Epic Long Distance Road Trip

Successful long-distance road trips in electric vehicles require careful planning of charging stations, route navigation, and strategic stops to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey 

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Clips 

• 00:00 🚗 Driving an old Volkswagen ID4, Danny shares his adventurous 1,750-mile road trip from Oregon to Minneapolis, highlighting the stunning landscapes and unique discoveries along the way.
• 01:41 🚗 The speaker discusses their successful long-distance road trip with their first-generation electric vehicle, emphasizing manageable charging challenges and the importance of route planning.
  • The speaker shares their experiences with their electric vehicle, Everett, highlighting its extensive road trip usage and noting that it is a first-generation model with specifications that differ from newer versions.
  • The speaker shares their experience with an electric vehicle's charging rate and range, noting a typical range of 240-250 miles and dismissing range anxiety as a media concern.
  • Charging challenges for electric vehicles are often exaggerated by media, and while some areas may have difficulties, personal experience shows that with proper planning, long-distance travel is manageable.
  • A route planner for electric vehicles ensures charging stops are integrated into navigation, providing confidence in availability while allowing for flexibility in chosen stops.
• 06:04 🚗 Use the Better Route Planner for safe navigation and prioritize level three DC fast chargers at convenient locations for a successful long-distance road trip.
  • Use the Better Route Planner app to navigate steep and winding roads safely by driving below the speed limit.
  • A good charging station for long-distance road trips should be a level three DC fast charger that can accommodate at least two cars to ensure availability.
  • Preference for charging stations near freeways with national brand recognition and amenities for convenience during long-distance road trips.
  • The road trip experience highlights the convenience of truck stops with amenities and the growing presence of electric vehicle charging stations, particularly at Chevrolet dealerships in North Dakota.
• 09:55 ⚡ During a long road trip, the group prioritized hotels with charging stations and utilized reliable charging networks, balancing charging times with meal breaks.
  • Charging options varied during a long road trip, with some locations free and others charging fees, highlighting the importance of reliable charging networks.
  • Finding hotels with charging stations is convenient for overnight stays, allowing for full battery charges at lower costs while ensuring availability through national networks.
  • The trip was planned to include hotels with charging stations, primarily using Marriott, Hilton, and ChargePoint for electric vehicle charging.
  • Charging duration at fast stations is situational; it's acceptable to charge for longer if it doesn't inconvenience other drivers, as demonstrated by planning a breakfast stop while charging.
  • The group took a break at a comfortable Starbucks for 45 minutes to recharge and have breakfast during their long road trip.
• 15:30 ⚡ Efficient long-distance electric vehicle road trips require strategic charging from 10-15% to 60-80% to minimize time, considering battery levels and range variations.
  • Charging strategies during road trips aim to minimize charging time to about 20 to 35 minutes.
  • Electric car battery charging rates vary due to a concept called the charging curve, unlike the constant fill rate of gas cars.
  • Charging an electric vehicle is most efficient when starting at a lower battery level to maximize the charging rate and minimize charging time.
  • Electric cars have varying range patterns, typically influenced by their age and model, with older cars like mine having a range of 125 miles compared to newer models that can reach up to 200 miles.
  • The optimal charging strategy for long-distance road trips is to charge from 10-15% to 60-80% to minimize charging time while considering factors like station spacing and driving conditions.
• 20:46 🚗 Epic long-distance road trip focused on strategic planning for bathroom and fuel stops, using Electrify America for charging, and navigating routes without relying on planners.
  • The trip involves planning bathroom breaks and fuel stops, knowing the average distance between stations, and navigating unfamiliar territory.
  • The travel strategy involves planning stops based on personal needs and adjusting charging levels to account for factors like headwinds.
  • The trip involved using Electrify America for free charging, resulting in a total cost of $100 for electricity, while relying on knowledge of routes and charging options rather than route planners.
• 23:27 🚗 Epic long-distance road trip tips include using Tesla's features for cost-effective travel, planning around EV charger hotels, and optimizing routes with Better Route Planner.
  • The trip involved using Tesla's magic talk feature and visiting Chevrolet dealerships, which are part of a non-public network, resulting in a cost-effective journey.
  • The electric car averaged 3 miles per kilowatt hour, slightly below its rated efficiency due to strong headwinds and driving conditions, resulting in a cost of 3 cents per mile instead of the potential 13 cents.
  • Planning is essential for long road trips, especially in unfamiliar areas, but experienced travelers may sometimes embark on spontaneous journeys without much preparation.
  • Plan your road trip around hotels with EV chargers by searching for them online rather than relying solely on hotel brand websites.
  • The speaker shares tips for finding hotels with EV chargers and using Better Route Planner to optimize charging stops during a long-distance road trip.
• 28:18 ⚡ Planning a long-distance road trip with an electric vehicle requires researching charging options and using apps like PlugShare for flexibility and convenience.
  • The speaker explores various charging options for electric vehicles, emphasizing the use of apps like PlugShare to find alternative charging locations beyond standard networks.
  • Planning charging stops for long-distance road trips involves using apps like PlugShare and having confidence in the vehicle's capabilities based on prior experience.
  • Research charging options in advance for a long-distance road trip to ensure flexibility and convenience while using the car's built-in navigation system for optimal charging stops.
  • The speaker plans a long-distance road trip, considering charging options and breaks to optimize travel time and ensure sufficient battery range for challenging terrain.
  • The speaker prefers their new Volkswagen electric car for road trips over their previous uncomfortable Priuses, appreciating its design as a traditional car rather than an obvious electric vehicle.
  • The road trip experience was comfortable with sufficient fast charging stations, but future trips will benefit from improved station availability and spacing.

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Duration: 0:38:12

Publication Date: 2024-10-20T12:30:25Z

WatchUrl:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRBzUXqp2ak

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