EV Trip Planners

We use A Better Route Planner (ABRP) as a supplement to Tesla's navigation system.

https://abetterrouteplanner.com/

It permits customization to your vehicle and even your preference for frequent shorter stops or fewer longer stops, even in the free version. You can restrict charging to the Supercharger Network. It often has a better route and charging plan than Tesla's nav system.
 
The Google Maps system built into GMs infotainment works well with range and charge state predictions, but I generally check the suggested chargers in advance using Plugshare for outages, congestion, exorbitant pricing, etc.
 
JeffKeryk said:
I use the Tesla Trip Planner and the car onboard planner when needed. I believe others have found other planners, with Superchargers, that they like.
@UncleDave and others please chime in if you have any guidance.

Thanks in advance.
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If driving a Tesla - The Tesla onboard planner is so easy my 83 year old parents had no trouble with it.
The website app is good for a quick night before glance of a trip.

ABRP is great for everything else, or even a Tesla trip when you need to find stops with places for dog walks, specific services and of course driving a non Tesla.

Plug Share is great for finding freebies for when you might have time.
 
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In the Tesla I don’t plan, I just go, and it’s fine.

In the GMs, it works, but I often don’t agree with the charging spots it picks. I’m sure they’re somehow efficient but I kinda end up micromanaging it and doing whatever I want.
 
jghall00 said:
The Google Maps system built into GMs infotainment works well with range and charge state predictions, but I generally check the suggested chargers in advance using Plugshare for outages, congestion, exorbitant pricing, etc.
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In my Lyriq, I do this and also use the myCadillac app. I find it does a good job with route planning and charge stops.

I have a NACS adapter so I also use the Tesla app.
 
dogememe said:
...... I kinda end up micromanaging it and doing whatever I want.
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We micromanage as well.

ABRP provides information about what is available near the charging station (restaurants, which is code for bathrooms for example), charging prices (which sometimes vary considerably within a few blocks), the number of chargers and the charge rate at a station, and information on recent charging experience. We found that one Supercharger that our Tesla nav system was determined to use had been closed down by noting the lack of recent charging experience on ABRP. A closed Supercharger is not a good thing if you're really stretched for distance in an area having few Superchargers. Based on our suspicions we phoned the shopping center a few days ahead of time and found out that the Supercharger had recently closed and then located another Supercharger about 10 miles away, once again using ABRP.

On another occasion the Tesla nav system wanted us to veer off our route to a 150 kW charger, when there was a 250 kW charger with more outlets right on our route in a few blocks. I never understood that one.
 
ecotourist said:
We micromanage as well.

ABRP provides information about what is available near the charging station (restaurants, which is code for bathrooms for example), charging prices (which sometimes vary considerably within a few blocks), the number of chargers and the charge rate at a station, and information on recent charging experience. We found that one Supercharger that our Tesla nav system was determined to use had been closed down by noting the lack of recent charging experience on ABRP. A closed Supercharger is not a good thing if you're really stretched for distance in an area having few Superchargers. Based on our suspicions we phoned the shopping center a few days ahead of time and found out that the Supercharger had recently closed and then located another Supercharger about 10 miles away, once again using ABRP.

On another occasion the Tesla nav system wanted us to veer off our route to a 150 kW charger, when there was a 250 kW charger with more outlets right on our route in a few blocks. I never understood that one.
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I'm actually shocked that Tesla nav routed you to a closed Supercharger. I appreciate you sharing your experience because I would never have thought this was a possibility (outside of temporary issues like power outages or whatever). I reported an issue with a charging connector being broken at my local Supercharger and checked the app like an hour later and the app showed that one as unavailable so I thought they were really on top of it.

I don't remember the last time I have been to an older 150kw charger. I did go to one weird 72kw one once but that was out of wanting to stop to check out a park and it was right there, not because I needed it. In town we have two Supercharger locations one is 250kw and one is 150kw. My nav always routes me to the 250kw one. The old 150kw location is in the same shopping center as a single 50kw EVgo and a few Electrify Americas. Those are always busy though. So I do think Tesla people (and their nav) know to go to the faster one.
 
ecotourist said:
I've never found a good way to report anything to Tesla. How do you do it?
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Report an issue button in the app :)

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ecotourist said:
Thanks. I never use the app, but I just looked it up and there it is.
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:) Sometimes after a charging session it'll also ask you to rate it one to five stars and select any particular highlights or concerns. So I think they get feedback constantly a very quickly and if they think they need more they show that charge rating screen.
 
ABRP is the most common brand-agnostic one. I’ve used it a bit. Never tried the PlugShare one.

I use the myCadillac (myChevrolet/GMC) app for my LYIRQ. I find it better to work with (better interface) and more accurate than ABRP. It just need better integration with the built-in Google Maps system - which is good too - it’s just better to plan before-hand on my phone.
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At this point I am driving a PHEV as opposed to a true EV, but with that being said I just counted six EV charging apps on my phone. These include Plugshare and another five network specific apps needed to start chargers. For the most part the latter were added to take advantage of free charging while on the road. My wife has the Tesla app on her phone. Between Chargepoint and Tesla we have spent about $4 charging in two sessions across two states. We've taken advantage of free charging across six states from Virgina to Maine. I can see some trip planning apps coming once we take the full EV plunge.
 
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