Uplifting News
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I just got back from an overnight trip.
Avoiding highways to get the best mileage I could (ended up with +50 miles for technique in spite of terrain being hilly/curvy and using air conditioning /flex) it was a 3-hour drive both ways. I charged my car at home before leaving, which was cheap, and when I got to my destination, I charged at the city hall charger, which was free. Most chargers around me that are maintained by town/city governments are set to be free, which makes planning trips pretty easy for cost savings.
Total cost for the transit portion of the trip, including the post-trip home recharge: under $5.
The same trip in the ICE vehicle we had available would have been about 10 gallons, or around $50.
So yeah, I’m pretty happy with the cost savings. Plus it’s dead quiet, which is highly pleasing on long trips, makes the whole thing surprisingly less shit. (I dislike driving, generally, but driving an electric is actually pretty nice)
They also smell nicer.
No gross gasoline and oil smell
One other benefit for road tripping - at least it's one I find to be a benefit, is the DCFC charging wait (for trips that can't be made on a single charge).
Growing up my family went on a lot of road trips and the emphasis was always on reducing time at stops. No time to relax, no time to use the restroom, no time to eat.
Charging gives an actual estimate on when you're road ready again, giving you real time where there is no thought in the back of your mind "I'm delaying our arrival".
Sure you can get cars with faster DCFC and we're getting to the point where charge time and refilling a tank are more or less the same. But I can enjoy the wait while I lasts.
Yeah, I also really enjoy planning around the wait time.
On another trip, we stopped somewhere for a charge on a level 2, cuz I'm not a huge fan of fast charge prices if I can avoid them (plus not great for the battery, by my understanding) and I’m never really in a hurry to get places. So instead of rush rush to get back on the road, we walked 20 min to a nice lakeside bar and grill, sat outside on the deck, and took an hour or so for lunch. Then another 20 min back to the car for about 2 hours worth of charge (40 or so additional miles for $2, not a ton, but enough to get where we were going so we could drop it longer at another level 2 charger).
I actively enjoy how it slows your travel down to a more relaxing pace. Between needing to drive slower to increase range, and needing to wait for a charge, it really encourages experiencing the trip. It encourages getting out to stretch your legs. It encourages time to sit and enjoy food, and have a conversation. It encourages stopping in small towns because “hey this town has a free/cheap charger! Let’s see if theres any good food!”
I’m in a part of the midwest that doesn't have a whole lot of EV infrastructure, so I go out of my way for stuff more. I’d prefer we had more chargers, but I'm totally fine with getting a bit off the standard path, taking back roads to small towns, and avoiding highways entirely. Its good for exploration!