you say her eyesight is not that good. He she can't see bungs very well can she read a number plate at 20m with the eyesight correction she uses whilst driving.?

 

I have to agree with you about her not liking the minimalist iPad style cockpit. I don't but, being a bit technical, I will adjust to it.
I think that it is going to be an increasing problem since many manufacturers are jumping on the Tesla inspired bandwagon, sadly. Fashion and all that!

 

I don't know about the design on the MG but the bung on the GTE has a nice big handle on the back.

Get a bung like this and replace the one on the MG with it?

 

Watch the MG ZS 'Dinosaur' TV car advertisement. There are no bungs shown when the plug is pulled out. Bungs not needed!

 

I helped a new EV owner connect her MG ZS to a charger and it definitely had bungs.

 

In 14 months I don't think I've ever noticed the outer surface of the bung being wet even after driving in pouring rain. Conversely I have had to plug in a wet bung after charging in the rain without issue.

I suspect throwing the bungs away would cause no problem.

The "stick some bubblewrap" (or perhaps a thin layer of dense foam) on the inside of the flap would likely work well too.

 

Poor eyesight perhaps time give up driving

Sent from my POCOPHONE F1 using Tapatalk

 

How many times have you arrived at a rapid in driving rain to find the CHAdeMO or CCS abandoned on the floor full of water?

I can count at least 3!

What do we all do??

Pick it up shake it and then smash it straight into the charging port and hope to god it worksit always has for me!

Do you think we may be over thinking this?

Remove the bung (and save it), and see if it causes a problem and worry about it if it does??!

(In warranty we trust)

Chances are you will never have an issue!

 

How many times have you arrived at a rapid in driving rain to find the CHAdeMO or CCS abandoned on the floor full of water?

Almost every rapid when it comes to Chademo, CCS not so much. It seems Leaf owners are so angry they just fling them down when they've had their freeload fill, often launched behind the chargers now and into mud... I guess that's when they realise its been a paid for charge.

Pick it up shake it and then smash it straight into the charging port and hope to god it worksit always has for me!

Never, CCS is usually in good condition... except when its clearly been thrown on the ground to smash it... perhaps when an angry Leaf owner realises the Chademo is already in use.

On a serious note, why not remove the bungs, keep them safe and see how you get on.... In all the times I've charged when out and about in all weathers I've never found the area behind the flap to be wet when opening it up. What's the worst that can happen? Rusted pins and a few grand to change the charging port/cabling back to the motor?

 

They’re not the easiest to use. They do get easier to remove the more that they are used. I had hoped that someone would produce a one-bung alternative with a nice finger-friendly hook on it. Maybe a little bit of vaseline might make removal even easier? The area where the port is situated right at the front centre does get dirt build up over time.

 

The earlier post had been comparing the Zoe with the Leaf.. Zoe cheaper than and better range than Leaf. CCS more ubiquitous than Chademo these days. As for comparisons with ZS, I’m not sure the OP’s Mum is doing LEJOG challenges. A realistic 180-200 miles without needing to charge is worth a fair bit for someone who makes occasional longer journeys, but finds charging cumbersome.

 

I purchased a set of BMW i3 bungs for my old Zoe when the charging flap cover broke. I posted the part number on the Zoe forum pages at the time. They seemed to fit the Zoe reasonably well. Is there enough room under the outer flap to fix an easier to grab handle to the cover?

With regard to the eye sight thing, everyone's eyes lose accommodation with age, roughly 1 dioptre per decade, this means that it's perfectly possible to get glasses to allow you to read a number plate and hence pass the driving test but your near vision will be blurred.

 

They sold me bifocals then varifocals when I reached that stage. No need for blurred vision in our advanced society!

 

I've not seen the picture, so apologies, but couldn't it have happened whilst he was plugged in and charging up, hence the flap was up? And maybe he had to thaw it to close the flap properly?

 

I agree, the only “flappy cover” I have seen is like a little tent that covers the charging socket area whilst the vehicle is charging, mainly to stop snow and I guess heavy rain (not that rain will hurt), it’s the snow that could be an issue with clearing or after an overnight charge.

 

If the real bung is hard to extract why not just remove it and then cut down a bit of foam or polystyrene to fit. Something like a 4" piece cut from some pipe insulation would probably fit to seal the internals. And leave the CCS bung in place as its unlikely to even be needed.

 

Downside of that (not that it's a not good idea) is that the DC and AC bungs share a tether. If you want to remove just the AC you'll have to cut that tether. If you remove them both the tether can be 'unclipped' and put back before selling (or a service).

 

Like someone previously said, replace with a firmish foam to stop debris entering when the cover is closed. I doubt any snow or sand will get into the socket if the foam is pressed against it. For the more concerned, you can use those rubber d seal to the perimeter of the cover to make sure no water enters as well. Add to that illuminated stickers to provide some light to see what you are doing when pluggin in and you are good to go. Much better than fiddling in the dark under the cover to charge the car.
Besides, the fact that MG cleverly decide the cover should flip up to protect everything from the elements when open should mean that the MG can go bungless. IMHO