Bring a spray bottle with windshield washer fluid and a squeegee. Unlike gas stations, most charging stations don’t provide any way to clean your windshield.
I think it's also worth discussing that a "road trip" means different things to different people. Some folks want to drive 800 miles per day and not stop unless absolutely necessary. In that case, even a Tesla isn't ideal for road tripping. But for myself, I don't really like to go more than 400 miles per day, so my slow-ish charging Bolt works fine with a slightly longer lunch stop for charging.
Good video overall. I'd actually recommend folks with CCS cars get an EVgo account over Chargepoint for one reason: Autocharge. Being able to just plug in and start charging without fiddling with a card or app is an incredible benefit and increases the chances that you'll have a successful session. I've had great luck with it on my Bolt. EVgo will also activate Chargepoint stations through the app, although not with the benefit of Autocharge.
I’d second getting Autocharge + set up on your car. It’s not exactly but it almost feels like a two step process and by the way when you’re setting up Autocharge + you must finish the process with you and your car at a working EVgo DC fast charger. I’ve had it set up since August and although I don’t get a chance to use it a ton if the station is working it’s worked perfectly for me.
Good to mention that some cars (ex. Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) do battery pre-conditioning only if you use their native Navigation app to plan your trip. Also, do you need battery pre-conditioning at all if it's summertime and hot?
One alternative to carrying a spare is to get a tire repair kit and portable 12v compressor. It takes much less space, but only works with small punctures.
Flat kits can do the trick (I carry them with my tubeless tires for bike rides occasionally) but on a long road trip nothing beats the peace of mind of even a steelie space saver.
Yep, I’ve fixed two small punctures with a repair kit from the “Slime” brand ($6 at Walmart). It takes some mechanical skill, but no more than installing a spare does.
My Ioniq 5 came with a flat kit. The first time I looked at it (thankfully I was in my garage) the sealant can had burst and leaked and made a gooey mess in my new car. No thanks.
Skip the tow strap and even the actual usefulness of a mobile charger is going to be highly questionable. Instead as a first time road tripper just plan the trip out with a higher minimum arrival state of charge, say 30% or 40% instead of the typical experienced user who might choose a much lower arrival percentage. By doing this simple adjustment you’ll allow yourself mistakes and likely be accounting for off line chargers or not being to activate an app to charge. As you gain experience and confidence all this will get better and you can have a faster dwell time at chargers lower in the battery pack state of charge level.
I absolutely agree that people with less experience should allow lots of extra cushion with arrival state of charges, especially in remote areas. I would also argue the same even for experienced EV drivers when driving a rental car, as the energy consumption and guess-o-meter accuracy might differ greatly from the car you're used to back home. But, I still think it's a good idea to bring a mobile charger anyway for extra redundancy, especially when going off the interstate into some really remote areas. There are large parts of this country that still have next to no EV chargers, but do have campgrounds with NEMA 14-50 outlets. The mobile charger can also come in handy for some non-emergency situations, like if you're staying at a hotel that just happens to have an outlet in the parking lot.
@@ab-tf5fl absolutely great points about experienced drivers accustomed to one car maybe being over confident in another unfamiliar rental car and on top of that probably in an unfamiliar place. Hopefully rental cars all come with a mobile charger? I probably spend way too much time on PlugShare just scoping out various places and I’m especially prone to do this before traveling somewhere. I actually ran out of DCFC options in Las Cruces on a recent road trip because all the options there were limited hours operations and so I started to try to justify doing an hour on AC charging options before throwing in the towel and just getting a hotel with AC charging and beginning the next day with a topped up pack. That’s probably one thing ABRP could do a better job at highlighting, when chargers close it ought to consider their unavailability in the plan. Maybe it does that somehow and I just need to toggle that setting “on?”
I had a terrible experience with electrify America in central Florida . 6 chargers and not one worked. Pathetic. It’s beside a Sams Club. Can’t tell how much time i wasted looking for a level 3 charger. Most apps aren’t up to date.
step 1. if your ev is not a tesla, don't do it step 2. if your ev is not a hybrid, don't do it step3. ???? step4. profit And I own an EV and is as frustrating as public infrastructure is not there and the big players (electrify america and evgone) do not care at all
Bring a spray bottle with windshield washer fluid and a squeegee. Unlike gas stations, most charging stations don’t provide any way to clean your windshield.
That is so smart of you. Thank you!
Good point, annoying reality
Brilliant!
I think it's also worth discussing that a "road trip" means different things to different people. Some folks want to drive 800 miles per day and not stop unless absolutely necessary. In that case, even a Tesla isn't ideal for road tripping. But for myself, I don't really like to go more than 400 miles per day, so my slow-ish charging Bolt works fine with a slightly longer lunch stop for charging.
Good video overall. I'd actually recommend folks with CCS cars get an EVgo account over Chargepoint for one reason: Autocharge. Being able to just plug in and start charging without fiddling with a card or app is an incredible benefit and increases the chances that you'll have a successful session. I've had great luck with it on my Bolt. EVgo will also activate Chargepoint stations through the app, although not with the benefit of Autocharge.
I’d second getting Autocharge + set up on your car. It’s not exactly but it almost feels like a two step process and by the way when you’re setting up Autocharge + you must finish the process with you and your car at a working EVgo DC fast charger. I’ve had it set up since August and although I don’t get a chance to use it a ton if the station is working it’s worked perfectly for me.
This was is so informative. I'm planning for my first EV now. It's great to go into this new world with pre-knowledge. Thank You!!!
Good to mention that some cars (ex. Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) do battery pre-conditioning only if you use their native Navigation app to plan your trip. Also, do you need battery pre-conditioning at all if it's summertime and hot?
One alternative to carrying a spare is to get a tire repair kit and portable 12v compressor. It takes much less space, but only works with small punctures.
Flat kits can do the trick (I carry them with my tubeless tires for bike rides occasionally) but on a long road trip nothing beats the peace of mind of even a steelie space saver.
Yep, I’ve fixed two small punctures with a repair kit from the “Slime” brand ($6 at Walmart). It takes some mechanical skill, but no more than installing a spare does.
My Ioniq 5 came with a flat kit. The first time I looked at it (thankfully I was in my garage) the sealant can had burst and leaked and made a gooey mess in my new car. No thanks.
Skip the tow strap and even the actual usefulness of a mobile charger is going to be highly questionable. Instead as a first time road tripper just plan the trip out with a higher minimum arrival state of charge, say 30% or 40% instead of the typical experienced user who might choose a much lower arrival percentage. By doing this simple adjustment you’ll allow yourself mistakes and likely be accounting for off line chargers or not being to activate an app to charge. As you gain experience and confidence all this will get better and you can have a faster dwell time at chargers lower in the battery pack state of charge level.
I absolutely agree that people with less experience should allow lots of extra cushion with arrival state of charges, especially in remote areas. I would also argue the same even for experienced EV drivers when driving a rental car, as the energy consumption and guess-o-meter accuracy might differ greatly from the car you're used to back home.
But, I still think it's a good idea to bring a mobile charger anyway for extra redundancy, especially when going off the interstate into some really remote areas. There are large parts of this country that still have next to no EV chargers, but do have campgrounds with NEMA 14-50 outlets. The mobile charger can also come in handy for some non-emergency situations, like if you're staying at a hotel that just happens to have an outlet in the parking lot.
@@ab-tf5fl absolutely great points about experienced drivers accustomed to one car maybe being over confident in another unfamiliar rental car and on top of that probably in an unfamiliar place. Hopefully rental cars all come with a mobile charger?
I probably spend way too much time on PlugShare just scoping out various places and I’m especially prone to do this before traveling somewhere. I actually ran out of DCFC options in Las Cruces on a recent road trip because all the options there were limited hours operations and so I started to try to justify doing an hour on AC charging options before throwing in the towel and just getting a hotel with AC charging and beginning the next day with a topped up pack. That’s probably one thing ABRP could do a better job at highlighting, when chargers close it ought to consider their unavailability in the plan. Maybe it does that somehow and I just need to toggle that setting “on?”
Good info. Thx.
I had a terrible experience with electrify America in central Florida . 6 chargers and not one worked. Pathetic. It’s beside a Sams Club. Can’t tell how much time i wasted looking for a level 3 charger. Most apps aren’t up to date.
Lugging around a spare tire would lower your range, however
No love for Chargeway? Chargeway is a great route planning app.
Never heard of it. Maybe we’ll explore route planning apps in future videos!
I'm planning on dying, never having owned an ev. So are many other people.
step 1. if your ev is not a tesla, don't do it
step 2. if your ev is not a hybrid, don't do it
step3. ????
step4. profit
And I own an EV and is as frustrating as public infrastructure is not there and the big players (electrify america and evgone) do not care at all