EVs on Long Road Trips

[Patman]

Most of the long road trips I have ever taken involve stopping every 3-4 hours and spending 20-30 minutes using the restroom, eating, stretching my legs, etc. So I could easily travel with an EV and nothing would really change in terms of the actual travel time that it takes.

 

[Brons2]

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.

Ford has plug and charge that works on multiple charging networks. One can take that approach if they want to.

I personally prefer to use the apps, because when we go to South Padre, I will sign up for the Tesla membership and I don't want it trying to charge itself through Ford, which will invalidate my discount.

But if you want super easy, it's there, no cell service or even a wallet required, you just sign up before leaving home and you don't have to even carry any payment method with you.

 

[buster]

Most of the long road trips I have ever taken involve stopping every 3-4 hours and spending 20-30 minutes using the restroom, eating, stretching my legs, etc. So I could easily travel with an EV and nothing would really change in terms of the actual travel time that it takes.

Same. I can't drive more than 2-3 hours before having to stretch. It's not healthy to sit for long periods of time anyway.

 

[melk]

New Mexico regularly has lower low temperatures than Maine.

Disclaimer: “For entertainment purposes only”

Not to be THAT GUY - because it’s not a contest, but I’m a stickler for details and the beauty of data is that it is impartial.

In any case both places get friggen cold bub!

 

[AuthorEditor]

And it matters a lot where you live in each state. Coastal southern Maine tends to be warmer than inland northern Maine. But, the point remains that extreme cold in any state is bad for EV range and must be taken into consideration. Plus you've gotta heat the car or you freeze, use more headlights with the lack of daylight, and keep the battery warmed at night. All use power.

 

[Astro_Guy]

The Tesla adapter "saved us"?? what kind of nonsense is that?

It's actually a valid point although it was made in an overly dramatic way. I drive a PHEV that accepts the common J-1772 input. The summer before last we took a trip to Virginia with a planned lunch stop in Shepherdstown, WV. We knew in advance that there were both J-1772 and Tesla destination chargers at that location. When we arrived one J-1772 port was in use, a second was non-operational and four Tesla stations were sitting idle. A few hours later we arrived at a B&B in Afton, VA and what did we find? A charging station. I pulled up, reached for the plug and what did I find? It was a Tesla destination charger format. So immediately after that I dropped the hint that Father's Day was coming up and what Dad really needed was a Tesla to J-1772 adapter. That adapter is in the glove box and goes wherever we go. It gets used frequently.

So now one can find Level 2 charging stations with either the J-1772 or Tesla desitation format and Level 3 fast DC chargers with the CCS1 or NACS format. Adapters are an unfortunate necessity for long EV road trips.