This site is full of closeted idiots.Definitely better than the train.
EVs on Long Road Trips
- Thread starter buster
- Start date
Apropos coming from you.
Rich from those with less experiences to lean on.
Adventure Cycling Association has maps for multiple cross country routes with suggested camping and/or hotel stops, convenience stores, etc. I have followed their Southern Tier route as far as Del Rio from the Austin area and the information and routes chosen are very good. The hills are a little sadistic out near Leakey, TX (pronounced Lake-y) but with 100 lbs of gear on my bike, I got off and walked as they aren't that long, just steep.Nothing to do with money. You saw where I said it would take me a year to cross the country right?
Gets pretty dicey past New Mexico.
Cheapest way to get anywhere of distance is to fly.
You wouldn't want to do Southern Tier (AZ/NM) transcontinental in the summer, any of the other routes, you wouldn't want to do in the winter. But anyway just pointing out that the info is out there to make the route workable.
The 1st thing I ask prospective EV buyers is, how ya gonna charge? Obviously your home's electrical system is in need of renewal. Our house was built in 1961 or '62. A close friend rewired much of the mess and installed a new service panel. Otherwise I would be in deep yogurt. In early 2018 I installed solar panels to take advantage of that big nuclear reactor up in the sky. Let's just say the solar projects has far exceeded expectations.
Yes, Amtrak is painfully slow except for maybe that NE Acela, which I've never personally tried.Definitely better than the train.
When I did the 1st 1000KM ride I mentioned in 2007, I left my car in Whitefish MT, then took the train to Portland, eventually riding my bike back to Whitefish. The train is way, way slower than an EV.
And the train splits in half in Spokane in the middle of the night, so you'd better be on the right half of the train, or awake to figure out what's going on, otherwise you're going to Seattle when you meant to go to Portland, or Portland when you meant to go to Seattle.
You know the car does that, right? Your cell Tesla app shows you chargers around tou as well. These cars are so easy to operate. Seriously.I wouldn't do it. I don't see any upside personally. If others want to do it good on them.
If I had all the time in the world I might ride my Bike across the USA. Or even walk. I think I could walk to LA from here and see all the meaningful sights along the way in about 1 year. Most would think this is nuts. Sounds like fun to me. Better than searching for an EV charger anyway. To each there own I say.
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Sure. So does Google Maps. But I still need to drive to wherever and wait till its open if busy then wait to charge.
Like I said, to each there own. I don't see any upside. Apparently some do.
For my use case, I don't see the upside of owning a gas car. I can charge at home and at the office. I never have to stop for gas. If we want to go somewhere that's farther than 3 hours away, we usually fly. I'm not one of those people that's going to drive a cheap old car, so we're going to pay a lot either way for ICE or EV. I prefer EV.Sure. So does Google Maps. But I still need to drive to wherever and wait till its open if busy then wait to charge.
Like I said, to each there own. I don't see any upside. Apparently some do.
Respectfully you don't understand the process. Tesla Superchargers are 24x7.Sure. So does Google Maps. But I still need to drive to wherever and wait till its open if busy then wait to charge.
Like I said, to each there own. I don't see any upside. Apparently some do.
The software shows you the number of chargers, number down and number open. It shows you the speed of the chargers at each location. It preheats your battery to save time.
Of course each to his/her own. I am simply referring to the misconceptions.
Perhaps look at it this way; why would they be so popular, so successful, it fueling were so troublesome?
It makes no sense.
Perhaps ask the owners you know how they feel about their EV. I can tell you, I assumed all the drawbacks that so many post. EVs are not for everyone and every use case, but ownership is far different than so many seem to assume.
Dude, I understand how they work. You and others act like everyone is an idiot. Its very condescending.
The question is "EV on a road trip" Not EV for around town or a commute or whatever. Personally I don't see any upside and only downside to an EV on a road trip, or any other time for that matter. My first comment however was if you want - sure, the world is your oyster.
Its when you and the other evangelists try to make out that its better somehow. Its not. Feel free to take your roadtrip and spend time charging - I don't care.
If I truly had all the time in the world I can think of countless ways to travel across the country that would be more interesting.
With the 2022 Mach e, we dont go far. I limit the excursions to under 300km round trip. I've seen the range drop at a geometric rate, leaving me with range anxiety. As well, the rural areas do not have the infrastructure to support ev travel. I'm not waiting an hour or more to fill the battery, my time is worth something.
The big deal breaker for me is the many apps, cards or accounts needed. I want to roll up, pay cash or debit to get a charge. I am tired of the complexity in life. I want to roll up, give a 20$ and say top it up.
A coworker has an ev, thinking Hyundai. He has, close to 7 different apps and accounts for it.
The big deal breaker for me is the many apps, cards or accounts needed. I want to roll up, pay cash or debit to get a charge. I am tired of the complexity in life. I want to roll up, give a 20$ and say top it up.
A coworker has an ev, thinking Hyundai. He has, close to 7 different apps and accounts for it.
I never contemplated not being able to pay cash. That’s another issue. Can you buy a pre paid card or use a pre paid visa?
Another situation you can encounter is no cell service, which cuts off all your apps. Can you pay with a credit card?
First off, your definition of "rural road trip" and "I don't want to think about it" and "there's gas station everywhere" is kind of vague. You will get into trouble in some places even with a gas car too like not having chain and snow related road closure (we have that in some part of California too).
If you absolutely have to be all over the place with no worry then you have to buy a vehicle for the worst case scenario, like a plug in hybrid, or even a Hummer H1. I don't think you are planning that extreme. In the worst case you can always just rent a gas car from a local rental, or Turo, or whatever.
If you are ok with stopping every 2-3 hours to stretch, and you don't go somewhere that you can be stranded, probably a Tesla / Ford that can charge at super chargers would be just fine. I think if you avoid those air cooled battery or European EV rushed to market with poor reliabilities (VW, Mercedes, some early BMW i3 models), you are likely going to be ok. So now you have to think about do you want to worry about the 1/20 of your 5% (i.e. 1/400) scenario or you will just rent a car for those extreme cases.
I have a hybrid, I can drive a hybrid in Alaska in December, but I will not do that, I will fly there and then rent a AWD / 4WD rental car instead.
If you absolutely have to be all over the place with no worry then you have to buy a vehicle for the worst case scenario, like a plug in hybrid, or even a Hummer H1. I don't think you are planning that extreme. In the worst case you can always just rent a gas car from a local rental, or Turo, or whatever.
If you are ok with stopping every 2-3 hours to stretch, and you don't go somewhere that you can be stranded, probably a Tesla / Ford that can charge at super chargers would be just fine. I think if you avoid those air cooled battery or European EV rushed to market with poor reliabilities (VW, Mercedes, some early BMW i3 models), you are likely going to be ok. So now you have to think about do you want to worry about the 1/20 of your 5% (i.e. 1/400) scenario or you will just rent a car for those extreme cases.
I have a hybrid, I can drive a hybrid in Alaska in December, but I will not do that, I will fly there and then rent a AWD / 4WD rental car instead.
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I never said they were better. I am saying there are misconceptions. I clearly state the pluses and minuses of EVs. You say you understand how they work, but your posts say otherwise.
Apologies if I sounded condescending; that is never my intention. And my name is not Dude. And I never called anyone an idiot.
I never said they were bad, I said I didn't see any upside. You took offense - twice.
Perhaps you should read my post #4. I never said anything negative. I said I didn't see any upside. How many superchargers, or chargers at all off interstate in North and South Dakota. Not many I imagine. Again, could you make it work - likely. Would I wish to given a choice, likely not.
I took no offense. I do my very best to post respectfully. I point out misconceptions, based on my experience. I generally highlight the point I am referring to.
