That may only be true if you live in la la land. In a big East coast city at peak traffic time the next super charger may be an hour traffic jam away.
In which case, power consumption at idle is very low. The software is dynamic and will adjust based on traffic patterns, and will reroute you to a closer charger if you will not make it to the next charger. It will also provide guidance on how to adjust your driving habits to ensure that you will make it to the next charging stop.Unforeseen traffic jams happen all the time. It’s not only a possible scenario, it’s a very likely one.
Leave my house, heading to Richmond, Google says 96 minutes to destination. Hit the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel just after an accident, Google, updating just after I’ve experienced the slowdown, says 126 minutes due to a 30 minute slow down.
I’ve seen pop-up traffic delay for an hour or more. The in car route planning software cannot predict the future any better than anyone else, and there are no chargers on a bridge or in a tunnel.
You cut it close with an EV, in those circumstances, and you had better turn off the air conditioning, or you will not make it. Frankly, I can’t think of anything worse than sitting in 95° heat with 90+ percent humidity, stuck in the Hampton roads Bridge Tunnel, having to shut off the AC because you don’t have the juice.
“Charging just enough to get home” is foolish in many locations. Including mine.
Ultimately this is a bit of a mute point for most users - the vehicle should start each day with 80 or 90% charge - and it is very unlikely that one will "run out" if the route planning software is correctly utilized.
Have either of you driven one?