How to plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
For many families, an annual road trip is a tradition. Choosing where to go, packing snacks, drinks and activities to go, and choosing interesting stops are all part of the process. According to MMGY Global’s 2017-2018 Portrait of American Travelers study, more people than ever hit the streets.
The latest figures show that of the nearly 3,000 survey participants surveyed, around 85% of their holidays are spent in Germany. Of those trips in the United States, 39% were road trips with the family vehicle as the focus. Additionally, this means a 17% increase in the number of road trips in 2015.
While road trips can be amazing, fun and exhilarating, with adventures around every corner, these trips can be a bit more stressful for road trips. drivers than electric vehicles. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you can’t go on your own great American road trip in your electric car just because your car doesn’t run on gas (or is a hybrid).
How to plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
Be knowledgeful of your electric vehicles like range and all:
First things first, before planning your route and points of interest along the way, it is important to understand your vehicle’s battery, forecast range, and possible restrictions. Having this knowledge at hand will help you better plan your trip and avoid distances that could compromise your battery life.
According to Energy Range, different electric cars have different ranges; The popular Nissan Leaf, for example, can travel around 250 miles on a single charge, while Tesla’s Model S and Model X have ranges of over 400 miles. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
Before driving, find out the range of your car so that you can properly plan your load stops.
Plan a stress-free trip:
When you have reached your destination, it is beneficial to stay overnight and fully charge your vehicle as much as possible. You can also retrace your steps on the way back and use the EV charging stations you used on your first route.
However, one of the best ways to have a stress-free return trip is to install a charging port or dock for your home. Home charging solutions are cheaper and easier to set up than you might expect. A home charging station can also free you from unplanned stops on the way home and give you peace of mind that you will always have a place to charge your electric vehicle.
Prepare a map for your complete travelling route:
Once you know how far your vehicle can go, you can choose the different stops that you will make on the route to your destination. Whether you’re on a multi-day, long-term vacation, or just a day trip, it’s helpful to choose stops where you can recharge your vehicle while enjoying the sights or entertainment in the meantime. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy noted that most national parks now have charging stations for electric vehicles, as do many major events and attractions. In total, there are around 16,000 EV charging stations and more than 44,000 EV-compatible plugs in driver-friendly locations across the country. This means you don’t have to search too far or travel too far to find your next load.
However, if you are a little afraid of reaching your next stop before reaching your charging range, you can always use Google Maps to find the closest EV charging station. The application uses the latest data to display the chargers and stations available.
Prefer Eco mode while driving:
While it is certainly helpful to know your vehicle’s load range and plan your scale accordingly, it is also a smart decision to consider certain savings tips that can optimize your vehicle’s range. The Office of Energy Efficiency recommended that electric vehicle drivers use high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes or carpool lanes when available.
While some areas limit the number of car occupants who qualify a vehicle to use the HOV lane, many areas have exceptions for electric vehicles. In this way, you can use these efficiency lanes even when traveling alone to save time and give your vehicle the best range. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
Consider a hybrid car | Road Trip In An Electric Vehicle
Electric Vehicles FAQ : The Answers to All Your EV Questions
You may want to consider an electric car that is not fully electric. You have two options here: plug-in hybrids and extended-range electric vehicles. The former are essentially standard hybrid vehicles with larger batteries that can be charged externally. These cars generally have an electric range of 15 to 80 miles and a full-size tank of gas. However, these vehicles do not have an all-electric driving experience and generally do not offer fast charging options (more on this shortly).
I think these cars are less fun to drive and, if you want to drive in electric mode, much less comfortable to charge. At the same time, they can build excellent gasoline-powered road trip vehicles. Extended range electric cars, on the other hand, are fully electric vehicles with a small gasoline engine. This engine efficiently charges the car battery to provide additional range on long trips. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
I prefer extended-range cars to plug-in hybrids because you always have the experience of electric driving (think instant torque). In addition, these cars are often equipped with fast charging capabilities and other technology features specific to electric vehicles. Also, many plug-in hybrids cannot drive in EV-only mode, which makes them feel more like a traditional gasoline vehicle. Extended range vehicles do not have this problem as they always run on electricity. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
Keep in mind where you decide to stay | Road Trip In An Electric Vehicle
Many hotels offer their guests free level 2 charging, a perk you may want to take on an even longer road trip so you wake up in the morning with a fully charged car ready to hit the road. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
Always have a backup plan | Road Trip In An Electric Vehicle
The infrastructure is still catching up with demand, so there might be places (especially off the beaten track) where chargers are few and far between, or you may find that the charger you are about to visit. it is broken or it is not use. plan a road trip in an electric vehicle
It is a good idea to make sure that there is an alternate loading location and that you have enough range to go somewhere else to load if necessary.
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