Long trip advice for new EV driver

[essayer]

Easy. Download Zap-Map, filter by Instavolt, loads of options M1/M40/M6. Don’t bother charging over 80%, charge 3 times to coincide with natural breaks.

[fly]

Well, this thread is thoroughly depressing as a new EV owner.

I assumed I was being paranoid about there not being enough fast chargers, especially on big motorway services - but after reading this thread I don't think I'll ever venture more than 20 miles away from home again!

I appreciate all the strategies offered above, but your children are obviously more patient than mine. We could cope with the odd 30 minute charge stop at a 100kw charger (taking it from 10% to 80%), especially when I can plan them in advance, but having to queue and/or spend ages hunting for an alternative (probably slow) charger - nope.

Will take the ICE car for this trip and forego the comforts of the EQC.

Edited by fly on Monday 27th March 22:42

[TheDeuce]

wyson said:

coach said:

Download the charger map apps such as plug share and zap map at least. Load it up with your card details to save faff.

Plan your route using these (at least for the charge stops…you can always use you favourite nav and bang in charge locations as way points).

Have a plan A, B & C. Have contingency for planning stops around refreshment and comfort breaks. That way your time efficient.

If you have to use plan B or C it may be on a slower charger so leave plenty of time.

If things change, stop, breath, re plan and have the detail clear. Don’t just plow on and hope for the best.

Oh and when you plan the route, note the charger suppliers and note the payment needed in terms of contactless, app etc and BE PREPARED. Don’t be faffing in location under pressure from family

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

You'd be fine in the Tesla on this sort of trip.

But I do tend to agree that all this 'plan a,b & c' stuff is a bit off-putting for those yet to own an EV, makes it all sound more complicated than it is.

My solution over the past three years has simply been to locate a few chargers en-route that are actually in a place I might be perfectly happy to spend some time at - even if the amount of time is a little longer than expected due to having to wait for a free charger or whatever. Last year we drove to Northumberland from the south, I planned to stop to charge in York, because I like York! The original plan was to use one of (I think) 3 100kw chargers whilst we had lunch by the river, but they were all taken. So we simply had another look on zap-map, found a 50kw charger very nearby and used that - it took longer so we had lunch and then did some shopping.. Not really a hardship!

In fairness I only do longer trips in the car for leisure so I'm not on a tight schedule. It would be different if I had a long weekly commute for work - I would still drive a diesel

But one day driving a diesel won't be an option so I expect that pressure will grow for firms to find ways of doing things that don't require employees to regularly drive several hundred miles. Covid has already forced many firms to find better ways of doing things and the growth of EV adoption will surely continue to push firms to adapt.

[PetrolHeadInRecovery]

I'd check https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ - I think already the free version shows real-time information about the occupancy of the charging stations if you create an account.

Chargemap (https://chargemap.com/map) does the same, but with the caveat that the information is based on the community contribution model (so occasional errors creep in).

Will you have someone who can act as a co-pilot to check the occupancy of the stations and update the waypoints in the navigation? Looking at Ionity and Fastned maps in the UK, you could cover plans A, B and C with minimal stress.

My experience is limited to continental Europe, though. But Ionity or Fastned coverage in the UK doesn't look that different from our usual routes.

[DonkeyApple]

fly said:

Planning a 400 mile trip over the Easter school holiday between London & Scotland in an EQC. It will need at least 2 charge stops.
Travelling with children so trying to be as prepared as possible...

I have never needed to charge away from home before. The main thing I'm concerned about is increased Easter traffic clogging up all the chargers.

What's it likely to be like? What are my chances of arriving at any motorway services and having a 100kw+ charger working and available to use?

Travel when the idiots aren't. That usually means overnight. Idiots all want to travel at the exact same time to maximise the probability of idiot things happening to idiot people.

Don't aim to stop to recharge where all the idiots plan, or rather don't plan, to be.

An idiot will aim to stop to recharge when their car is nearly empty so as to maximise the probability of ruining their trip and causing maximum upheaval to their family. They will also aim to do this at peak hours. The genius of an idiot is that they can achieve this without even thinking.

My rule for driving to Scotland from London regardless of the type of car has been to always set off from London between 2 and 4 am and to refill the car when it is half empty.

Frankly, I'd hire a car that was more efficient for the job at hand though and not even consider fannying about like that with the family onboard. It's the sort of trip you do on your own so you're only letting yourself down.

[anonymous-user]

This all sounds way too stressful, what you are all effectively saying is that an EV is not fit for purpose unless you are only charging it at home and doing local trips?

I am going to be driving to Scotland to drive the NC500 at the end of next month, driving from Surrey to Inverness, then the NC500 and then back again a total journey of around 1800 miles.

I haven't given a second thought to refuelling, my car can do 500 miles to a tank so it clearly won't be a problem. It sounds like if I had an EV it would turn into a military procedure with backup plans if I cannot charge at certain locations? Plus I suspect the charging availability on the NC500 route is going to patchy at best.

So what you are saying is if you have an EV you also have an ICE car for long journeys? So everyone has to have two cars, that is really saving the planet.

[ZiggyNiva]

limpsfield said:

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging.

I have a Y and will be doing Leeds to venice in Summer. I'm off down to Bude next week, so that will be interesting. I've done a few London trips and it's been ok in the Y (as you said using super charger networks). The one thing I hadn't realised was the majority of supercharger sites are off the motorway (from what I have found). This can be a pain, and on a recent trip back up from Reading i stopped at Leicester to charge to then find the entry slip back on the motorway was closed. I'm trying and failing to find a list of superchargers that are accessible without leaving the motorway. I'm also not sure how this works in Italy, France or other countries with toll booths, unless more are on the motorway there

[coach]

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

I have a model 3 and DON'T have to go through this. I was giving this level of advice because its a non Tesla? I wouldn't overreact - You would have the Supercharger network AND the "normal" network. It IS a change in thinking anyway though so if you are not ready for that change - then no - don't make the jump

[PetrolHeadInRecovery]

Joey Deacon said:

This all sounds way too stressful, what you are all effectively saying is that an EV is not fit for purpose unless you are only charging it at home and doing local trips?

I am going to be driving to Scotland to drive the NC500 at the end of next month, driving from Surrey to Inverness, then the NC500 and then back again a total journey of around 1800 miles.

I haven't given a second thought to refuelling, my car can do 500 miles to a tank so it clearly won't be a problem. It sounds like if I had an EV it would turn into a military procedure with backup plans if I cannot charge at certain locations? Plus I suspect the charging availability on the NC500 route is going to patchy at best.

So what you are saying is if you have an EV you also have an ICE car for long journeys? So everyone has to have two cars, that is really saving the planet.

For me, the most stressful road trips have been with diesel (tankful of dodgy fuel, car going randomly into limp mode for the next 6 months until injector cleaners finally got rid of the crud) or where fuel hasn't really mattered (12-hour queue at a border, finding hotels around midnight in the middle of nowhere in Croatia).

So far we have made only shortish trips on EV (two 3000km/~1800mile round trips), longer trips are planned for the summer, though.

[Diderot]

ZiggyNiva said:

limpsfield said:

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging.

I have a Y and will be doing Leeds to venice in Summer. I'm off down to Bude next week, so that will be interesting. I've done a few London trips and it's been ok in the Y (as you said using super charger networks). The one thing I hadn't realised was the majority of supercharger sites are off the motorway (from what I have found). This can be a pain, and on a recent trip back up from Reading i stopped at Leicester to charge to then find the entry slip back on the motorway was closed. I'm trying and failing to find a list of superchargers that are accessible without leaving the motorway. I'm also not sure how this works in Italy, France or other countries with toll booths, unless more are on the motorway there

Moto Exeter (M5) has about 14 rapids, plus banks of Tesla chargers.

[ZiggyNiva]

Diderot said:

ZiggyNiva said:

limpsfield said:

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging.

I have a Y and will be doing Leeds to venice in Summer. I'm off down to Bude next week, so that will be interesting. I've done a few London trips and it's been ok in the Y (as you said using super charger networks). The one thing I hadn't realised was the majority of supercharger sites are off the motorway (from what I have found). This can be a pain, and on a recent trip back up from Reading i stopped at Leicester to charge to then find the entry slip back on the motorway was closed. I'm trying and failing to find a list of superchargers that are accessible without leaving the motorway. I'm also not sure how this works in Italy, France or other countries with toll booths, unless more are on the motorway there

Moto Exeter (M5) has about 14 rapids, plus banks of Tesla chargers.

Perfect Thank you. Looks like Warwick South is also in the services.

[Road2Ruin]

Joey Deacon said:

This all sounds way too stressful, what you are all effectively saying is that an EV is not fit for purpose unless you are only charging it at home and doing local trips?

I am going to be driving to Scotland to drive the NC500 at the end of next month, driving from Surrey to Inverness, then the NC500 and then back again a total journey of around 1800 miles.

I haven't given a second thought to refuelling, my car can do 500 miles to a tank so it clearly won't be a problem. It sounds like if I had an EV it would turn into a military procedure with backup plans if I cannot charge at certain locations? Plus I suspect the charging availability on the NC500 route is going to patchy at best.

So what you are saying is if you have an EV you also have an ICE car for long journeys? So everyone has to have two cars, that is really saving the planet.

Yeah, because everyone does 1800 miles every week, isn't that the norm?
With the money I save with my EV, I could hire a car for that journey and still be better off. Do you work for a tabloid newspaper by any chance?

[Muzzer79]

fly said:

Well, this thread is thoroughly depressing as a new EV owner.

I assumed I was being paranoid about there not being enough fast chargers, especially on big motorway services - but after reading this thread I don't think I'll ever venture more than 20 miles away from home again!

I appreciate all the strategies offered above, but your children are obviously more patient than mine. We could cope with the odd 30 minute charge stop at a 100kw charger (taking it from 10% to 80%), especially when I can plan them in advance, but having to queue and/or spend ages hunting for an alternative (probably slow) charger - nope.

Will take the ICE car for this trip and forego the comforts of the EQC.

Edited by fly on Monday 27th March 22:42

This is the issue with EV perception at the moment.

Driving an EV, you need to plan. It has a shorter range than an ICE car and takes longer to refuel.

But it's still a car. It still works.

I think of it as like having an ICE with a fuel tank that only holds 250 miles of fuel. Know where your 'petrol stations' are and have a backup 'petrol station' in case the one you go to is busy.

Chances are, you'll be fine. If there is a problem, go to your backup.

I did Midlands to Southampton and back in a day last week. Zero issues. You just need to have faith

[Diderot]

ZiggyNiva said:

Diderot said:

ZiggyNiva said:

limpsfield said:

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging.

I have a Y and will be doing Leeds to venice in Summer. I'm off down to Bude next week, so that will be interesting. I've done a few London trips and it's been ok in the Y (as you said using super charger networks). The one thing I hadn't realised was the majority of supercharger sites are off the motorway (from what I have found). This can be a pain, and on a recent trip back up from Reading i stopped at Leicester to charge to then find the entry slip back on the motorway was closed. I'm trying and failing to find a list of superchargers that are accessible without leaving the motorway. I'm also not sure how this works in Italy, France or other countries with toll booths, unless more are on the motorway there

Moto Exeter (M5) has about 14 rapids, plus banks of Tesla chargers.

Perfect Thank you. Looks like Warwick South is also in the services.

Just don’t tell anybody else.

[limpsfield]

Diderot said:

ZiggyNiva said:

Diderot said:

ZiggyNiva said:

limpsfield said:

wyson said:

OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.

It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging.

I have a Y and will be doing Leeds to venice in Summer. I'm off down to Bude next week, so that will be interesting. I've done a few London trips and it's been ok in the Y (as you said using super charger networks). The one thing I hadn't realised was the majority of supercharger sites are off the motorway (from what I have found). This can be a pain, and on a recent trip back up from Reading i stopped at Leicester to charge to then find the entry slip back on the motorway was closed. I'm trying and failing to find a list of superchargers that are accessible without leaving the motorway. I'm also not sure how this works in Italy, France or other countries with toll booths, unless more are on the motorway there

Moto Exeter (M5) has about 14 rapids, plus banks of Tesla chargers.

Perfect Thank you. Looks like Warwick South is also in the services.

Just don’t tell anybody else.

Warwick South has definitely been one of the busier ones for me in recent months. I think I got the last space there over Xmas and was very slow charging. A handy tip if that is the case, is that Banbury supercharger which is off the motorway (less than 10 mins) a bit further south, around 15 miles, has 250Kw chargers and seems rarely busy.

[wyson]

I checked out the nearest supercharger to me at South Mimms, it had queues 2 out of the 5 times I dropped by to check. One queue had 3 cars which is fine, but the other was quite substantial, I’d never seen such a concentration of Tesla’s in one place before.

From what people have posted, detours etc won’t work for me because of a young family. My little terror isn’t very patient, to put it mildly. And the short of day trips we take, eg… 2hr drive to Peppa Pig land, wouldn’t take too kindly to a charging detour.

Leave home at 8am, arrive 10am, charge, leave at 6pm, arrive home at 8pm will work.

Leave home at 8am, arrive 10am, can’t find charging, leave 6pm, drive around for 30mins for a charger and queue 30mins, charge, arrive home 10pm is fine for adults, but challenging for little kids and the adults who will have to deal with their whining and tantrums. *shudder*

[NS66]

best advice - go in a petrol or diesel!!

I am up in the lakes next week to de-stress and going in my wifes new petrol Mini - the last thing I want is to worry about is where, when and if I can charge.

My daily is electric and ok for local trips and to and from work.

Edited by NS66 on Tuesday 28th March 13:22

[z4RRSchris]

I have tesla MYLR, c300 miles on a full long trip charge, so a 400 mile you just need 1 charge.

Im not driving 400 miles without stopping 1/2 times for a wee and let the dog out, so just need to charge at one of those stops easy peasy.

[Silverage]

NS66 said:

best advice - go in a petrol or diesel!!

I am up in the lakes next week to de-stress and going in my wifes new petrol Mini - the last thing I want is to worry about is where, when and if I can charge.

My daily is electric and ok for local trips and to and from work.

Edited by NS66 on Tuesday 28th March 13:22

This is it really. Anything to do with longer pleasure trips and my EV is a last resort. I'm not interested in anything involving public charging when it's supposed to be a pleasant journey. It's just not what I want to be spending my time doing.

[Nomme de Plum]

Silverage said:

This is it really. Anything to do with longer pleasure trips and my EV is a last resort. I'm not interested in anything involving public charging when it's supposed to be a pleasant journey. It's just not what I want to be spending my time doing.

So how many hours do you drive without taking a break? For me now its 2 hours is OK but at 3 hours i like to stretch my legs, have a pee and get some refreshments.

I sometimes see people eating as they drive. I think this is really irresponsible.