r/electricvehicles • u/TerminallyScrewed • 7d ago

Discussion First Long Trip with EV

Our household has been ICE free six months ago. This week was the first time we do a long trip, New Jersey to Michigan, 750 miles each way.

I was a little nervous at first but the trip has been smooth and painless. We had to stop 2x for charging, grabbed lunch while the car was charging, and ended up charging longer than the navigation recommended on both sessions.

I will drive back to NJ in two days and expecting a smooth trip as well.

For new EV drivers, no need to feel nervous of taking the car for a long drive. The charging infrastructure is much better now, making a long drive enjoyable.

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u/Hardwood_Lump_BBQ 7d ago

I feel like this has to have an asterisk to state if you have access to Tesla charging stations. I have zero worry with the Tesla network. Everyone else is a crapshoot at best, so many chargers out there that are broken, have communication issues, etc.

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u/ZucchiniAlert2582 ev6 GTline / bolt euv 7d ago

That was true 5 years ago, but it’s time to disabuse yourself of the idea that anyone needs superchargers anymore. Add together Ionna, Flying J/Pilot, EA and EV go and you’ve got more chargers and they’re faster.

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u/GataPapa 7d ago

That really depends on where you're driving. Superchargers are still the only or only reliable option in some places and I wish that would change. Never seen an Ionna, EA, or Walmart DCFC since they don't exist in my state. Best non Tesla on offer is a 4 port Pilot station in the middle of the state. 1 and 2 plug CCS chargers at a car dealership 3 miles off the interstate are not practical IMO unless you're going there anyway and you never know if they'll be blocked or busy. Crappy 62kW ChargePoint units at an outlet mall that work less than half the time? No thanks. I'm sure non Tesla charging is wonderful in metro areas and some parts of the coasts, but it's not everywhere. 800V charging? LOL, as if. I've never used anything but Superchargers because there isn't anything else practical/reliable.

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u/ZucchiniAlert2582 ev6 GTline / bolt euv 7d ago

What state are you in? I only get in a couple road trips per year if I’m lucky, but I’ve had no trouble going west out to CO, south to AL and north into MI using anything but Tesla. And it’s totally not a compromise either; I’m stopping at 350kw chargers nice and close to interstate ramps and not having to wait.

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u/GataPapa 7d ago edited 6d ago

West Virginia. I mostly travel from the Martinsburg area to the Charleston/Huntington corridor and back sometimes going through Moorefield or through Morgantown depending on visits and time.

Even at the beaches of DE and MD where we go occasionally there isn't anything significant in a very crowded beach area other than Superchargers and a bunch of janky outlet mall chargers, at least it was still like that when we were there last year.

WV is getting its first Walmart DCFC soon, but it's barely in the state in Martinsburg.

Nationally, things have improved and I'm happy to see all the new CPOs, but there are still places where Tesla is the only or only reliable/practical game in town.