How To Plan a Road Trip in an Electric Car?

Commuting in an EV can be a wonderful way to save money on gas and maintenance if you live in a city with plenty of charging stations.

However, before you head out on a long road trip in an electric vehicle, it’s important to do a small amount of planning. In this article, you’ll find some crucial recommendations that will allow you to enjoy your road trip in an electric car without any worry!

Choose the fastest chargers

Different chargers charge at different rates—level 1 chargers are similar to your house electrical wiring and will take several hours to fully charge your EV. On the other hand, level 2 chargers may be suitable if you plan to spend a few hours nearby seeing the sights (for instance, if you want to spend the day at an amusement park or hotel that has level 2 chargers). Level 3 chargers, also known as DC Fast Chargers, can charge your vehicle to 80% in around one hour. Also, before heading out on a road trip, make sure to check the air pressure in your car’s tyres with a pressure gauge.

Using maps, list out charging pit stops in advance

It is always good to make a list of all the charging pit stops that can come in your way using Google Maps or other apps in advance so that you’ll not have to waste your time searching for them. These applications can give you a better picture of EV charging stations nearby, and you can set your car type to just see chargers that your electric vehicle can use. You can also use other apps that can give you a better read of the current charging status of your car and destination, and they can also tell you how much additional charge you need to make it to your next destination.

Always have a backup plan

Sometimes charging stations may be offline for maintenance, or busy charging other vehicles, or just unable to interface with your car for whatever reason. When your car’s battery is low, it’s best not to travel to a remote location where there’s only one public charging station. What should you do if the charger stops working? If in any case, you have to travel to a remote area, make sure to have a backup plan. Knowing someone in the area who might let you plug into an outlet in their garage overnight can save you from having a miserable trip experience.

Choose hotels for stays that have charging points

Staying at hotels that offer electric car charging in their parking lots or garages is another great way to save time on charging. The concept of having charging stations at hotels and motels is becoming common these days. And many hotels even provide this service for free to their customers. However, as they usually have Level 2 chargers, they’re perfect for overnight charging your EV.

EV charging at grocery stores

Electric vehicle (EV) charging is the coolest new way to attract customers to grocery stores. When electric car owners go shopping for the week, they want to be able to charge their cars while they shop, so that they can return to their home with enough charge. The grocery code of conduct governs certain conduct by grocery stores and wholesalers in their dealings with suppliers.

Thanks for reading!