There’s no question that electric vehicles, or EVs, are the way of the future. California has approved regulation that will ban the sales of new gasoline cars by 2035, with other states expected to follow suit. And the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $7.5 billion to EV charging infrastructure, with the goal of 500,000 new chargers by 2030.
For those living in a city with easy access to charging stations, commuting in an EV can be a great way to save money on gas and maintenance. I’ll readily admit that not having to worry about regular oil changes and part replacements sounds like a dream—and a full charge at a charging station is much cheaper than a full tank of gas.
But can you take a longer road trip in an EV? Chevrolet was kind enough to loan me a 2021 Bolt for a week so I could find out for myself.
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A new experience
As someone whose primary vehicle is a motorcycle, the Bolt is basically the opposite of everything I’m used to: It’s quiet, comfortable, and very easy to drive. I hit the road intent on making my way up the California coast from my home in San Diego, with a loose timeline and half-baked itinerary. By a wide margin, California is the state with the most EV chargers in the U.S., so armed with the PlugShare app, Chevy’s myChevrolet app, and Google Maps on my phone, I figured that locating charging stations would be the least of my issues.
It only took me a few hours to realize I was wrong.
I had decided to plan my days of driving around my charging breaks by looking up Level 3 charging stations, also known as DC fast chargers (see details on different charging levels below), along the route in places where it would also make sense to stop for lunch.
The first stop on my first day of travel was at a Target in Orange County. Shopping centers are popular places for charging stations since you can run errands while the car is charging—and some stores even offer free charging to shoppers. This particular store had three chargers lined up along one end of the parking lot, but as I pulled into the closest spot I noticed a sign stating that the charger was out of order. In fact, none of the three chargers were working.
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As any avid roadtripper knows, road trips are a lot more enjoyable if you’re able to roll with the punches. I’m typically always prepared to switch to a plan B—but I don’t normally have to do it within the first few hours of leaving my house.
After sitting in the car for a few minutes pondering my next move, a work truck pulled in next to me and a group of men in bright orange vests jumped out. “Do you need to charge?” one of the men asked me. “Pull in over here and I’ll charge you up.”
After doing as I was told, the man attached the charging plug to my car and pressed some buttons on the charger, and a few moments later my dashboard display lit up with a progress bar, stating I was 55 minutes away from an 80 percent charge.
The next charge
While my first charging experience turned out both worse and better than expected—the process took longer than it should have due to the charger issues, but I didn’t have to pay for the charge—the rest of the trip was less eventful. The main issue, I quickly learned, was finding fast chargers in remote places or small towns. As soon as I ventured away from larger cities, I was limited to Level 2 chargers, which can take up to 8 hours for a full charge. In a few places, all chargers were already being used by other drivers, adding extra time while waiting for them to finish. And on one occasion, the only available charger was unable to communicate with my vehicle, for reasons still unknown to me.
When traveling through the U.S. in a gas powered vehicle, I typically don’t spend much time thinking about or looking up gas stations along my route in advance. Even on my motorcycle, which gets about 200 miles out of a full tank, I generally feel confident that I will encounter plenty of easy-to-spot gas stations well before I’m at any risk of running out of gas.
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What surprised me most about my EV road trip was how much time I ended up spending thinking about my next charge, looking for charging stations, and—if I found one—waiting around for the car to charge.
It became clear that even though electric vehicles may be the way of the future, the future—including its necessary infrastructure—isn’t here quite yet.
5 tips for getting the most out of an EV road trip
If there’s one thing I learned during my trip, it’s that the key to a successful EV road trip is planning, planning, and more planning. Here are some tips for making the trip as enjoyable as possible.
1. Drive in a way that maximizes your range
The Bolt can get an estimated 259 miles out of a full charge, which is on the higher end of the more affordable segment. For those able to splurge on, for example, a newer Tesla Model S, that number jumps significantly, to up to 390 miles. However, these numbers are just estimates, and will be affected by how and where you drive. Since everything in an electric vehicle runs off the battery, minimizing battery use can help extend the range. This includes avoiding use of the heater or air conditioner whenever possible, going easy on the accelerator, and using regenerative braking to slow down.
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According to Shad Balch at Chevrolet Communications, the Bolt battery’s ideal temperature is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that if you’re in a cold climate, the first thing the car does when you start it in the morning is to bring the battery up to the right temperature, a process that uses a lot of energy. “One of the tricks that you can do, if you’re in your garage or a place where there’s a charger, is to keep the vehicle plugged in while you power it up,” Balch says.
2. Plan charging stops around activities or meal breaks
When traveling in a gas powered vehicle, you can typically fill up at a gas station and be back on the road again within minutes. This is not the case for EVs. But if you can find a DC fast charger along your route, getting your vehicle’s battery up to 80 percent or more typically takes less than an hour. “If you know that there are charging stations available all the way, go as far as you possibly can before stopping to charge, even at night,” Balch recommends.
While you shouldn’t expect to find charging stations at a trailhead or next to a scenic fishing lake, there are ways to maximize your time while waiting for the vehicle to charge. Many charging stations are located in shopping centers and near restaurants, so it makes sense to combine charging with a meal break or supply run.
If you’re traveling with your own activities—bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, or games—this may also be a good time to bring those out. Another option is to plan a visit to an interesting site nearby while the car is charging—look for museums, parks, historic buildings, and public art.
3. Use available apps and map out your mileage in advance
There are plenty of different ways to locate public charging stations. Download apps specifically designed for this purpose, such as PlugShare, ChargeHub, or Open Charge Map, or use Google Maps to search for the type of charging station you need. The Roadtrippers app can also help you locate chargers along your route, whether you’re still in the planning phase, or on the road in need of a charge.
Remember that your vehicle’s estimated range will be affected by your driving style, the climate you’re driving in, and your use of creature comforts such as air conditioning or heat. Take this into consideration when planning your route and daily mileage. Look for chargers ahead of time, especially near places you’re already planning on stopping, and don’t wait until your range is down to 10 miles before finding a charging station.
4. Be flexible and have a backup plan
As I learned the hard way, charging stations may be down for maintenance, busy charging other vehicles, or simply not able to communicate with your specific car for whatever reason. When your car’s battery is low, it’s wise to not drive straight to a remote area with only one public charging station available. What do you do if that charger is not working? Having a backup plan—for example, knowing someone in the area who may allow you to plug in to an outlet in their garage overnight—can be the difference between a successful, memorable road trip and one you’d rather forget.
5. EVs are better for urban adventures than going off the grid
Even in California—the state with the most EV chargers anywhere in the U.S.—it can be difficult to find fast chargers outside of major cities. Traveling to more remote places, like national parks, will require more advance planning in an EV than sticking to urban areas. This is especially true in states with fewer available charging stations. That’s not to say that you can’t drive across the country in an electric vehicle—it’s absolutely possible, as long as you plan ahead.
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Different kinds of charging stations
Level 3 or DC fast charger: Whenever available, this is the type of charging station to use on a road trip. A fast charger can often get your battery level to about 80 percent in 30 to 60 minutes.
Level 2: Commonly found in public and commercial spaces and in more remote locations, Level 2 chargers can typically get you close to a full charge in about 8 hours. These work well when charging during the day at your workplace, or overnight at a hotel, but they can be cumbersome and time consuming when you’re eager to get back on the road.
Level 1: This is the slowest type of charging, and can typically be done using a regular wall outlet and adapter for your car. A full charge can take up to 24 hours (or sometimes longer), so this type of charging is best done in your own garage when not using the vehicle, or as an emergency backup.
Tesla Superchargers: Tesla’s proprietary charging network provides fast and readily accessible chargers all over the country, and they can add up to 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes. This network is only available to Tesla vehicles, and chargers can be located through the internal navigation system.
Frequently asked EV questions
You can take an EV on a road trip as long as you plan ahead: Look for charging stations along your route ahead of time, especially in places you already plan to stop; combine charging with food stops or supply runs, and always have a plan B.
How far you can drive an electric car on a single charge varies widely between makes and models. Most EVs get between 100 and 300 miles per charge, but some newer and higher-end vehicles on the market are starting to push the envelope on this. One example is the 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition Range, which reportedly gets up to 520 miles of range.
Thanks to Tesla’s widespread and fast charging network, Teslas are some of the most popular and convenient electric cars for road trips. They can also be used for camping and towing.
You can drive an EV across the country, but be mindful of finding charging stations in less populated areas. While chargers are typically easy to find in larger cities, they can be sparse in remote areas and along less-trafficked roads. As long as you plan ahead and budget enough time, you should be fine.
While you can sit and wait in your electric car while it’s charging, it’s a good idea to combine charging with other activities. Many EV chargers are located near shopping centers or restaurants, so consider combining charging with grabbing a meal or going grocery shopping to maximize efficiency.
Charging an EV can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the type of charger you’re using and how low your battery level is. DC fast chargers will typically get your battery to about 80 percent in 30 to 60 minutes, while a Level 2 charger can take closer to 8 hours. Tesla’s Superchargers are some of the fastest chargers on the market, but they’re only compatible with Tesla vehicles.
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