Why doesn't the Hongguang mini charge without a ground wire?
2 Answers
Hongguang mini cannot charge without a ground wire. The Hongguang mini is a micro version of a pure electric vehicle with the battery located under the chassis and equipped with various safety technologies. The vehicle uses a standard 220V three-pin power supply with a household ground wire for charging, with a charging power of less than 2kW and charging times of approximately 6 hours and 9 hours. Taking the Hongguang mini EV 2021 Macaron Fashion Edition as an example: its body structure is a 3-door, 4-seat hatchback, with body dimensions of 2920mm in length, 1493mm in width, and 1621mm in height, a wheelbase of 1940mm, and a suspension system that combines MacPherson independent suspension and multi-link non-independent suspension.
It's quite common for my friend's Hongguang MINI to encounter charging issues, and I've experienced similar situations with my own electric car. The main problem lies in the ground wire, which acts like a safety guard: during charging, it ensures the current flows smoothly and prevents electric shock risks. If your home socket doesn't have a ground wire, the charger will detect this and automatically lock the charging function, so the car naturally won't charge. Many people think the charging pile is broken or there's a problem with the car, but the first thing to check is the socket's grounding. A simple method is to use a ground test pen or temporarily connect a metal pipe into the soil as a makeshift ground wire. It's recommended to hire an electrician to install a proper ground wire—it's hassle-free and safe. After all, improper handling of EV charging can pose risks, so don't cut corners for convenience.
