David Martin drives a MG5 EV Long Range 2021 and shares his experiences to-date on public charging.

What do you think of the UK public charging network in general?

Getting better but not keeping up with demand. Too many slow or poor chargers out there. We do not need apps or RFID cards, we need plug & charge or at least contactless payments.

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What and where are your favourite UK public chargers?

To date, no UK charger would warrant my status as a favourite. InstaVolt are great chargers but at poor venues. Gridserve are better but often are too slow and have a queue. IONITY are physically very good but have high prices. I guess the MFG chargers at J27 M6 are the best in the UK but the plug & charge Zunder chargers in Spain win and are only 33p/kW.

What’s been your best experience with a UK public charger driving your MG5 EV?

MFG j27 M6 – when I say best, it is a relative term. OK, the chargers were simple, fast and easy to find with a café but…

You have to input your car reg not to get a fine – why?  And no plug & charge – why is the UK not deserving such options?

What’s been your worst experience with a UK public charger?

Gridserve, Gridserve, Gridserve. They are great chargers, simple to use and at a fair UK price but…

Every time there is a wait, some twit charging to 100%, fights over who’s turn it is next, then painfully slow charging. Come on, the MG5 should charge at 90kW not 30kW!

What’s got to change about public charging in the UK to get more people driving electric cars?

Simple – 100% chargers accessed by one simple system as in Portugal.

Plug & charge – if my MG5 can be plugged into a Zunder charger in Spain and be charging within 60 seconds without any other input, with a brilliant app to monitor, control & set charge limits on the app live why not the UK. Anyone?

See other public charging reports here