plan a trip with electric car

Electric Vehicle Trip Planner

Plan your next electric vehicle road trip and choose from more than 30,000 charging stations in Roadtrippers.

Select the Auto & RV Services category.

Click Filters and then select EV Charging.

Start planning your trip.

Choose a destination and then add charging stations along with your favorite road trip stops.

Start planning your trip

Classic American Road Trips

Explore the country in your electric vehicle. Here’s some of our favorite trips. Save them to your profile and start adding charging stations along your route.

A Highway 1 road trip along California’s Central Coast

The top things to do on a Route 66 road trip

The top things to do on an East Coast road trip

The top things to do on a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip

Get ready to hit the road.

Can you take a road trip in an electric vehicle?

Road trip tips: How to prepare for the road with snacks, apps, and entertainment

How to plan a road trip: 5 steps to get you ready to hit the road

• Trip guides
• Voices from the Road
• Destinations
• Trip Planner
• Sign up Log in Sign out
• Log in Sign out
• ROADTRIPPERS MEMBERSHIP

Plan your journey, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with our app.

We couldn't find an existing Roadtrippers account using that service. Please try signing in with another option or create a new account with Roadpass.

We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates.

ChargeHub requires JavaScript. Please make sure JavaScript is enabled before continuing.

ChargeHub Electric Vehicle Trip Planner

Easily find all the EV charging stations along your route.

To learn more about the different types of charging stations, check out our charging guide .

Trip Planner tips and tricks

First, be sure to open the trip planner panel by clicking the tab on the left side of the charging stations map page.

Now, click the Trip Planner button at the top left of the sidebar. When enabled, the word "ON" will be shown.

You can click and drag on your current trip to change the route, or the start & end points.

In order to save a trip , you must be logged in to your ChargeHub account

Enter Your Trip Details

• Choose a unit of measurement: Metric or Imperial
• Enter your starting and ending point
• Expand the options menu to choose the:
• Station distance from route
• Distance (km/miles) between the stations

Get Turn-By-Turn Directions

After you select a start & end point, click the "find routes" button, it will proceed to map out all the stations that meet your criteria and then allow you to select which ones you want to include in your trip.

To do this, click on a map-marker and use the "add-to-trip" button that appears in the top-right of the station details sidebar on the right

• Add the stations you plan on charging at to your EV trip
• Click on the directions icon to get the turn-by-turn directions
• Click Go to Google Maps to get the directions in Google Maps

Save And Share Your EV Trip

• Save your trip
• Access to your saved trips by clicking the load icon
• Share your trip with other electric vehicles drivers

Plan your journey by electric car

The Chargemap route planner is here to help you plan the ideal trip that corresponds to your EV and preferences.

Download the Chargemap app for free on your mobile phone

Scores based on more than 45,000 ratings.

Hit the road in all peace of mind , Chargemap takes care of everything.

Indicate your departure point and destination, the battery level at the start of the journey and the level you want at the end of it, plus any midway stages.

Enter the EV you are taking on the journey.

Prioritise or limit a charging network, avoid tolls and motorways or log in a maximum speed to save on energy. The planner takes your charging preferences on board.

Chargemap automatically calculates your route and selects the charging stations that match up with the information you have logged in. You can also visualise your route directly: distance, overall travel time and the necessary charging stop(s) along the way.

Calculate your journey and come back to it whenever you want. Save time with the Save option for the route you have selected.

Access information about the charging station on the details screen and launch the navigation tool for your next charging stop on your favourite GPS app.

Where are you going?

What car model do you drive, you want to prioritise a charging network on your journey, enjoy the optimum route adapted to your needs, save your route, you're on your way.

Consult the charging stations in the vicinity

You want to see all the charging stations available along your route? Tap on the “Stations” button to find all the charging stations available in your vicinity.

Fine-tune your search for alternative stations

You want to take a charging break near a restaurant or go for a pub lunch? Click on the “Stations” icon then on the “Filter” cursor to fine-tune your charging preferences on your personalised route.

Adapt the Chargemap route to your needs and wishes.

You want to stay a little longer at a charging stop or set off again with a specific battery level.

When you reach a specific point along your way, you want to stop for longer to have a lunch break or take a stroll in the surrounding area. You can modify either the duration of your break, or the battery level you want before resuming your journey.

You need to charge near a specific location?

You want to profit from a charging stop to do a bit of sightseeing or go and see friends and family and so you are looking for a charging station in the vicinity. The route planner allows you to select an alternative charging station along the way.

Want to stop at a different charging station than the one selected?

With Chargemap, plan your ideal route by selecting the charging stations of your favourite networks. The tool automatically calculates a new route based on your preferences.

Electric vehicle charging, made easy

No need to juggle between different cards or applications, charge on most European charging networks with the Chargemap Pass.

The leading community of EV drivers in Europe is at your fingertips.

pierre-piet

"So helpful!"

"Chargemap is undeniably THE app to have when you drive an EV. It’s accurate and stuffed full of information. It really is the go-to app so you’re never left by the wayside! And all for free!"

Michel Barré

"Great app"

"Oh, so practical!"

"Practical"

"Crucial for every journey!"

Roberto Lerobi

"A must-have"

"One of the best apps when travelling by EV. For me, it’s the main app I use when driving long distances."

• Montpellier
• United Kingdom

Oh no! It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser.

The ultimate guide to road tripping with an electric car

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

The past couple of years have changed the travel world in many ways, but two things stand out to me: road trips and electric cars.

Early in the pandemic, we saw road trips take the spotlight during a coronavirus-fueled dip in air travel. Even after vaccines helped air travel rebound, many travelers still prefer to take the great American road trip when visiting national parks , cities and everywhere in between.

At the same time, more and more drivers are switching to electric cars, with adoption steadily rising both in the U.S. and abroad. This has become more prevalent as gas prices continue to rise due to world conflict and supply chain issues, and even rental car companies have begun to add EVs to their fleets.

Related: 5 lessons learned from taking a road trip in the age of coronavirus

After a summer of rental car road trips, I purchased a used 2016 BMW i3 in August 2020. It's a range-extended electric compact car, meaning that it also has a small gas motor that can charge the battery on the go. This, combined with the car being a hatchback, makes it — in my opinion — the ultimate road trip vehicle for those living in a major city like New York .

Since buying the i3, I've taken it on a couple of short trips. It's a different experience than road tripping with a gas car, and newcomers to the electric car world might be deterred if they don't know what to expect.

In this article, I'll share some tips I've picked up while on the road with my EV. I'll discuss everything from what to look for when buying an EV for road trips to how to find charging stations. I'll also share some trip-planning tips.

Let's dive (drive?) in!

For more curated TPG travel tips and recommendations delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our free daily newsletter .

Choosing an electric car for road trips

There are some important considerations if you're in the market for an electric car and plan on road tripping it. Here are some elements to examine as you go through the car buying process, such as car range and whether or not you should purchase a plug-in hybrid.

Related: Should I buy a used car instead of renting this summer?

Criteria for a road-trip capable electric car

It's important to look for a car that has appropriate range for the trips you plan to take. So, don't buy a car with an 80-mile range if you plan to take 500+ mile road trips regularly. That said, you don't need an ultra-long-range electric car for these trips. Something like the BMW i3 94ah has a 153-mile range which — if you don't mind making a few stops — can be a good bet for longer trips.

Consider a long-range Tesla or a Chevrolet Bolt if you want to avoid frequent charges. These cars have well over 200 miles of electric range. This means you're subject to less charging stops, but you'll generally spend more on the car. This is especially true on the used market where long-range cars tend to have a higher resale value.

In my opinion, road trippers should avoid cars like the Fiat 500e and the electric Mercedes-Benz B-Class. These cars have sub-100-mile electric range and don't offer a range extender option. That means you'll have to charge frequently on long trips. Further, these cars may not be able to handle longer trips that don't have chargers en route.

Related: The pros and cons of Amex's Auto Purchasing Program

Consider a plug-in hybrid or range-extended vehicle

Further, you may want to consider an electric car that's not fully electric. You have two options here: plug-in hybrids and range-extended electric vehicles. The former are essentially standard hybrid vehicles with larger batteries that can be charged externally. These cars generally have 15 to 50 miles of electric range and full-size gas tanks.

That said, these vehicles don't have a fully electric driving experience and don't generally offer fast charging options (more on that soon). I find these cars less fun to drive and — if you want to drive in electric mode — considerably more inconvenient to charge. At the same time, they can make great road-trip vehicles with a gas engine.

On the other hand, range-extended electric cars are fully electric vehicles with a small gas motor. This motor effectively charges the car's battery to provide additional range when driving long distances. My BMW i3 is equipped with the range extender option, and it's saved me on longer trips where I find myself far away from a public charger.

I prefer range-extended cars to plug-in hybrids since you always have the electric driving experience (think: immediate torque). Plus, these cars are usually equipped with fast charging and other EV-specific technology features.

Related: The best credit cards for purchasing a car

DC fast charging is key for a sane road trip

Here's a big one: only purchase a car with included DC fast charging if you plan on road tripping. More and more fast chargers are popping up around the country which can charge a vehicle — as in the case of the BMW i3 — to 80% in just 45 minutes. This is possible as fast chargers — commonly called Level 3 chargers — provide up to 250kW+ per hour.

On the other hand, a vehicle without this option can only use Level 2 public chargers, which charge at around 11kW per hour. This is still faster than plugging in at home but will take a ton of extra time to charge when on the go. Going back to the i3 example, it takes around three hours to charge from 0% to 80%.

This option is even more important when on long road trips. If you have to wait hours every time your vehicle runs low on battery, it will take you quite a long time to get to your destination. On the other hand, a 45-minute stop is enough time to grab lunch and set navigation to your next charge point or final destination.

Thankfully, almost all new fully electric vehicles and range-extended cars are equipped with fast charging. Some older electric cars don't have this option, though, so make sure to inquire about it before you go for a test drive. Some cars that aren't equipped with this feature include some 2014 and 2015 BMW i3s, all models of the Fiat 500e and some older Nissan Leafs.

Check battery degradation when buying a used car

Plan on buying used? Make sure to check the car's battery status before you buy. Like all batteries, the battery inside of an electric car will degrade over time. This is normal, but excessive degradation can make your road trip life difficult. You can usually check battery status on the car's infotainment system.

Thankfully, most electric cars have long battery warranties. For example, my used BMW i3 has a 100,000 mile/eight-year warranty on the battery, meaning I'm covered through 2024 on my 2016 model. According to BMW, a battery replacement can be authorized if a battery degrades 30% or more during the warranty period.

How to plan a road trip with an electric car

As discussed, road tripping with an electric car is different than with a gas car. It requires a bit more planning for pure electric vehicles which — while tedious — isn't too bad once you get the hang of it. Let's take a look at how I plan road trips in my electric car.

Plan your route around fast chargers and be mindful of range

First things first: You'll need to charge when out on the road, so you must plan your driving route around available public chargers located near highways, expressways or wherever else you're driving. You'll need to charge before your battery dies to avoid calling roadside assistance , but there's a bit more to it than this.

Unfortunately, electric car range is dynamic. You'll use more battery when accelerating quickly, going up hills and when using climate control. Always give yourself at least a 10% buffer when looking for chargers. This means that if you have a car with a 100-mile range, plan chargers that are no more than 90 miles apart.

Additionally, try and stick to fast chargers when you're on the road. This ensures that you're not stuck at a given charger for hours while waiting for your car to charge. Instead, you can plug in for 30 to 40 minutes and you're back on the road without issue.

You can plan your trips manually or use an app like PlugShare. I'll go in-depth on this app in the next section, but in short, it's a crowdsourced directory of all chargers available near your location. The app's built-in route planner can be a huge timesaver when mapping out long, multi-charge road trips.

Look for hotels with chargers

Another way to save time on charging is by staying at hotels that offer electric car charging in their parking lots or garages. These are becoming more and more common, and oftentimes charging is either free or included with the parking fee. These are generally Level 2 chargers, though, so they're best suited for charging overnight.

No charging at your hotel? Ask the hotel staff if they have an outdoor plug you can use. Most electric vehicles include a Level 1 wall charger that can be used with any standard wall socket. If the hotel is OK with it, this charger will slowly charge your vehicle overnight and give you at least enough power to make it to your next destination.

Related: 7 mistakes every road tripper makes at least once

Use these apps and charging networks to find public chargers

Now that you know how to plan a trip, let's take a look at the best way to find public chargers. As mentioned in the last section, several charging networks exist nationwide in the U.S. Some of these include ChargePoint and Electrify America. That said, there are many non-networked public chargers that you can find in parking garages and on city streets.

Here's a look at the apps and charging networks I use on electric car road trips. Before you head out on your first electric road trip, make sure to download these.

PlugShare for most public chargers

PlugShare is a community-powered electric charger app. You can use this app to view networked, non-networked and home chargers that are open to the public. Even better, you can sort chargers by speed, connector type and cost. This can be immensely helpful when trying to find a fast charger on a long trip.

Further, the app has a trip-planning feature that will help you find electric car charge points along a given route. Just enter your origin and destination and the app will show you all the chargers nearby. You can even input your car's range to plan your route around charging stops.

Tesla owners are also in luck with the ChargePoint app. It shows all Tesla Destination Chargers, SuperChargers and other compatible chargers on the map. Just toggle on the Tesla connector in the app and locations will appear on the map.

ChargePoint has chargers around the US

ChargePoint is one of the biggest electric car charging networks in the U.S., offering both Level 2 and Level 3 chargers in major cities and along some major highways. Many ChargePoint locations will show on the PlugShare app, but I recommend downloading both apps, as PlugShare will often miss specific chargers. Also, you can use the ChargePoint app to pay for charging at several charging locations.

One word of caution: The ChargePoint app sometimes shows chargers that aren't available for public use. This is especially the case here in New York where many city vehicles have transitioned to plug-in hybrids or full electric vehicles. Keep an eye out for this when looking for places to charge.

Electrify America for DC fast chargers near highways

In the Northeast, I almost exclusively use Electrify America chargers on road trips. The company has a huge network of fast chargers located both within cities and near major highways, usually located at Walmarts, Targets and other shopping centers. Pricing is pretty reasonable, too — it varies based on how fast you're able to charge and you can get a discount by signing up for a membership ($4 per month).

Using these chargers is remarkably simple. Just drive up, plug in your car and select the charger you're using on the Electrify America app to start charging. The charge fee is billed to your credit card after you're finished charging.

One downside to Electrify America, however, is that its stations can be unreliable. On a recent drive from Philadelphia to New York, I stopped at a charger only to find three of the four available chargers were out of service. The fourth charger was in use, so I called tech support who offered me a free fill-up at a nearby charger.

Earn bonus miles on electric car charging

Since you'll usually pay for charging when on the road, why not earn miles in the process? Most chargers do not code as travel, so you'll want to use a credit card that earns extra points on general spending . There's a variety of these cards on the market, and some of our favorites include:

• The Blue Business®️ Plus Credit Card from American Express (2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar, giving you a 4% return based on TPG's valuation )
• Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5% cash back/1.5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar for a 3% return based on TPG's valuation )
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (2 miles per dollar on purchases, giving you a 2.8% return based on TPG's valuations )

If you're completing a credit card spending requirement , you may want to use it to pay for your charging. For example, I use my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for charging so I can earn bonus Medallion Qualifying Miles to qualify for Delta elite status .

Related: Maximizing points and miles on summer road trips

Bottom line

Road tripping in an electric car is different from a road trip in a gasoline car, but it's still fun. In fact, I've often found that road trips are more enjoyable in my EV as I see new places I otherwise wouldn't. On top of this, money saved on gas can be used to stay in better hotels and eat at nicer restaurants. Sounds like a win-win to me.

I think the biggest takeaway is to always be mindful of your range. Planning your route along charge points and stopping to charge before you need to charge is key to an enjoyable and stress-free trip. If this isn't for you, consider a range-extended electric car or a plug-in hybrid for more flexibility.

Drive safe!

Feature photo by Andrew Kunesh/The Points Guy.

The Best 6 Apps for EV Route Planning

Planning a trip in your EV? Don't go without downloading one of these EV route planning apps.

If you're on a road trip in the US, you have access to over 100,000 gas stations across the country. That's more than double the number of public charging stations where you can charge an EV.

Because charging an EV takes longer than filling up a combustion car, you should know exactly where to find EV chargers along your route. For that, you need to use apps on your smartphone, so here are the best apps for EV route planning.

1. Tesla App

According to Statista , Tesla is the most popular EV brand in the world. If you drive a Tesla, you would be better suited to use its app for route planning because it grants you access to over 35,000 Superchargers across the country—this is the biggest EV charging network in North America.

Owners of non-Tesla EVs with the CCS charging connector can also use the Tesla app to access Tesla Magic Dock Superchargers, which you can find in a handful of locations in North America. Brands like Ford, Rivian, Polestar, Volvo, and GM announced their EVs will access the Tesla Supercharger network by early 2024, and they will be equipped with NACS ports and adapters. This means that if you’re driving a non-Tesla EV, you will have the privilege of having native access to Tesla Supercharger stations in North America.

But if you're driving a Tesla, you have the privilege to request roadside assistance and schedule service maintenance through the app. Another cool feature is being able to track your vehicle's location on your phone. If you're not a Tesla driver, you could use other apps to track your car .

Download: Tesla for Android | iOS (Free)

2. EV Hotels

If you want to sleep in a hotel and charge your vehicle overnight, the EV Hotels app can make it easier for you. Its map displays hotels that offer EV charging stations along your route. It also lets you know which levels of chargers are available in the hotels: standard, fast, or Superchargers.

If you can't find a hotel with EV chargers along your route, the app will recommend amenities with ample parking and chargers nearby. Subscribed members can reserve a hotel room and charging spot in advance and garner reward points in their favorite hotel brands across the country.

Download: EVHotels for iOS ($2.99)

3. A Better Route Planner

A Better Route Planner (ABRP) is available on the Google Play Store and App Store; you can also install it on your car's dashboard screen web browser. Unlike Tesla's app, which is limited to its Supercharger network, A Better Route Planner covers all the public EV chargers on your route. Better yet, you can connect it to your Tesla account to share your driving data to help improve accuracy.

If you're not driving a Tesla, you can include your car model details on the app to calculate your range, charging time, and energy consumption. Beyond that, the ABRP app also tells you the road conditions, wind, temperature, weather, and routes to avoid—basically, everything you need to know to plan your trip without any hiccups.

Download: A Better Route Planner for Android | iOS (Free)

4. PlugShare

PlugShare is one of the most popular EV route-planning apps. What makes it unique is that it doesn't require you to register an account to find nearby public EV chargers. However, if you set up an account, you can include your EV car model to predict your range and charging time accurately. The app will also tell you the compatible plugs for your EV at each charging station.

What's more, you can use the app to find locations with amenities lodging, dining, Wi-Fi, restrooms, valet parking, and shopping. The best part is that the PlugShare app is free and covers almost all countries worldwide.

One downside is that the Plugshare app doesn't automatically let you know which chargers are occupied. You have to manually check which charging stalls are free every time you’re approaching a charging stop.

Download: PlugShare app for Android | iOS (Free)

5. Charge Point

If you hate driving to a station and finding a charger you thought was available is occupied, the ChargePoint app can solve that problem. If a charging station is busy, the app will notify you using a blue pin, and if a charger is available, you will see a location with a green pin on the app.

Before using a charging station, you can use the app to calculate how much you will spend to top up your EV. It also lets you know the charging status of your EV and the estimated charging time.

Besides that, you can use the ChargePoint app to access over 31,000 charging points in North America, including chargers located around major US university campuses . This makes it the second-largest EV charging network provider in the U.S. after Tesla. You can charge any EV brand at ChargePoint stations, and the service provider is also adopting Tesla’s NACS connectors.

We also like that ChargePoint has partnered with hotels and convenience stores to offer exclusive discounts to its app customers. Better yet, you can integrate this app into your home charger so that you can monitor your EV anytime you want—but you first need to make your home EV ready .

Download: ChargePoint app for Android | iOS (Free)

6. Google Maps

Even though you can't use Google Maps to estimate the range of your electric vehicle, it can tell you the speed and type of port supported by nearby charging stations. If you're living in the US or UK, Google Maps will provide real-time data on available charging stations, so you don't have to line up.

But what gives Google Maps an advantage over other apps for EV routing is that it can show all the amenities along your route—from garages, restaurants, and hotels to convenience stores. In addition to that, you can activate Google Assistant Driving Mode by using Google Maps.

Download: Google Maps for Android | iOS (Free)

Find the Best EV Route Planning Apps for You

If you're planning a trip in your EV, it's best to use several of these planning apps simultaneously. Yes, you read that right. For instance, if you want to find the most convenient hotels for charging EVs, your best options would be Google Maps and EV Hotels.

But if you want a route planner that can accurately tell you everything about your EV battery's status, you should consider A Better Route Planner and the Tesla app.

Similarly, the PlugShare app has one of the largest databases of public EV chargers in the world, and the Charge Point app will tell you if a charging station is busy. It's up to you to find the most suitable app for your EV route planning.

How-To Geek

How to plan a road trip in an ev.

It takes a lot of planning, but it's possible.

Quick Links

What to do when planning an electric car road trip.

Modern electric vehicles (EVs) are chipping away at range anxiety , but long-distance trips still feel difficult to many considering a switch to electric. With better batteries and increased charging infrastructure, is it finally possible to take a real road trip in an electric car?

Related: How Far Can an Electric Car Go on One Charge?

If you want to drive cross-country in your EV, it will take a bit of planning beforehand. You'll need to make sure you have access to charging infrastructure --- and a backup plan if the ones you find don't work out.

Find Charging Stations Before You Go

As travel publication Roadtrippers demonstrates in a short and sweet video  on the topic, apps like ChargeHub and PlugShare will help you find stations along your trip route. Depending on how advanced your EV's navigation system is, you can then make those stations stops on your route. Even Google Maps will tell you the most efficient route for traveling in an EV now.

Most of these apps also tell you if the charging station you're looking at is out of order and have user-contributed photos. If you see that stations are down or people complain about the chargers being broken a lot in the comments, it might be best to pick another spot.

Related: How to Find an EV Charging Station Near You

When plotting your route, it makes the most sense to pick areas where you'll already be doing something else to stop and charge. Restaurants, shopping centers, and sometimes even places like gyms will let you plug in while you run a few errands or stock up on supplies. For quicker stops, look for DC fast charging (DCFC) stations. Tesla drivers have the Supercharger network, and non-Tesla vehicles can plug in it at level 3 DCFC stations. It's very simple to filter by the level of charging station you want using the apps listed above.

If you're stopping at hotels along the way, their websites should list charging stations as an amenity, so make sure you book a room with one on-site. To be extra careful you can double-check by calling the hotel and looking them up on your app of choice.

Related: Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3? EV Chargers Explained

Want to camp instead? RV parks are your friend. They'll be equipped with outlets that provide the same level of power as a level 2 charging station since heavier power is needed to run the big vehicles that usually stop at RV campgrounds. Nightly rates are also usually reasonable, cheaper than a hotel, and don't limit how many hours you can charge. National parks like Yosemite often have charging stations in and around the park you can use to plug in while you hike or swim. (Check before you go, though, as it's probably not true for every national park).

Whichever route you choose, avoid letting the battery get too low. 20-80% is usually the optimal range to keep an EV's battery working in, so don't let it dip down to 5% before you start looking for a station --- you might end up getting towed to one.

Know Your Range

Of course, before doing any of that you need to be familiar with your EV's range. Different models will have different capabilities, and knowing what yours is will help you build a buffer between charging stations so you can hit the next one before your battery gets too low.

Related: 5 of the Longest Range Electric Cars You Can Buy

If longer trips are important to you, it's probably best to get an electric car with a range of 200 miles per charge or more. You don't need to drive a Tesla to get a decent amount of range out of your EV, either. While some longer-range electric cars are expensive, plenty are within the price range of a typical modern gas car. Kia and Hyundai, for example, make EVs with a roughly 300-mile range. The 2021 Chevy Bolt can travel over 250 miles on a single charge.

If you're on the fence, consider renting an EV for a few days and taking a road trip to try it out. If it's within your budget, it can be a great way to find out what EV is right (or wrong) for you.

Mind the Weather

As many have noted, cold weather is not friendly to electric cars. While they do better these days than in the past, you're going to see a decrease in your range when the temperature drops too low.

Related: How Does Cold Weather Affect Electric Car Battery Life?

If you can still make the trip driving shorter distances between stations then chances are you'll be fine, but you don't want to get stuck in a far-flung area with spotty charging infrastructure in the middle of winter. If you do decide to road trip in colder weather, warming the car's cabin and battery before unplugging from the charging station each time will do a lot to lighten the load on your battery and mitigate range loss.

Extremely hot weather can decrease EV range too, so you'll want to take steps to keep the car cool on summer road trips. Parking in the shade, using the car's battery management system while plugged in, and keeping the battery topped up all help.

Have a Backup Plan

Roadtrippers editor-in-chief Sanna Boman said it best in her article detailing her own EV road trip experience: "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."

DCFC stations are great, but get hard to find once you leave major cities and suburbs behind. If you know you'll be heading through a more rural area and have the opportunity to top up before things get sparse, do it.

Even if you do find a station, all the ports could be occupied by other vehicles. Some or all of the stations could also be broken or down for maintenance. Or, as happened with Boman's Chevy Bolt once, the station could just be unable to communicate with your car. If any of those things happen, you'll want to be prepared to wait a little longer or have enough power to travel to the next station.

If you know people in the areas you'll be traveling through that can let you use their garage to plug in and get some juice, that's a great option to have in your back pocket as well. And always know where the charging stations are before you leave.

Related: Electric Vehicles: How Easy Is It to Find a Charging Station?

Green Car Future

The future's here, and it's shaping up to be a wild ride!

Electrify America and Trip Planning: How To Travel Effectively

Is there anything more American than an annual road trip? The fact is that to get from A to B by car in much of America means a bit of a road trip compared to smaller countries like the UK. When you’re preparing to undertake a road trip in an electric car, trip planning becomes more important than ever.

You always have to plan, of course, preparing enough food and water, knowing where you can stop and sleep overnight if need be, and also places to make pit-stops on the way to recharge yourself. If you’re driving an electric car, these become literal recharging stops, and they need very careful planning. For that, a lot of people already rely on the Electrify America app, but while it’s perhaps one of the best-known EV charge point apps out there, it has been dismissed by some as inadequate for proper road trip planning.

In today’s blog, we’ll be assessing the functions of Electrify America, as well as its shortcomings, and what other options are on offer for those who want something more suited to their own EV.

Background: About Electrify America

Electrify America is a large and growing network of public DC fast chargers and level 2 charging stations, owned and operated by Volkswagen. Despite its ownership, you by no means have to own a Volkswagen ID.4 in order to gain access! It’s open to all EVs, but Tesla owners will have to be ready to use their adapters.

At the time of writing, and according to the Electrify America website , the organization operates 791 stations, running 3,435 fast chargers, as well as another 116 level 2 chargers. Among the fast chargers are CCS and CCS-CHAdeMO connectors. Most stations are concentrated in the northeast, Florida, and California, with other stations generally following major highway routes across the midwest, southwest, and Pacific northwest. 

The Electrify America App: A Review

Next, let’s take a look at the Electrify America app itself. It’s free to download and available on both Android and iOS platforms. No payment method is required when creating an account, just your first and last name. But you will need to add a card as a payment method when you start to use it for charging. It does offer some paid/premium features, too, which we will cover in more detail in sections below.

Main Functions

Below is a summary of the main features one can find within the app:

• Premium plans with discounts on charging, contactless payment ability, and more
• Live, up-to-date charging locations nearby with availability
• Notifications when charging points become available
• Charge tracking from your smartphone after the process begins
• Home charger management with preferred charge time management 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration

Strong Points

The chief advantage of Electrify America over other apps is in its ability to give strong amounts of detail when it comes to nearby chargers. Unlike apps such as Google Maps, which will tell you locations of chargers, Electrify America gives you a lot more about their status, exact location within certain premises, and condition.

In addition, you can get the majority of the key features without having to subscribe to any payment plans. Even if you do opt for a payment plan, they start at just $4.00 a month (Pass+). You might wonder about spending monthly premiums when you’re paying for charging services anyway, but a Pass+ membership actually gives you up to 25 percent discount, which makes it very worthwhile for regular chargers.

Finally, being able to easily integrate it with your Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions also makes life a lot easier for users, meaning you don’t have to be looking at your smartphone the whole time and get the information safely while on the road.

Weak Points

One of the chief criticisms leveled against Electrify America is that while it presents itself as a uniquely “all-in-one” app, its features are neither unique nor all-encompassing as one might hope. For one thing, it lacks a useful trip planning feature for longer journeys, which in a country like America seems like a pretty big omission. Fans of the app defend it by pointing out that it is built primarily for local use only, and not for road trippers, but with an engaging, wide-reaching name like “Electrify America,” why not consider America more widely, including road trippers?

Furthermore, those who don’t use the app and instead favor their own vehicle app platform such as the Ford Pass app, for example, have found that Electrify America locations are frequently not added in time, leaving key gaps in their own maps and planners. Whether this is entirely down to Electrify America or whether it’s more Ford’s fault isn’t entirely clear, but it all seems to contribute to the fact that Electrify America doesn’t feature in virtually any list of “Best Apps for Route Planning.”

Payment options are affordable with Electrify America, but you are forced to pay the fee if you want to access the best features. This might be expected for some, but when you’re already paying for the fundamental service being offered by them, it seems a little unfair not to have more premium features available for free.

What Other Journey Planning EV Apps Are Available?

Typically topping the list of recommended journey planning apps is Tesla’s own app that its owners use every day. The main advantage of Tesla is its own massive Supercharger network, currently offering some 1,500 locations across all 50 states and even 2 overseas territories. While superchargers are concentrated in similar locations to Electrify America stations, they are still more common, and are even now starting to roll out plans to allow non-Tesla cars to use them.

The journey planning feature on the app allows you to plot every supercharger station you’ll need to stop at along the way and how to break up the journey. It also features Tesla’s other great in-house features like instant calls for roadside assistance.

The best thing about the EV Hotels app is that it’s focused on accommodation spots rather than just charging stations. Knowing where Tesla Superchargers are is great, but what this app does is point to hotels and other accommodations that come with their very own charging points. This means you can plan your trip killing two birds with one stone at every major stop — where to charge overnight, and where to sleep.

A Better Route Planner (ABRP)

An interesting quirk about ABRP is that it lets you program in your car make and model, which is then taken into account for the journey ahead, using more precise data. If you’re using it in your Tesla, you can even share your drive data with it to improve its accuracy even further. It also tells you which routes to avoid, and keeps you informed on traffic, road, and weather conditions ahead.

Google Maps

Google Maps is a great choice chiefly because of how familiar most people are with the system already, having been using Google Maps in some form or another for many years. The main drawback with Google Maps is that while it does have a route planning feature that Electrify America lacks, it also lacks the detail that Electrify America offers. Having said that, it’s easy to use, familiar, and requires no payments at all for the service of route planning or locating charging stations.

General Tips for Long-Distance EV Road Trips

Let’s say you are planning for a long-distance road trip in your electric car, Tesla or otherwise. What are some useful tips that can help you on your way?

We’ve pretty much covered this in the above points, but it’s good to emphasize the importance of planning when you’re taking an electric car on an extended road trip. The thing is, the way things are currently, the country just can’t cater to EVs in the same way that it can to regular gasoline cars. Not only do gasoline cars typically have a range advantage, but they have an extreme flexibility advantage, too, given that there are gas stations large and small to be found all over the place.

EV drivers will have to stick more to their plans, and probably deviate a lot less. Mistakes in planning could easily lead to your becoming stranded, and that’s no fun. So, however experienced you are in road trip planning, if it’s your first time doing it in an EV, then spend some extra time and attention on it.

Make Contingency Plans

Following on from the previous point, it’s also critical that you make more detailed backup plans for if and when things go wrong. Keep estimates on range conservative, and always plan to stop and charge earlier than you would need to according to those range numbers. Have a “plan B” for every eventuality. It takes more planning, but until the infrastructure is really there for EVs, it’s necessary to play on the side of caution.

Minimize Energy Waste

During your road trip, try not to burn up too much juice through things like bad driving habits. Being too aggressive with the throttle and brake, for example, is an excellent way to drain the battery too quickly. Drive at steady speeds, and don’t overtax the battery.

Charge to Full Before Departure

Charging to full is something that most EV experts tell you not to do, but when getting ready to set off on a long road trip, it is one of the times when you are actually supposed to charge to full. Equally, you shouldn’t let the battery completely deplete while out on the road. It’s bad for the battery chemistry to combine full charging and full discharge, so try to hit your next recharge stop when you get to about 20 percent or below, and before you hit 10 percent.

Don’t Overload the Car

Finally, as another measure to save energy, don’t overload the car with too much gear. It’s a road trip, we understand, so there’s bound to be supplies aplenty, but try not to pack too much superfluous gear. Electric cars are heavy enough without all your useless gear weighing down even more and taxing the battery even further.

Happy road tripping! Plan well and all good things will come to you!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Reservations

Insurance replacement, buying a car, about car sales, car rental locations, more locations, top us locations, loyalty program, redeem points & perks, customer support.

11/13/2023 • 5 min

How to plan an EV road trip

Nothing spells ‘adventure’ quite like the classic American road trip. Picture yourself cruising down the freeway, windows down, jamming to your favorite playlist. You’re excited for the journey that awaits. And, best of all, you’re enjoying every moment of your drive in a smooth, zero-emission electric vehicle.

Most modern EVs can easily cover more than 200 miles on a single charge. Plus, the US has an ever-expanding public charging network , so the days of running out of battery in the middle of nowhere are long gone.

Still, there are a few things that you need to know before you hit the road in your EV rental . From finding charging stations to navigating your route, here are some expert tips on how to plan your upcoming EV road trip.

Why Plan Your EV Road Trip?

If it’s your first time driving an electric vehicle, you might be a little concerned about the learning curve involved. But, moving from a gas-powered vehicle to driving an EV is easy .

Just like any other road trip, a small amount of preparation can go a long way. By planning ahead, you can make sure you always know where your next charging spot is.

There are also plenty of benefits to driving an EV, such as:

• Great performance – Electric vehicles often provide instant acceleration and torque, giving similar – or even better – performance than cars with internal combustion engines.
•   Improved safety – Many EVs come with innovative safety features such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These can alert you to potential hazards on the road. Other modern safety features include automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring.
• Convenience – Compared to traditional automobiles, EVs could be seen as more convenient. An electric car might require only two to three charges for a 600-mile trip. Meanwhile, a gasoline vehicle might require up to four gas station visits for the same distance – and at greater cost, too.
• Low maintenance – EVs don’t have an engine. Instead, they use an electric drive train that requires less maintenance. You won’t have to worry about things like oil changes while on the road.

Choosing the Right EV for Your Road Trip

Before hitting the road, it’s important that you choose an EV that works for you. For example, if you’re going cross-country, then opting for a long-range EV like a Tesla or Chevy Bolt EV  might be a good way to go. These models can easily cover more than 250+ miles on a single full charge, saving you trips to public charging stations.

You may also want to look at other factors such as cargo capacity and space. Are you traveling solo or are you going camping with the family? Depending on your trip type, you might need a more powerful, capable SUV crossover like the Chevrolet Blazer to carry your camping gear, as well as navigate the tough terrain.

At Hertz, we offer a wide range of EVs to match your needs. Choose the right car for you and ensure that your rental car road trip goes ahead without a hitch.

Mapping Out Your Route

Planning your route around both destinations of choice and public charging stations is key to a hassle-free driving experience. It’s a good idea to look for public chargers around expressways, highways, hotels or gas stations. You don’t want to have to call roadside assistance if your battery dies in the middle of nowhere.

As a rule of thumb, give yourself at least a 10% buffer of charge to get you to the next charging station on your route. This will help alleviate any battery anxiety as you embark on your journey.

Scheduling Charging Stops

An electric car’s range is dynamic. This means that factors like how you accelerate, or use features such as climate control, will influence the range of your EV. That’s why it’s important to schedule charging stops along the way .

You can do so by using apps such as PlugShare  or Google Maps to help you plan your route while factoring in the most convenient locations. Alternatively, you could use an EV road trip planner .

DC charging stations are often more potent, allowing you to charge your electric car faster . Many EVs nowadays  can restore up to 80% full battery in less than an hour.

Packing for an EV Road Trip

Sometimes a stop can take a bit longer than initially planned, so it’s best to be prepared. Part of the road trip experience is carrying some goodies along the way. So, you might need to pack some water and snacks – especially if you’re bringing the family along.

Aside from having snacks in the car, you may also need to take some EV essentials with you . Some public AC charging stations might not have charging cables, so it’s always a good idea to carry a type 2 cable in your trunk.

Finally, when planning the essentials, make sure to travel light and only take things that you need to maximize space. Electric vehicles lose range when carrying heavy cargo, so bear this in mind, especially if you’re traveling with a number of passengers.

Ensuring a Safe Journey

Safety is important when planning your EV road trip. Every EV comes with an estimated driving range, or EPA, which helps you map out your route alongside charging stops. However, weather can also significantly impact range and disrupt your route.

All cars, even gasoline vehicles, lose range in cold weather. But this can have a bigger effect on EVs. A study on battery life found that some EVs can lose up to a third of their driving range in colder weather . So, it’s a good idea to stay updated on weather and road conditions along your route.

Making the Most of Your EV Road Trip

Road trips are all about fun and adventure – so why not make the most out of it by exploring our destination pages ? We’ve compiled a list of the more interesting activities for more than 100 locations across the US.

From visiting some of the most compelling tourist sights to trying out local cuisine, we’ll help you make memories for a lifetime. Whether you’re planning to soak in the rich Cajun culture of New Orleans , or bask on the warm sandy beaches of Miami , we’ve got you covered.

Enjoy a fun-filled EV road trip today. We’re all about safety, comfort, and premium luxury.

Related Articles

How to charge an electric car.

Learn everything you need to know about charging your electric car.

Electric cars: Range anxiety and how to beat it

Make the most of your electric car’s range and plan your trip without worrying about running out of power.

How to drive an electric car

Electric cars are on the rise across the US. We take a dive into the ever-evolving technology and trends behind the EV surge.

Manage my Cookies

How to Plan a road trip with an EV

Planning a road trip in your EV? Here are some tips on making the journey as smooth as you can.

Last updated: Oct 11, 2023 • 6 min read

Jump to Section:

• What to check before you set off
• How to find en route rapid chargers available on your journey
• What to expect at rapid charging stations
• Final tips for long range electric car road trips...

Related Guides:

Electric Vehicle Guides

Electric Vehicle Charging Etiquette

How to Optimise the Range of Your Electric Car

Before you set off on a long-distance journey in an electric vehicle, it's important to do a small amount of preparation. In this guide you'll find some key recommendations that will allow you to charge effectively en route.

• Check how far your EV can travel and the type of chargers it's compatible with.
• Plan your journey to include stops with en route chargers.
• Consider the fact that some chargers might not be immediately available, so factor in extra time to complete your journey.

Essential pre-departure checks for your electric vehicle

Vehicle inspection checklist.

• Charge your battery to 80% or more
• Make sure all lights work
• Test your brakes
• Ensure your tyres have the correct pressure for the expected load
• Pack your charging cable

Battery status and range assessment 

When going a long way, a bit of planning goes a longer way. Before you set off, it’s critical that you're aware of your battery status and range to make it from A to B:

• How far you can (realistically) travel on one charge and thus how many en route charges you require. Check out our  vehicle guides for more details on your specific EV.
• The type of en route rapid charger you can use ( CCS / CHAdeMO / Type 2 / Tesla Supercharger ).
• The power of en route rapid charge your car can accept (and thus how long you will be waiting during any charging pit stops).

If you are going to go further than your car can comfortably travel on one charge, you will need to use an en route charger. Read about  Rob Cooling's 600 mile EV road trip  around UK on our blog.

Tip: If you can avoid an en route charger and charge at a destination, particularly overnight, that is always a more convenient (and often cheaper) experience. Picking a hotel/long stay destination with a 7kW-22KW charger is always a great win.

Locating rapid charging stations along your route

Utilising your electric car’s built-in route planner.

Some car’s usefully host chargepoint data in their sat nav, and some will build charging stops into their route planners. Perhaps the most convenient system for EV route planning comes with Tesla vehicles, whose sat nav calculates drivers’ required charging stops and likely charging duration and routes them to their own dedicated “Supercharger” en route charging network.

Leveraging third-party mapping solutions

Outside the car’s sat nav, the following tools and apps are recommended. But only when you are stationary and not driving!

• Pod Point Network - First check the Pod Point App. If there’s a conveniently located and suitable Pod Point for your journey, then you know your car will be charged reliably.
• ZapMap - Crowd sourcing and direct data feeds have made ZapMap the UK’s number one universal charge point map. You can filter to the types of chargers and/or networks that you need.

And for those travelling into Europe.

• PlugShare - PlugShare is a community based tool that guides users to public charging locations throughout Europe (and further afield). Driver participation means there are reviews and photos of thousands of chargepoints.
• Chargemap - Chargemap offers an alternative to Plugshare. Again, drivers can contribute to enhance Chargemap’s information via their mobile app, by adding pictures, comments, charging stations and even edit useful information.

Tip: We recommend not using the very last possible rapid charger; use the one before the penultimate charger en route. Flying by the seat of your pants may briefly feel thrilling, but if that charger fails, or there’s a queue, or you end up using more power than expected (e.g. uphill), then the waiting around is in no way a thrilling experience!

What to anticipate at rapid charging stations

Understanding different access methods.

The common methods include apps, contactless card readers, RFID cards and some just plug and play (Tesla Superchargers). For details on these, please see our guide on  public charging access methods .

Evaluating charger availability

When choosing an en route rapid charging location, you should consider the likelihood that it is available when you arrive. Some rapid chargers show their live status, but ultimately this is liable to change while you are driving to the site, which means the best bet is to pick sites with numerous chargers (particularly if you can see there are several available at that time).

This facet of EV motoring is starting to improve, but many sites only have 1 or 2 chargers, so there is a chance that you have an occasional wait.

Deciphering charging speed and expected waiting time

How fast your car rapid charges depends on how much power the chargers can offer and how much power your car can accept - but also where you are in the state of charge (and a little on the ambient temperature). Unlike a 7kW charger which almost exclusively charges at 7kW regardless of how full your battery is, electric cars manage their rapid charge rate to protect the battery.

Different cars’ rapid charging profiles vary, but an approximate typical profile is shown below. This illustrates that it's quickest to charge from 20% to 80%, but  charging to 100% can take a long time.

Tip: We recommend rapid charging from something like ~20% to ~80% full to minimise the time spent at the charger. If you arrive almost empty the charge rate will take a little time to “warm up”, while the last few kWhs typically take longer to fill than it’s worth waiting for vs heading for the next charging opportunity.

Essential tips and insights for long range EV road trips

Ultimately long journeys in electric cars are similar to long road trips in conventional cars, so the following tips are valid for all.

• Perform important vehicle checks before you set off 
• Take regular breaks (you’ll soon notice how well this fits with en route charging!)
• Stop when you are tired
• Take snacks and drinks (whilst being careful to ensure they do not unduly distract the driver)
• It is better to get there late than in a damaged car/not at all
• Stay zen, the traffic does not improve no matter how angry you get
• Share this guide

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Tips

Everything You Need to Know About Road Tripping in an Electric Car This Summer

Your eco-friendly adventure awaits.

As someone who's driven a 2001 Isuzu Trooper most of her life, getting the keys to an electric car made me feel like I was trading in a Blackberry for an iPhone. With electric cars exploding in popularity, I traveled to sunny California last summer for a weeklong trip in Palm Springs where I rented an Audi E-Tron Sportback and took it all the way to Joshua Tree National Park .

Since this was my first time getting behind the wheel of an electric vehicle (EV), I wanted to make sure I was in an area filled with charging stations. To my surprise, I lasted the entire week without needing to use one. This was due to a combination of limiting myself to short drives and being able to charge up at my hotel — the Parker Palm Springs — but also because many of the latest EV models also have a median range of more than 250 miles .

All in all, there are many benefits to going green. Not only is opting for an EV great for the environment, but it even allows you to use the HOV lanes in certain states. Plus, you'll save on gas — basically a selling feature in itself these days with gas prices soaring to more than $4 per gallon on average nationally and even topping more than $6 per gallon in California — and don't get me started on how useful it is to have two separate trunks (thanks to no engine).Convinced and ready to hit the road ? Here's everything you need to know to take the best EV road trip based on tips and tricks from my own time behind the wheel, guidance from experts, and even advice from my friends who drove a Tesla from Virginia all the way to Yellowstone National Park .

You can travel across the country.

As a first-time EV driver, I decided not to push the limits by only going from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree. However, it is possible to get your electric car across the country. Electrify America , one of the largest networks of EV charging stations, is set up in many states and continues to expand. "You can also search for EV chargers in Google Maps or Waze," Lauren Matison reported in the July 2023 issue of  Travel + Leisure . "Networks such as ChargePoint and Electrify America have helpful apps, too."

Certain states also allow EV drivers to use the HOV lanes , a great way to get to where you're going faster and save power. A popular long-haul route is from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. via Interstates 15 and 70; another is from San Diego to Jacksonville, FL., through Interstates 10 and 8.

Newlyweds and Tesla owners Wes McLaughlin and Emily Martin took a road trip from Virginia to Yellowstone, and back again.

"For our honeymoon, we drove from Richmond through the Midwest to Colorado, where we stayed for a few days before continuing north to Yellowstone," McLaughlin said. "We stayed near west Yellowstone in Idaho, and there was a charger just outside the park. We drove through snowstorms and buffalo herds without issues or worry that we wouldn't be able to get to a charger."

Choose hotels with charging stations.

When considering where to stay, opt for a hotel with a charging station. This way, you can park the car when you're done for the day and power it up overnight. PlugShare offers an easy-to-use map that shows accommodations with free charging stations alongside ones you have to pay for. Keep in mind, depending on the type of electric car you have, you may need an adapter to plug in (like plugging a Tesla into a non-Tesla charger, for example).

Fortunately, the Parker Palm Springs offered a charger, which fully juiced up the car battery overnight. For more options across the country, travelers can also search for electric charging as an amenity when looking for a place to stay on hotel search engines like Expedia.com .

RV parks are made for EVs.

One of the best ways to save during your trip is by stopping at RV parks along the way. In addition to giving you a place to camp and park as well as eliminating the need to pay for a hotel, RV parks allow you to charge your vehicle.

"Level 2 chargers are the same ones used by RVs for power," McLaughlin said. "If you rent a spot for an RV — typically $35 to $50 — you get a full charge and a good night's rest for a decent price. We spent several nights camping in the car when we just needed a place to sleep before continuing on the next day."

Know the different types of EV charging stations.

Not all EV chargers are the same. In fact, there are three different tiers. Level one is the slowest (think a standard 120-volt plug), according to the U.S. Department of Transportation . If your battery is nearing empty, it could take up to 50 hours to power it all the way up.

Level two is the most common and delivers a full charge from empty in anywhere from four to 10 hours. As for cost, it varies, but is typically significantly cheaper than paying for gas — especially these days.

"Shopping centers are popular places for EV charging stations — some even offer preferred parking spots," said Jason Zehr, a Chase Auto product strategy director. "You can have a meal and/or run errands while the car is charging, and some stores offer free charging to shoppers."

Level three, also known as Direct Current Fast Chargers, is the quickest option and gets you back on the road with a near-full battery in as little as 20 minutes. Again, the cost can vary and some Tesla Supercharger locations, for example, even offer on-peak and off-peak rates.

To conserve power, drivers can "[switch] off the heat or AC, [select] eco mode, if available, and avoid hard acceleration," Matison reported.

The warmer, the better.

Similar to your phone, EVs lose power quicker in cold weather, proving that summer road trips are the way to go. For those who end up hitting the open road in the winter, you're going to have to charge your car more often.

"If you're driving to a destination in cold weather, make sure to have an extra charge to get you there," Martin said. "We drove at 17 degrees Fahrenheit and lost battery fast."

Matison noted that chargers can fill up quickly in the summertime and advises travelers to "always keep some juice in reserve in case you need to find another plug-in."

Test the waters by renting an electric car.

If you don't own an EV — and aren't quite ready to commit — a road trip is the perfect way to try one out. Rental companies like Turo , Sixt , Hertz , and Enterprise all have their own electric car fleets, making it easy to set up a rental .

Understand the pros of buying an electric car.

There are incentives for investing in an electric vehicle of your own. Car owners can snag up to $7,500 in federal tax credits on plug-in EVs, according to the Internal Revenue Service , depending on the make of the car and how many vehicles have been sold. There are even more possible tax incentives at the state level.

Beyond not having to waste money on gas, you'll also save on maintenance. "I don't miss oil changes or replacing alternators and belts," McLaughlin said. "As someone who has never been a 'car guy,' it's nice to know that I can actually do all the maintenance on my car by myself, which is just adding windshield washer fluid."

When you're venturing out on long distances, it's also reassuring to drive something that has a lower chance of breaking down. Even when I was imagining a worst-case scenario of the EV running out of battery, I relaxed after remembering that Audi offers complimentary towing .

"Should a customer run out of battery unexpectedly, Audi roadside assistance will dispatch a tow truck and bring the customer and vehicle to the nearest charging location to ensure they can get back on the road as soon as possible," said Matt Mostafaei, an Audi E-Tron product manager.

Can you do the all-American road trip in an electric car? Expert tips for planning your route

Jul 22, 2022 • 10 min read

Are US roads ready for electric cars? © miroslav_1 / Getty Images

Gas guzzlers beware: electric cars are catching on quicker than the Electric Slide at a sweet sixteen, and it's only a matter of time before an American shift toward sustainability convinces drivers to fall in line.

In the past year, President Joe Biden pledged to replace the federal government's fleet of roughly 650,000 cars with electric vehicles (EVs) and introduce 500,000 new charging stations within a decade . Automotive heavyweights from Ford to Volkswagen announced similar plans, promising to invest billions in developing EVs and their related infrastructure. 

The timing couldn't be better – as gas prices soar and concerns over climate change reach a fiery crescendo, interest in EVs is hitting all-time highs. In 2021, EV sales in the US more than doubled the previous year, with 608,000 new cars hitting the highway. In March, Google searches for electric vehicles reached their highest point in history, and this year, research company S&P Global expects EV sales to reach nearly 900,000. 

By 2030, Americans will purchase an estimated 4.7 million EVs – a trend supported by local governments. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia currently provide incentives like tax cuts and rebates for EVs or plug-in hybrid vehicles, further fueling the race toward an electric future.

But if the future is electric, what does that mean for one of the country's time-honored traditions – the gas-powered road trip? 

Plan a drive on America's most iconic road trips

The all-American road trip

Road trips are a cornerstone of US culture, immortalized in so many novels, films and songs they've inspired a genre all their own. The tales may range from Jack Kerouac's poetic musings to Thelma and Louise's feminist quest, but they're connected by an ingredient more American than Huckleberry Finn – the search for freedom. 

Finding freedom on the open road hasn't always been easy. Victor Hugo Green's Negro Motorist Greenbook attempted to help Black travelers navigate racist roadways in Jim Crow-era America, while early iterations of Bob Damron's travel guides gave gay men a map to hidden communities in unlikely places. This ongoing desire to navigate America's highways – sometimes despite the dangers of driving as a minority – expresses a universal craving for liberation through travel.

For the past century, gas-powered cars have been the means for finding open-road liberation. Travelers can hop into internal combustion vehicles without worrying where or when they'll refuel next. Unless you're traveling the lonely 167-mile stretch from Ely to Tonopah, Nevada, the ubiquity of gas stations is par for the course in the United States. But as gas prices increase, so does the price tag on this kind of freedom. 

The same rules don't apply while traveling in electric cars. Although fuel prices are cheaper (roughly 60% less than gas-powered cars, according to a 2020 Consumer Reports study ), refueling is more complicated. This reality leads to range anxiety: the fear that an EV will run out of power before reaching its destination or a place to recharge. 

10 of the most scenic drives in the USA

Driving an electric car (EV) in the US and managing range anxiety

For EV users who stay close to home or live in parts of the country with sufficient charging stations, range anxiety poses little threat. "The vast majority of electric vehicles are on the West Coast: LA, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle," says Greg Brannon, AAA's Director of Automotive Engineering , "and the charging infrastructure is heavily focused there." This makes West Coast-area road trips to parks like Yosemite , Joshua Tree  and Mt. Hood National Forest all EV-viable excursions. 

But not all excursions are so easy. In 2019, Wade Anderson took a 19,000-mile road trip around North America in a Tesla Model 3 (which he documented on YouTube ) and experienced this fear firsthand. While driving through the Yukon Territory and Alaska , he barely reached a maintenance camp. "My battery had 0% charge as I rolled in there," he recalls. "I used RV parks to plug in, which are very slow-charging, and a typical one-day journey ended up taking three days." 

The north midwest proved similarly treacherous for EV travel, and Wade once found himself stuck at a desolate campground in rural Montana while waiting for his car to recharge. 

But range anxiety isn't something he often experiences while traveling, and soon, "these minor inconveniences will be a thing of the past," he muses. 

Quick recharging stations across the country are expanding rapidly

Since Wade's road trip, companies like EVGo, Tesla and Electrify America have worked at breakneck speed to meet the country's growing demand for charging stations. From 2020 to 2021, the number of DC fast chargers (the gold standard for quick recharging) increased by 24%, indicating that today's EV issues will soon become tomorrow's old news. 

"Electrify America built its first charging station in May of 2018," says Anthony Lambkin, the company’s Senior Director of Operations. "In just four short years, we have expanded to 800 charging stations comprised of about 3500 individual chargers open or with construction completed."

Part of the company's current infrastructure includes two cross-country routes – LA to DC and Jacksonville to San Diego – and two coastal routes connecting California to Washington and Florida to Maine . By 2026, the company expects to have over 1800 charging stations with over 10,000 chargers in the US and Canada, spanning 49 states and the District of Columbia.

With the growing number of chargers, range anxiety is something Anthony rarely experiences. On a recent trip from Washington, DC to Cleveland, Ohio , he stopped three times to charge at Electrify America stations and didn't need to stay longer than 20 minutes per stop using a 150KW charger.

"The ability to charge quickly is a game-changer for road trips and makes the experience seamless," he says. "The only downside was that 20 minutes was not enough at some stops for my kids."

A coast-to-coast US road trip in an electric car is now easier than ever

Top tips and advice for EV road trippers in 2022

Even with increasingly excellent EV infrastructure, touring the country Tesla-style provides a set of unique challenges for drivers new to the electric life. Here are the top things road trippers should consider before shifting into high gear. 

​​Find the proper car for a long-distance road trip

For road trips spanning hundreds of miles, rent or buy a car supporting long-range travel. Vehicles with over 200 miles of electric range – including many Teslas models, the Chevrolet Bolt and the Ford Mustang Mach-E – will help drivers avoid frequent charging stops. 

"With the early EVs I've owned, the limited sub-100 mile range certainly required some trip planning," says Anthony. Travelers in cars like the Mazda MX-30, which has an estimated range of 100 miles, will spend more time looking for chargers than enjoying the actual adventure.

It's also helpful to use a car that supports DC fast charging (also known as level 3 charging). While DC chargers can replenish a battery in 15-45 minutes, more commonly found level 2 chargers may require 3-5 hours. 

6 secret American road trips to add to your bucket list

Make charging part of your itinerary

Even when high-speed chargers are available on a given route, Brannon advises travelers to schedule bio breaks or meals around charging stations. "Plan to be there for a minimum of an hour, and in some cases, a few hours," he says. Drivers can find many fast chargers in shopping centers, and if you get creative, it's possible to find them within walking distance to museums and other points of interest. Choosing hotels, homestays or RV parks with EV outlets is another necessary way to charge without wasting travel time. 

The Grand Circle is the ultimate US Southwest road trip

Download apps to find charging stations

When mapping out charging stations, Wade relies on A Better Route Planner – an app that helps drivers estimate where and when they'll need to recharge based on their destination and car type. 

PlugShare , a free community-fueled app that allows users to find charging stations and leave reviews, is another helpful tool. Use this in conjunction with ChargePoint , one of the country's largest networks of charging stations, to find locations that don't always appear on Plugshare.

How to road trip through the Midwest US on a budget

Prepare an alternate charging plan

EV drivers should know that recharging "is not like going to the gas station," says Bannon. While charging stations are increasingly more common, they're not ubiquitous and a charging site that looks available on an app might be incompatible with your car, out of service or in use upon arrival. A recent study conducted by the Bay Area-based group Cool The Earth found that roughly one-quarter of all charging stations were inoperable when visited.

Brannon suggests drivers "plan a route, know where the charging locations are, and have a plan b and a plan c for those locations." Wade Anderson suggests bringing plenty of adapters to plug into as many outlet types as possible. 

Rockies roads: the most thrilling drives in Colorado

Think about the elements that affect an electric car's range

While the average range for an electric car is currently around 250 miles, "research shows that range is reduced by almost 40% at cold temperatures," says Brannon. That can make a winter sojourn through places like Badlands National Park , South Dakota – a state where chargers can be over one-hundred miles apart – a questionable prospect. 

Cold isn't the only element that changes a battery's capacity – wind, speed, air conditioning and heat can also deplete power. Consider how the time of year, location and weather will change your EV's range while planning when to recharge. 

Top 10 wonders to see in US National Parks in 2022

Choose a trip with a successful EV track record 

Intrepid EV travelers like Wade wrote the rulebook on electric car road trips so you don't have to. Going on excursions that don't support charging isn't worth the range anxiety, so pick a route you know you can enjoy. 

The Pacific Coast Highway – arguably the country's most scenic drive – is also one of the country's most EV-friendly roadways. Take the eight-state trek along America's 'Mother Road,' Route 66 and you'll find over 1800 charging stations. Thanks to Electrify America, a series of charging stations along Interstate 95 makes it possible to ride from Maine to Miami on electric power alone. While you may have to forgo the pleasures of improvised detours to towns off the well-trod path, you won't have to spend time hunting for a charge. 

How to get around in the USA depending on your time and budget

Look to the EV community for support 

When it comes to recharging, Wade isn't only looking for electricity – he's sometimes searching for personal connection. Through Plugshare, Wade finds charging locations at non-obvious locations like hospitals, libraries and even the homes of fellow app users. "It's a very supportive network," he says. "Most of us are concerned about the environment and climate change, and that pulls people together."

Wade also belongs to the Facebook group Tesla Road Trippers , which offers travel advice to newbies and encourages EV owners to share up-to-date information on their latest vacations. Users who post itineraries often receive valuable feedback from seasoned members.

'We visited 48 US states in a camper van' - here's our 10 top states

Consider the environmental impact 

With the necessity for so much planning, it may seem like EVs destroy the freedom synonymous with the all-American road trip. But on the contrary, this trending form of travel makes modern pioneers out of early adopters.

According to researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Exeter and Nijmegen, driving an EV is better for the environment than driving a gas-powered car in 95% of the world. Most electric vehicles made today produce far fewer planet-warming emissions than internal combustion engines, and while there's plenty of work needed to regulate the making and recycling of batteries, EVs are still a noble step toward environmental preservation. 

The EV road trip is like manifest destiny for a green generation. It's an entirely new take on a classic American adventure, and if embraced by enough drivers, it could protect the country's wonders for future generations. 

10 least-visited US national parks: the best to avoid crowds in 2022

This article was first published March 2021 and updated July 2022

Explore related stories

Apr 4, 2024 • 7 min read

From open-air art galleries to natural wonders, there's no shortage of ways to experience the best of Washington state for free.

Apr 4, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 3, 2024 • 8 min read

Apr 3, 2024 • 6 min read

Apr 2, 2024 • 8 min read

Apr 2, 2024 • 7 min read

Apr 1, 2024 • 8 min read

Mar 29, 2024 • 5 min read

Mar 29, 2024 • 6 min read

On test: The eight best EV route planner apps

• Jun 20, 2023

If you’re heading across the country in your EV this summer, an EV route planner app will help you plan charging stops along your route . With so many different journey planning tools available for electric car drivers, which is the best? Back in 2022 we did some of the work for you, testing the top apps and tools – and now we’ve done it all again a year later to keep you up-to-date this summer holiday season.

How do I plan a trip with my electric car?

A journey in your EV should be effortless, and the farm shops and other places you may stop add a bit more colour to your journey than a motorway service station. To go back to basics, when we talk about ‘planning’ we mean the following actions:

• Before starting a long trip, charge your EV to 100% at home.
• Download and sign in to at least one EV navigation app.
• Look for charging stations along the route in advance.
• Be realistic about how much time you need to add for charging.
• Pack your cable so that you can charge slowly while you are enjoying time away

What should I look for in an EV route planner?

A good EV planner should plan your route around charging stops with your EV in mind . That means knowing how long your EV can go before needing another charge. Some apps also factor in the terrain (hills) and the weight of passengers and luggage in your car.

EV planners should also help when plans change – with a good map that shows all the charge points around and checks that they are available.

Some EV planning apps also take the headache out of paying for your charging. Zap Map have a Zap Pay, and Octoverse lets you charge your charging to your home energy bill.

Our three golden rules for charging on EV road trips:

1. Stop rapid charging when you get to 80% (any more takes much longer); 2. Plan to stop driving at 20% (better for both battery and peace of mind); 3. Stick to the best networks. Our top picks are: Instavolt, Osprey, MFG and Gridserve.

The top EV route planners put to the test

The good news is that road trips in an electric car are getting easier and easier, with faster chargers – and more of them – dotted everywhere. But, although there are more chargers and they are more reliable, there are also more EVs on the road, so you are still better off doing a little planning before you set off on a long trip. Here are the top eight ev route planning apps we tested:

Zap-Map ABRP (A Better Route Planner) Watts Up Google Maps Plugshare EV Navigation Octopus Electroverse Bonnet

For each app we asked it to plan a 250-mile route from Aberystwyth, Wales to Essex in a VW ID.3. Scroll down to find out which of these we’ll be reaching for on our own road-trips, and which name left us wanting…

Zap-Map is the most well-known of route planners for EV drivers. It launched way back in 2014, and today the majority of UK EV drivers have it installed on their phones. Zap-Map has almost all public charge points mapped and around 70% showing live status data, so you can tell if a charger is in use.

Key features include search, filters, list of nearby chargers, detailed info on each charging point, Zap-Chat community feature and a smart route-planner.

There’s a free version, that allows you to do basically everything you may need. Zap Map ‘map’ has a bewildering number of pins because it shows all the available chargers, even the slowest 3kW chargers. You can filter these out to show only rapids. It shows you the cost and the availability (according to the charger itself) plus the hours or days since the last charge. Users often report chargers that are out of action. This gives you an idea of how reliable and/or busy the charger is.

The plus and premium version cost £29.99 and £47.99 per year, and give you a few extra features, like What3words navigation, enhanced filters and charger ratings to help you avoid the less reliable chargers. You have to pay for premium to get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay display in your car screen.

In-car display is a great feature, allowing you to see the details of each charge point including live charge point status data (where available) and the latest EV driver chats.The only downside is that if you are used to getting live traffic updates using Google Maps, you won’t get these when you’ve got Zap-Map plugged into your car.

Networks with live data on Zap-Map are indicated with an icon on their respective logos. Updated every five minutes, live data shows a blue marker around charge point icons when it is in use. Networks include: Instavolt, Osprey, Gridserve, MFG, BP Pulse, ESB, GeniePoint, Fastned, Ionity, Tesla, Shell, ChargePlace Scotland,

✔ Community chat is well used so you can see if a charger has had issues recently ✘  Charger colours aren’t particularly user-friendly (note: we found out how to get a handy symbols key in the app)

Sign up for the Zap-Map newsletter to get the latest on Zap-Map and charging news.

2. ABRP (A Better Route Planner)

A Better Route Planner (ABRP) is an app that guides you through the quickest way to arrive at your destination. It’s a website and an app for both Android and iOS devices.

A Better Route Planner is a smart, fun, and easy-to-use itinerary maker that lets you plot out routes in the most efficient way possible.

A Better Route Planner focuses on route planning and navigation specifically for electric vehicles. You have to simply select your vehicle model, enter your destination, and hit the big blue plan button to get a full planned route, including charging stations and trip duration.

It has a very simple interface. But change mode and you can see the hills on the route where you could use the most energy. Users say the results are very accurate, taking into account temperature and road conditions. Tesla drivers even prefer it to the Tesla Planner as it favours more charges within the efficient ‘fast’ charging zone of your battery than the Tesla app.

The free version allows you to share to Google Maps to get live traffic updates. The premium version has traffic built-in.

✔ Accurate predictions on range

✔ Shows you all the food options near your charger ✘  Live data on top charger networks only

Got the right energy tariff for your home charging?

EV tariff checker

3. Watts Up

Wattup shows live status for top networks – Instavolt, Osprey, and Gridserve and now live, as are smaller networks ChargePlaceScotland, ForEv.

Nearby public chargepoints are shown within the free CarPlay interface, this shows location, distance, power rating and live availability. And you can ‘favourite’ the chargers you like for quick reference.

We tried to upgrade to a trial version of ‘Discovery mode’ (cost £1 through Google Playstore), but it never worked and was impossible to cancel from the app itself, so we can’t even report on the benefits of that.

✔ Seeing the logo of the charge operator on the map makes it easy to weigh up best operator against best location (see our top network tips above)

✘ Not on your laptop or tablet, it’s only an app on your phone

4. Google Maps

You can actually get some helpful information from Google Maps as an electric car driver, but it is buried deep within the mapping interface. What we trust Google to do is show us the best route and to reroute us based on what’s happening with traffic, so it’s worth including Google in this list of EV route planners. We expect that Google are working on making it better for predictions.

On a desktop computer, All you have to do is plug in your journey details, tap the option for ‘search along route’, and then search for ‘EV charging stations’. Then Google Maps will present you with all the stations along your route, with details about the type of chargers available. On your phone, tap the three dots on the top right and then ‘Search along route’. You still have to type ‘EV charging’, but then you’ll see all the chargers on your route and can add a stop.

The problem comes if you get rerouted because Google finds a quicker route. Google will think you still need to stop at that charger.

✔ Live traffic on your route

✘ No help choosing chargers

Explore all electric cars

Find your next EV

5. PlugShare

This app is most like Zap-Map, but it seems like it’s aimed at a US driver. With brown and green pins that look like petrol pumps, it’s looks are not inspiring. The PlugShare app can be used to plan a trips in a specific vehicle and shows you a map. It doesn’t show how elevation affects your range, just shows you the likely max range with a big green circle on the map – and that is either very conservative or hasn’t noticed what car we selected. You can filter by reviews, so you can see only the best chargers in other drivers’ opinions.

We were expecting great things from PlugShare, but in fact were really disappointed. For example, it showed us Tesla chargers for our ID.3 (not the one’s just opened up to other users) and it didn’t seem easy to filter away slower chargers.

✔ Easy to filter chargers by user ratings (this is Premium feature in Zap-Map) ✘  No option to share route to Google for real-time navigation from the app. And it let us choose chargers ‘along the route’, so we accidentally picked a Northbound charger on a Southbound journey!

6. EV Navigation

Back to the geeky end of route planning, EV Navigation , is a comprehensive solution for predicting the discharge rate of the battery with precision but it also manages to look simple. It calculates routes and takes the charging times into consideration. You can tell it how many people you have in the car and how you are likely to drive (sport, normal or eco), even the pressure in your tyres.

This gives EV drivers the ability to optimise their drive time and spend the least amount of time necessary waiting at charging stations. If you don’t like the look for the charging stop they suggest, it’s very hard to find alternatives.

✔ Great to see the impact of passengers and driving style, etc.

✘ Not very interactive if you don’t want to use the charger selected

7. Octopus Electroverse

Even if you aren’t an Octopus customer, you can join the Electroverse charging network. Sign up and they send you a card so you can pay for charging through your home energy bill or on a registered card. On some networks there is a discount for using chargers off-peak – Osprey will give you 20% off for charging after 7pm.

We like the fact that the map shows you rapid chargers (namely Instavolt and Gridserve) that aren’t on the network. Better still, the Electroverse card works across Europe, where an RFID card or app are still vital, as contactless payments are less common.

Share £10 when you join Electroverse

Get £5 credit

On our latest review, the route planner now works from the app. The planner was made more difficult as autocomplete seemed to suggest lots of places in the USA with similar names. The route suggested was sensible, and you can send the route to Google Maps on your phone to get live traffic updates.

The map shows you all the networks in any spot, including those who haven’t partnered – of which the big names missing from their payments system are Instavolt and Gridserve. You’ll get a 20% discount on Osprey charging after 7pm.

✔ No more upfront ‘holds’ on your credit card, just pay it off on your home bill

✔ Great for European road trips

✘ Route planner doesn’t show you alternatives along the route, but you can use the app to see all the options

✘ Network doesn’t include Gridserve or Instavolt chargers (although you still see where these are on the app)

Bonnet is a payment app that lets you plan routes across the UK and Europe and access charging through a single app (or RFID card if you prefer). It is similar to the Electroverse app, except you can buy a number of Boosts which are subscriptions that get you a discount on all charging sessions. For £2 a month you can get 10% off charging, £8 gets you 15% off. The rapid networks to watch out for are Osprey, Ionity, MFG, and up and coming Evyve. It has also partnered to show untethered 7kW Connected Kerb chargers.

We were disappointed to learn that, just as if you had turned up to use contactless on a new network, Bonnet still has to hold £30 in prepayment authorisation for each charge you do.

Bonnet Premium does offer a route planning app for newer EVs. It is currently being offered for free as a beta product, but you need to add a payment method and will get a reminder if it ever starts to be a charged-for service.

We gave it a test, and found it very difficult to even find the route planning tool. (There’s a tiny bent arrow on the main map). The results, including one charger that was offline, were meaningless as they gave no information about the estimated battery SoC%, or charging time. On the bright side, it was easy to cancel Premium right there in the app.

Main features of the best EV route planners

The features offered by these apps are changing all the time. We’ve done our best to compare apps in May 2022 (updated June 2023), but if you have found any changes and would like to give us an update, we’d love to put things right. Email us at: [email protected]

Our verdict: Which route planning app is best?

We gave each EV route planning app a score for various aspects of planning a long journey. The best app scored 5, with the worst getting a 1:

By way of background, we’ve been driving an EV since 2019. We don’t often use public charging, as most of our journeys can be completed with home charging. We have always used Zap-Map to plan trips and Google Maps to navigate to avoid traffic jams and hold-ups. We stick to the better charger networks (see the golden rules above), and try and avoid charging when the roads are busy. Probably as a result of this, our experience of rapid charging in the last year is generally quite positive.

Following our desk-based research, we’ll be immediately retiring the PlugShare app. We’ll recommend Watts Up to our more anxious EV-newbie friends and relatives. And we’ll watch the newer EV Navigation for further developments.

Which is the best EV route planner app?

For our longest trips, we’d go to ABRP to provide the most accurate route planning. For the genuine ease of use (with one RFID card to almost end them all), we’d use Octopus Electroverse (and better still, you can get £5 credit when you join using our link ). Although we’d love to see payment links with the reliable Instavolt or motorway-based Gridserve networks in the future.

If you have a passenger who can check updates, Zap-Map is useful for the live charger status data for Gridserve chargers, but an update every five minutes could still leave you waiting for a charger, so it’s probably best to head to a larger site anyway.

Best EVs for Road Trips in 2023

There’s more to a road trip than the logistics of how you get there. Here are the 12 best EVs we found for road trips, for a variety of budgets and traveling companions.

Kia Motors America |

These EVs Will Put Some Zip in Your Next Road Trip

When you’re planning a road trip with an electric vehicle, range is probably the biggest concern, first and foremost, because range affects everything else when you’re driving an EV — particularly when it comes time to replenish that range. Depending on your destination, and what you’ll encounter on the way, finding a safe and reliable place to charge could be a nonissue, or it could be a complete pain.

Advertisement

Yet, there’s more to a road trip than the logistics of how you get there. You’ll want space for all your passengers and everyone’s luggage, spacious and comfortable seats no matter what type of vehicle you’re in and user-friendly technology.

Here are the 12 best EVs we found for road trips, for a variety of budgets and traveling companions. As you read, keep in mind that we update our reviews throughout the year as new information becomes available. Therefore, the scores you see here might not match the scores in a vehicle’s review.

Nissan North America, Inc. |

2023 Nissan Leaf

Price: $28,040 | overall score: 7.6/10.

The Nissan Leaf may be a controversial choice here, since it tops out at 212 miles of range for the SV Plus model, and its fast-charging capability falls short of many competitors. Still, we chose the Leaf to kick off this roundup of the best EVs for road trips because it’s the car that helped people realize EVs didn’t need to be elitist and unaffordable. The Leaf’s low price means it’s a little less convenient than its rivals, yet, it puts EV road-tripping within the price range of most new car shoppers.

The Leaf is spacious and comfortable for a small car, and has standard features just a bit beyond the essentials. You’ll get an 8-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay , Android Auto and a competitive list of advanced safety tech.

More on the 2023 Nissan Leaf

• See 2023 Nissan Leaf Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Nissan Leaf  »
• Read the 2023 Nissan Leaf Full Review  »
• See Electric Car Rankings  »

Tesla Inc. |

2023 Tesla Model 3

Price: $43,990 | overall score: 8.6/10.

The Model 3 is the best value in the Tesla lineup, with an accessible entry price, tons of features and range that’s been increased for 2023 in both base and Long Range models. The Model 3’s main downfall in terms of road trip-worthiness is that Tesla’s infotainment system uses its own smartphone integration, so Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren’t available.

Three configurations are available, with range ranging from 272 to 358 miles. The most expensive of the group, the Performance, splits the difference in terms of range and offers excellent acceleration and all-wheel drive.

More on the 2023 Tesla Model 3

• See 2023 Tesla Model 3 Photos  »
• Read the 2023 Tesla Model 3 Full Review  »
• See Luxury Electric Car Rankings  »

Hyundai Motor America |

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

Price: $41,600 | overall score: 8.3/10.

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is brand new for the 2023 model year, yet it immediately lands the top spot in our electric car rankings. The Ioniq 6 uses Hyundai’s experience as a value leader in the EV segment, as well as its sharp styling expertise, to put together a well-rounded EV sedan that can holds its own alongside the brand’s more well-established crossover offerings.

The Ioniq 6 rides smoothly and is available with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive and in configurations that offer between 270 and an impressive 361 miles of range. The Ioniq 6 also includes a 12.3-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto among its many standard features.

More on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6

• See 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6  »
• Read the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Full Review  »

BMW of North America, LLC |

2023 BMW i4

Price: $51,400 | overall score: 8.8/10.

The BMW i4 is a sleek and pretty “Gran Coupe" — what BMW calls its coupe-inspired sedans — with tons of comfort features and up to 301 miles of range achieved in its base trim. Furthermore, this BMW is a decent buy if it’s within your price range and you consider that the mid- and top-tier trims of some mainstream EVs cost more than the i4’s base price. In short, this is a stylish way to hit some of the best roadside tourist attractions.

If you’re willing to spend more on an i4, you can upgrade from rear- to all-wheel drive. Standard features include an impressive curved display that combines a 14.9-inch touch screen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

More on the 2023 BMW i4

• See 2023 BMW i4 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 BMW i4  »
• Read the 2023 BMW i4 Full Review  »

Mercedes-Benz USA |

2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan

Price: $104,400 | overall score: 8.7/10.

In its second year on the market, the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan earns a spot in the top half of our luxury electric car rankings. It’s on the expensive side but if you want to see the country in some of the best comfort you can get from an EV, it’s a great choice, with competitive range and tons of cargo space.

Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is a new option for 2023, though you’ll get slightly better range, a total of about 350 miles, sticking with the rear-drive base model. Standard features include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch touch screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging and augmented reality navigation.

More on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan

• See 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan  »
• Read the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan Full Review  »

Ford Motor Company |

2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Price: $42,995 | overall score: 8.4/10.

Romance and nostalgia aren’t necessary for a road trip, but they’ll certainly add to the experience, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E makes a great choice for an EV road trip with a throwback vibe. If you’re determined to stay salty about Ford putting the pony badge on an EV, you wouldn’t get it, anyway.

The Mustang Mach-E is offered with range estimates of 224 to 312 miles, depending on the trim level and battery pack. The base Select falls on the lower, but still worthwhile, end of the scale with 247 miles of range and a decent list of standard features. You’ll get a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, a 15.5-inch touch screen infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless device charging.

More on the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

• See 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E  »
• Read the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Full Review  »
• See Electric SUV Rankings  »

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Price: $41,450 | overall score: 8.5/10.

Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 is a stylish electric crossover with near-luxury aspirations at a value price. The Ioniq 5 is available with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive, and each offers distinctly different driving dynamics, from athletic to comfortable. The Ioniq 5 tops out at a competitive 303 miles of range, too.

As is typical for Hyundai, the Ioniq 5’s style and practicality don’t mean you have to compromise elsewhere in the experience. Hyundai includes tons of safety features as well as a 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment display that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

More on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5

• See 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5  »
• Read the 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Full Review  »

2023 Rivian R1S

Price: $78,000 | overall score: 8.9/10.

Now for something a little different. The Rivian R1S is the EV startup’s second vehicle on the market following the R1T pickup truck. This SUV has unique looks and a ton of innovative features, such as a "Kneel" mode that lowers the vehicle when it's parked to make getting in and out easier. Its air suspension also enables the R1S to level out the body when parked on uneven terrain while other features include a semi-autonomous driving system that works on specific mapped highways, and an available underbody shield for extra protection while off-roading.

The R1S also drives great, with standard all-wheel drive and quick acceleration. Range checks in at 260 miles with the standard battery pack and 321 miles with the upgraded battery pack.

More on the 2023 Rivian R1S

• See 2023 Rivian R1S Photos  »
• Read the 2023 Rivian R1S Full Review  »
• See Luxury Electric SUV Rankings  »

2023 Genesis GV60

Price: $59,290 | overall score: 8.7/10.

The GV60 is an all-new addition to the Genesis lineup for 2023. It’s a beautiful crossover that’s potent yet practical, with enjoyable performance, a long list of standard features and user-friendly technology. That said, the GV60’s range options are 235 and 248 miles, both of which fall short of luxury EVs in this price range.

Consider this, though: the GV60 supports V2L (vehicle-to-load) charging, which isn’t unheard-of but also isn’t yet anywhere close to mainstream. If you’ll be staying in campgrounds or remote areas along your road trip, you can connect appliances or electronics to the GV60 and power them with the battery. Want to play electric guitar under the stars? Genesis has you covered.

More on the 2023 Genesis GV60

• See 2023 Genesis GV60 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Genesis GV60  »
• Read the 2023 Genesis GV60 Full Review  »

General Motors |

2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV

Price: $27,800 | overall score: 7.5/10.

The Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV are both excellent choices for road trip cars, though we chose the EUV for this list because its hatchback-like crossover body offers more cabin and cargo space. It’s not really an Instagram model, but it’ll get you to all the scenic selfie spots in comfort. The Bolt EUV is also the winner of our 2023 Best Electric SUV for the Money award and it has the lowest base price of any EV crossover currently for sale.

The base Bolt EUV offers 247 miles of range, which is competitive considering its pricing. Standard features include a 10.2-inch touch screen, an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, wireless device charging and a lot of safety features for the money.

More on the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV

• See 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV  »
• Read the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV Full Review  »

DANIEL KRAUS |

2023 BMW i7

Price: $119,300 | overall score: 8.9/10.

The BMW i7 is yet another EV road trip contender that’s new to the market for 2023. The i7 is BMW’s new flagship sedan, which means it showcases the brand’s best design, engineering and technology features, and has a price tag to match. This elegant sedan is extremely comfortable and provides a smooth, soothing ride despite its energetic powertrain.

This top-ranked luxury electric car can go up to 318 miles on a full charge, though upgrading to larger wheels will sacrifice some range. A standard adaptive air suspension and all-wheel drive ensure a comfortable ride along with more confidence in foul-weather driving conditions. Standard features include a 14.9-inch touch screen as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

More on the 2023 BMW i7

• See 2023 BMW i7 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 BMW i7  »
• Read the 2023 BMW i7 Full Review  »

2023 Kia EV6

Price: $48,700 | overall score: 8.7/10.

The Kia EV6 is one of the best EVs for a road trip, hands down, but particularly if you can’t afford to or prefer not to shop the luxury brands. The EV6 looks and feels upscale, with sophisticated design and great performance, yet comes in at a price that is reasonable for many shoppers looking for a new electric car. You’ll enjoy your road trip a lot more if you’re not worrying about how much it costs, after all.

The EV6 crossover’s base trim has the best range of the lineup, at 310 miles, and presents the best value with a ton of standard features. You’ll get a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, a 12.3-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless charging to help the miles fly by.

More on the 2023 Kia EV6

• See 2023 Kia EV6 Photos  »
• Find the best price on the 2023 Kia EV6  »
• Read the 2023 Kia EV6 Full Review  »

U.S. News and World Report |

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is your prime source of up-to-date car information. We rank and review nearly every vehicle available using data from hundreds of independent reviews written by America’s top automotive journalists. Explore our new car rankings , where you can see which cars, SUVs or trucks deserve a spot on your shopping list.

Take a look at our new car deals page, where we track hundreds of the best deals each month.

The U.S. News Best Price Program connects shoppers who want to buy or lease a new car with local dealers. It offers a significant savings with pre-negotiated prices, home delivery and online sales options.

Best EVs for Road Trips

• 2023 Nissan Leaf - $28,040 | Overall Score: 7.6/10
• 2023 Tesla Model 3 - $43,990 | Overall Score: 8.6/10
• 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 - $41,600 | Overall Score: 8.3/10
• 2023 BMW i4 - $51,400 | Overall Score: 8.8/10
• 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan - $104,400 | Overall Score: 8.7/10
• 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E - $42,995 | Overall Score: 8.4/10
• 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 - $41,450 | Overall Score: 8.5/10
• 2023 Rivian R1S - $78,000 | Overall Score: 8.9/10
• 2023 Genesis GV60 - $59,290 | Overall Score: 8.7/10
• 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV - $27,800 | Overall Score: 7.5/10
• 2023 BMW i7 - $119,300 | Overall Score: 8.9/10
• 2023 Kia EV6 - $48,700 | Overall Score: 8.7/10

Browse Cars

Recommended Articles

The Best Cars for Road Trips

Kristen Hall-Geisler Aug. 17, 2023

Electric Cars With the Longest Range

Warren Clarke April 5, 2024

How To Charge an EV at a Public Charger

Steven Loveday and Warren Clarke Jan. 8, 2024

A Guide to U.S. EV Charging Networks

Steven Loveday Jan. 4, 2023

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

Warren Clarke Jan. 30, 2024

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

Warren Clarke Jan. 16, 2024

Plan longer electric journeys

Use our EV route planner to see where to stop on longer routes, what's available in those areas, and how long you’ll need to charge.

Find the best route for your car

With our ev route planner.

Zapmap’s route planner provides peace of mind and the confidence to drive any length of journey in your EV. With access to the widest choice of charging options and real-time availability status, our route planner helps you plot a journey that’s tailored to your needs, whether it’s a family adventure or a solo mission.

EV route planning

Different routing modes

to suit your preferences

Peace of mind

on longer journeys

Zapmap Premium

With a number of ways to quickly locate charge points tailored to your needs, Zapmap Premium helps you drive smarter. On top of filters for new charge points and multi-charger locations, Premium gets Zapmap into your in-car dashboard via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This means you can locate suitable charge points, view live charge point status and access route plans - all while on the move. What's more, with Premium you can save unlimited filters, route plans and EV models.

Sign up to the Zapmap newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest news, stats and guides on EV charging from Zapmap and the EV community.

The latest EV news & knowledge

The zapmap newsletter, want to learn about ev charging and zapmap product developments.

Keep up to date with the latest news, stats and guides on EV charging and lots more - receive fortnightly updates straight to your inbox

Download the Zapmap App!

Get started today.

Scan the QR code with the camera on your mobile device

We're happy to answer any questions you may have, just send us a message via this form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

• US Toll Calculator
• Europe Toll Calculator
• Australia Toll Calculator
• Asia Toll Calculator
• India Toll Calculator
• Latin America Toll Calculator
• E-ZPass Toll Calculator
• SunPass Toll Calculator
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Trip Calculator
• Gas Calculator
• EV Trip Planner
• Car Trip Calculator
• Truck Toll Calculator
• Taxi Toll Calculator
• RV Toll Calculator
• California Toll Calculator
• Florida Toll Calculator
• Illinois Toll Calculator
• NJ Toll Calculator
• NY Toll Calculator
• PA Toll Calculator
• Texas Toll Calculator
• Toll API pricing
• Web calculator pricing
• Toll API - Get started
• Toll API docs
• Get API key

Web Toll calculator

Don't have an account.

• Try API for free

EV Trip Planner –‌  Charging Stations, Routes and Tolls

Looking for EV routing on Google Maps? Use the EV Trip Planner! See all the EV charging stations and superchargers on map with details - brand, connector type, level, cost, power feed, access time and contact. Also see toll plazas, tags - E-ZPass, SunPass, FasTrak, TxTag -l discounts. Travel on the cheapest or fastest routes to your destination. For Tesla, Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Leaf etc. across the US and Canada toll roads, turnpikes, expressways, express lanes, highways, bridges, and tunnels.

Business? Integrate Toll API for pre-trip, on-trip and post-trip toll and route information. 

Still not convinced? Just enter your origin, destination, Submit and see charging stations in seconds. Fill the optional fields - mileage, toll tags etc. - to get more accurate results.

Electronic Toll gantry only accepting Toll tags

Toll plaza accepting Cash

Truck restricted routes

EV charging point

How to calculate tolls - tutorial

Check out the detailed usage guide to know more about how to use the toll calculator, how the calculator works and much more.

EV Trip Planner Features

• Charging stations on map
• Number of connectors
• Charging point’s brand
• Connector type
• Cost of charging
• Power feed type
• Access time & contact
• Cheapest and Fastest routes
• Reorder stops (Traveling salesman problem)
• Toll plaza on map
• Toll rate for each plaza

Learn more >

USA toll guide

• How do tolls work in the USA
• Which states do not have toll roads?
• Can I pay US tolls with a credit card?  
• How do you pay tolls in USA?
• Which toll passes/ toll tags work in all states?
• Is E-ZPass good in all states?

Explore how tolling works in US >

The EV Trip Planner app is Free for 2-axle EVs with upto 2-axle towing trailer. You can also use our mobile apps ( iOS or Android ) that support other vehicles as well.

Other Toll Calculators

Can any EV use a Tesla supercharger?

No, currently only a Tesla car can use a Tesla supercharger. However, any EV can use a Tesla charging station in North America as long as they have a ‘Tesla to J1772 adapter’.

How much does it cost to plug in an electric car?

The cost to plug in an electric car depends on charger type, electricity costs, charging facility etc. Assuming electricity cost at $0.13/kwh, charging up a fully depleted EV of 66 kWh battery with 200-mile range will cost about $9 . TollGuru EV Trip planner shows the cost to use each charging point in your route.

Ready to integrate Toll Intelligence?

Get started with tollguru toll api or cloud services.

• Browse Reviews
• Reviews By Brand
• Reviews By Category
• Company Cars
• Used Car Reviews
• Long term reviews
• Buy a Used Car
• Used Car Buying Guide
• Help me choose
• Buy A Used Car
• New Car Test Drives
• Lease a New Car
• Salary Sacrifice
• Knowledge Hub
• Range Calculator
• Fuel Check Calculator
• Efficiency Rating
• A-Z of Electric Car Terms
• Beginners Guide to Going Electric
• Money Saving Heroes Awards 2023

How to plan a long drive in an electric car

Ginny Buckley

If, like us, you’re itching to get some miles under the wheels of your new electric car, the promise of a British summertime, the open road and some quality electric motoring will be hard to resist. 

If you’re new to the world of electric cars, or have simply forgotten what it’s like to venture further than your local supermarket, we’ve compiled a simple guide to getting the most out your electric car. If you’re planning a long journey either as part of an electric road trip or to a far-flung destination, it’s worth reminding yourself of some of the tips and tricks to make life on the road as simple and hassle-free as possible. 

​ Okay, we get it. Planning is hardly the subject we want to be thinking about when all we can visualise about our holiday is the taste of the ice cream or the sound of the waves lapping against the beach. Obviously, we love electric cars here at electrifying.com , but there’s no getting around the fact that running one – especially over a long distance – does require a little more thought and planning than it might with a petrol or diesel car.

10 years ago, a long holiday journey in an electric car was the kind of thing that might have made the front page of the local newspaper. Rapid chargers were more of an idea than a reality and even if you did manage to find one, car charging speeds were pretty slow. Fast forward to 2023 and the public rapid charging network has been transformed beyond recognition with the public charging infrastructure offering drivers easy access to rapid charging via more than 10,000 connections in the UK. What’s more, car ranges have increased hugely from just over 60 miles to 400 plus for the newest models. 

While the UK’s electric car charge infrastructure has improved immeasurably over the last decade, it still pays to plan. And we’re not talking about what sandwich filling you want in your packed lunch or who’s in charge of the Spotify playlist. If you need to recharge en-route, it’s good to have an idea of when and where you’ll need to stop. We’d recommend downloading a smartphone app such as Zap-Map, PlugShare, or WattsUp. These use live network data to show you where charge points are, how much they cost to use and even if someone is using it! Most also have a navigation function, so you can choose your charger and let the app guide you there. These apps aggregate live info from the major networks and give an overall picture of what is available. If you prefer to stick with a specific network, most brands, including bp pulse , have their own apps and live maps with even more detailed information about locations.   

Give yourself a break

When planning your route, it’s always a good idea to have a couple of alternative chargers should the one you choose be busy. Make sure you factor in enough range to get to another charge point rather than turning up with 1% charge left in your battery. It’s better (and far less stressful) to arrive at a charge point with 10-20% charge left and top up to 80% while you’re taking a break. Combine a charge stop with a food break and your car will likely be charged by the time you’re finished.  

Another tip for mid-journey recharges is to look for venues that have more than one charger. For example, service stations and other hubs will often have two or more units, and offer hassle-free contactless payment. You can also get lower prices by subscribing to some apps such as Bonnet, or those offered by car makers. By choosing a ‘double header’, there’s more chance of being able to turn up and plug in at busier locations.  

The (A) road less travelled

Route planning apps such as Google Maps and Waze are brilliant for working out how far your destination is and how long it will take you to get there. However, most will try to take you via motorways because the algorithm will always assume that 70mph roads will get you to your destination quicker. If you’re driving an EV, it’s worth checking if there’s a more direct route on A or B roads (most apps will give you a few alternatives). Electric cars use more power at motorway speeds than they do at 60mph, so if you can take A-roads and shave 20 miles off your journey, you’ll get a double benefit. It might take you 15 minutes longer by avoiding the motorway, but it could be the difference between being able to reach your destination or having to stop again. Plus, if you opt for A-roads, you’ll be closer to a bigger number of rapid charger locations. So we’ll call that a triple win for the A-road.  

Find an EV-friendly destination

Okay, we’ve looked at the journey, what about the destination? As electric car ownership expands, venues and destinations across the country are making moves to attract visitors with on-site charging.  Holiday Inn, Center Parcs and other hotel chains are rolling out charging stations for guests, meaning that car owners can either get a quick charge en-route or a slow charge overnight.  

Finding an EV-friendly hotel is, thankfully, a lot easier than it was. If you use an online booking service such as booking.com , kayak.com or laterooms.com you can choose electric car charging as a required facility when you make a search. That said, it’s always worth double-checking with the venue before you travel as the facilities can vary from a new DC rapid charger to a three-pin plug on an extension cord from the kitchens. 

A number of self-catering booking sites also offer the option of filtering for electric car charge points. As most guests will be staying for more than one night, this only needs to be a low-powered 3kW connection - which are the most cost effective for hosts to install. If you find that the venue only has a domestic three-pin plug, you must check with the host that it has been wired for that purpose and is safe to use. 

If your destination is an attraction rather than a place to stay, you can often find a place to charge while you’re at the venue. Check with either the venue or one of the charging apps to find the location of the points as these can often be hidden away from the usual public car parks. Whether you’re into motoring history (Beaulieu Motor Museum in Hampshire has four charge points) or animals (you’ll find eight connectors at Chester Zoo) the number of attractions with charging facilities is growing all the time. 

So there you have it - a complete guide to holiday driving in your electric car. All you need to do is choose your location and enjoy. If you want to go further afield, check out our guides to driving abroad .

Share this post

Related Posts

Heat pumps in electric cars explained

The complete guide to heat pumps in electric cars, from the experts at...

Regenerative braking in electric cars explained

The complete guide to regenerative braking in electric cars, from the ...

How to get your car for free (or at least get to keep i...

We show how playing the system can help you save thousands and let you...

The future of electric car charging

What could the future of electric car charging look like? Find out fro...

You currently have no cars in your showroom. Browse our reviews here to start.

Please fill out your contact details below.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

• LISTEN & FOLLOW
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Amazon Music

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

You asked, we answered: Your questions about electric vehicles

Camila Domonoske

If you're thinking about getting an electric vehicle, you're not alone.

People in the U.S. buy more than a million new cars every month, and as of March, less than 10% of those are electric vehicles. But more than half of car shoppers are at least considering battery-powered cars and SUVs, according to multiple studies .

And shoppers have lots of questions. In January, The Sunday Story, an NPR podcast, asked listeners for their EV questions. More than 60 listeners sent in queries, and The Sunday Story and Life Kit teamed up to answer them. The listener questions have been edited for length and clarity.

Are EVs truly better for the planet, even with mining for batteries and fossil-fuel -based electricity to charge them? (This was the No. 1 question asked by our listeners.)

The answer is yes . Many researchers have confirmed it , and online tools let you compare the impacts for yourself. One of the most recent analyses comes from Corey Cantor with the energy research company BloombergNEF, who headlined his report last month: "No Doubt About It: EVs Really Are Cleaner Than Gas Cars."

"Big picture, moving away from spewing more CO2 into the atmosphere is a good thing for the climate," he says. And the environmental benefits of EVs are getting bigger over time as grids get cleaner.

The Electric Car Race! Vroom, Vroom!

• Amazon Alexa

Is it better from an environmental standpoint to buy an electric vehicle now, or keep driving the gas car you have until you need a new car? –Ali Mercural, Portland, Ore.

For the climate, there's a strong case for switching now.

Yes, creating that new EV — getting the materials to build it from scratch — is resource-intensive. But the climate impact of a gas-powered car increases every single day you drive it.

To be precise, more than 85% of a gas-powered vehicle's lifetime emissions come from using the car, not from building the car. That's according to researchers at Argonne National Laboratory. And that means the new EV, despite its manufacturing costs, will be cleaner over time.

Jessika Trancik , a professor at the Institute for Data, Systems and Society at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, suggests taking the long view on decisions like these. Think not just about emissions right now but over the entire time you'll own a vehicle.

"Generally speaking, switching to that electric vehicle is going to provide a benefit over the lifetime of the car," she says.

I'm not proud, but I've run out of gas twice in my life. Luckily, I had friends nearby to bring me a gallon of gas. What would happen if I ran out of charge in an EV? Would a tow truck come to charge me up? How long would that take? And how embarrassing would that be? –Robin Rzechula, Chicago

We can't promise it won't be embarrassing, but a tow truck could tow you to a charger. In some cities, AAA will bring a mobile charger to you.

How well do EVs handle cold weather?

Overall, charging is a different experience than fueling up. With a combustion engine, you have to regularly make a stop at a gas station to fill up. With an EV, for daily driving, most people charge at home overnight – which drivers frequently cite as a major perk of EV ownership. (This does require the ability to charge at home).

For road trips, on the other hand, many parts of the country still have limited availability of fast chargers, which are high-speed chargers designed for use in the middle of a trip. Charger speeds and reliability at public charging stations vary, and charging takes much longer than filling up at a gas station.

So charging takes less work day-to-day, but more planning on long trips. Map out chargers on your route so you won't find yourself calling AAA.

Does leasing an electric car come with the same perks (like tax rebates) as buying an electric car? –Hallie Andrews, Washington, D.C.

The same or better.

There's a federal $7,500 tax credit for purchasing an EV, now available as an up-front credit toward the cost of the car. But the list of vehicles that qualify is short because of requirements meant to support U.S. jobs and supply chains. Buyers also have to be under an income cap.

Leased electric vehicles all qualify for a $7,500 credit – no matter where they're built, with no income cap. Check your lease paperwork to confirm that the credit is being fully passed along to you.

Efforts underway to make cities more EV-friendly

Wouldn't it be better to design cities around mass transit and use mass transit than get everyone to convert to electric vehicles? – Thomas Guffey, Los Angeles

Yes, designing cities to encourage mass transit – and to make them more walkable and bikeable – has a lower carbon footprint than relying on electric vehicles, in addition to other benefits . Electric bikes also have a fraction of the environmental footprint of EVs.

Switching to EVs is an important part of fighting climate change, but far from the only change that needs to happen.

The digital story was edited by Malaka Gharib. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at [email protected].

Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify , and sign up for our newsletter .

• Life Kit: Sustainability
• electric vehicles
• electric vehicle
• mass transit

Business Insider

Tesla owners share their best tips for taking an EV on a road trip

Posted: August 19, 2023 | Last updated: August 19, 2023

• Tesla owners and a renter described their experience taking the EV on cross-country road trips.
• Some Tesla owners highlighted the benefits of taking the EV on long trips
• Take a look at some of their tips for taking a Tesla on a road trip.

While some EV owners have shared horror stories about taking an electric car on a road trip, some Tesla owners say those drivers probably just haven't mastered the learning curve yet.

Eight Tesla veterans and a first-time Tesla renter shared some tips on how to execute a successful EV road trip in a series of conversations with Insider — from avoiding certain routes to planning ahead and getting creative on the road.

Range anxiety and a lack of charging infrastructure are key hurdles when it comes to EV adoption, but Tesla owners say it's possible to ditch concerns about charging on the road and even lean into some of the benefits of taking an electric car across the country, including saving on gas and enjoying Tesla amenities like Autopilot . Still, some drivers say road trips in a Tesla can be a major headache.

Here's what Tesla owners say about their experiences taking the car on a long road trip.

Most people's first road trip can be anxiety-ridden, but learn to trust the car, owners said.

Many Tesla owners said it's common to feel anxious on your first EV road trip.

"After the first outbound trip when I was being very careful and charging to a higher percentage than necessary at each stop, I learned to trust what my Tesla was telling me about the state of charge, my expected range, and that there were chargers along the way," Dennis Duncan, a Model Y owner who has taken his EV on cross-country trips, including on an annual trip from Washington state to Montana, told Insider.

It's best to start out with smaller trips and stay near interstates, drivers said.

"Start somewhere within 200 miles of your origin and become accustomed to the range and how your driving impacts it," said Ken Vizena, a Model Y owner who has taken his vehicle on numerous cross-country trips. "Don't start off driving cross country. Start off with medium trips in hugely populated areas."

Vizena said it's important to pay attention to not only how many charging stations are along your route, but also where they are located along the path. He said new Tesla owners should ask themselves several questions before they set off on a road trip with their EV, namely: How far off course will the chargers take you? Are they located in areas where you would feel safe waiting?

Most Tesla owners agree the Supercharger network is a major advantage.

Tesla has spent over a decade building out more than 20,000 Superchargers in North America, earning it the region's largest network of roadside fast chargers. Moreover, Superchargers are widely regarded as more reliable and easy to use than other networks' chargers. Non-Tesla EV owners rely on a shakier patchwork of public chargers , which can be difficult to find and are plagued by reliability issues .

"I couldn't even imagine being with another car company and relying on third-party chargers," Jonathan Baalke, a Model 3 owner in Kentucky who says he drives over 150 miles a day for work, previously told Insider. "It's hard to have range anxiety when you have access to Tesla's network, but if I was with any other brand's cars, I would definitely have some concerns."

More recently, the EV company has said it plans to open some of its exclusive Supercharger network to non-Tesla EV companies like Ford and General Motors .

Some Tesla owners said charging on your road trip isn't too bad if you use it as a natural break to eat lunch or stretch your legs — so long as you're at a Supercharger.

"I stop to charge about every four hours," David Craig, a Model S owner who recently took his Tesla on a 8,500-mile road trip, said. "It's just a natural stopping point. Even if you were driving a traditional car you'd want to take breaks and fuel up. I plug it in at a Supercharger and usually there's a restaurant nearby where I grab lunch."

A Supercharger can recharge a Tesla with up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes, according to the company's website . A Model 3 standard vehicle delivers an estimated range of about 333 miles, according to Tesla. And the carmaker's longest-range vehicle, the Model S, can deliver an estimated range of up to 405 miles, the company says.

Some Tesla owners said it's best to plan where you will charge on the trip well in advance.

"It requires a lot of planning to take a road trip with an EV," Leonard Zuga, a Model Y owner who plans to take his vehicle on a trip from Ohio to Florida, told Insider. "I use multiple systems, including Tesla's onboard system. I know what hotels and Superchargers I will use before we've even started packing. Every hotel I select is within a few minutes of a Supercharger. If you do not like planning ahead you won't do well as an EV owner."

Zuga said he's using ChatGPT, and several charge-planning applications, including EV Trip Optimizer and PlugShare , to plan his trip to Florida in addition to the car's internal navigation system. It will be the longest road trip he's taken yet with the vehicle.

Vizena said he liked to plan ahead using a site called A Better Route Planner .

Other Tesla owners said they feel comfortable relying solely on the car's internal navigation system.

Brian Loughman, a Model 3 owner, said he typically relies solely on the internal navigation system, which incorporates charging sites into the journey and alerts drivers to which charging sites it predicts will be most efficient and which ones are busier. It's a favorite feature among Tesla owners.

"Hop in the car while connected to your home charger and program the full route into the car," Loughman told Insider over email. "It will tell you where to stop, how low your battery will be when you get there, and how many minutes you'll need to charge before continuing on your route."

Though, sometimes the internal navigation system can lead you astray, some Tesla owners said.

"It took me into an Indian reservation, and the path ended at a gate that said, 'Your GPS is wrong, turn around,'" Vizena told Insider of one of his road trips from Houston, Texas, to Los Angeles. "I had to backtrack to the Supercharger 40 miles away and ignore the built-in map."

Some rural routes you might want to avoid altogether, some Tesla owners said.

Vizena told Insider he's avoided taking his Tesla on trips to more rural states like Idaho or Montana. Zuga and Ken Becker, a Model 3 owner, said when they drove through Ohio Superchargers were few and far between. And Duncan said there's some road trips he's had to put off until Tesla's charging network grows more.

William Scholtz, who rented a Model 3 from Hertz for a cross-country, monthlong trip, said he and his wife weren't able to go to all the places they'd anticipated because they were constrained by a lack of charging options.

"We planned to visit a friend who farms near Sylvia, Kansas, but it was impossible," Scholtz said. "There are simply no charging stations of any kind that would bring us to his farm and back."

Scholtz said the couple attempted to trickle-charge at another point in their journey, but it took too long.

Even so, It's not the end of the world if you can't find a Supercharger.

If you have the patience, you can get by with trickle-charging, some Tesla owners said.

Zuga said he likes to charge his Tesla at RV outlets when he camps. Becker said it makes sense to trickle-charge or use a slower, Level 1 charger, if you're staying in one place for a while.

 A trickle charge can take up to 50 hours or more to bring an EV from empty to 80% of capacity, while a Level 2 charger can do so in four to 10 hours, according to the Department of Transportation.

Insider previously reported that a Model Y owner used a trickle-charge to visit a remote monument in California. "It was only a standard 120V outlet, so we would be trickle charging , not supercharging, but that was sufficient to more than replace, overnight, whatever energy we used on our daily excursions around the Monument," the Model Y owner, Kathleen Goforth said in a blog post about her road trip.

Don't be in too much of a hurry; just enjoy the journey, some Tesla owners said.

"If you're in a major hurry to get to your destination an EV might not be the best idea," Scholtz said. "It will take longer to charge than filling up your tank. It will take time to find chargers on your route, and sometimes those chargers take you off a direct route. Also, if you're driving too fast that will only decrease your range. "

There are also some perks to taking a Tesla on a road trip. Owners said they have fewer worries about maintenance issues on long trips.

"A lot more can fail on an internal combustion engine," Craig said. "Your biggest worry with a Tesla is that you'll get a flat tire.

Driving a Tesla means no more oil changes, and an EV requires less upkeep overall, according to data from Consumer Reports . 

"With an ICE vehicle there is anxiety about a variety of mechanical things like overheating, engine problems of many kinds, or brake burnout going down major grades or in mountain driving," Duncan said. "A Tesla won't overheat and actually recharges your battery going downhill instead of overheating and wearing out your brakes."

Though, Teslas aren't fully immune to breaks. Vizena said he had to spend an entire road trip with a broken air conditioner in his Tesla and showed a picture where the internal temperature in his car reached 99 degrees.

Tesla owners also enjoy not having to spend money on gas during long road trips.

As of July, the average electric car owner could save between $1,000 to $1,200 per year in fuel costs as compared to using an EV charger, according to Consumer Reports. The publication found that EV owners will continue to save money in overall operating and maintenance costs as long as the price for gasoline remains above 50 cents per gallon.

"It's hard to explain the glee of driving by a gas station knowing you don't have to worry about the prices anymore," Nelson Jackson, a Model S owner, previously told Insider.

The car can also be ideal for camping, one owner said.

Craig said he used Tesla's Camp Mode  to sleep in his Model S during his 19-day road trip.

The feature lets the car keep a steady temperature in the cabin, as well as proper airflow. You can also listen to music, stream television, turn on lights, or charge devices while the vehicle is in the mode. The  feature , which was introduced in 2021, uses significantly less energy and even has a video of a crackling fire.

It is one of many specialized Tesla features , including Dog Mode and Sentry Mode.

"With a traditional car you'd have to turn it off, it would get cold and you have to turn it back on," Craig said. "In my Tesla, the temperature stays perfect and I'm comfortable all night long."

Autopilot and Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta feature are also a major plus for relaxing on the road, some drivers said.

All Tesla models are equipped with the Autopilot feature, which enables a car to steer, accelerate, and brake automatically within its lane. The function does not replace the role of a driver, but is intended to make driving easier and cut down on accidents. Some drivers can also opt into Tesla's Full Self-Driving software, a beta feature that costs $15,000 — or $199 per month — and allows the vehicle to change lanes, as well as recognize stop lights and stop signs.

Earlier this year, Model S owner Tim Heckman told Insider the driver assist features were a "lifesaver" on his 6,392-mile road trip.

"It can be a huge cognitive relief. Long trips can take a mental toll," Heckman said at the time, noting that he'sd used Autopilot on previous road trips and discovered he could drive further without getting tired.

Zuga told Insider Autopilot is one of several features that he feels make road trips less stressful and safer in a Tesla.

"Driving that car is a lot less tiring than driving a gas vehicle because of all of the extra driver features like the cameras all around the car and Autopilot," Zuga said. "I can put the blinker on and get a good look of the whole left side and behind and when I'm slowing down and regenerative braking kicks in and you know your tailights are on. It just gives you better situational awareness."

But, not everyone is sold on the features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Autopilot  and its potential connection to several accidents and the California Department of Motor Vehicles has  accused the company  of falsely advertising its Autopilot and FSD features.

Despite the perks, some road trippers say they'd still rather stick to a traditional vehicle.

Scholtz said he wasn't fully sold on buying a Tesla after he rented one through Hertz for his road trip. He said his experience renting the EV went downhill fast when he had to take it to more rural areas and he faced a lot of stress with the vehicle's range, as well as finding chargers along his route.

"It was nail biting," Scholtz said, adding that while he thinks the Model 3 is a great car it doesn't fit his lifestyle.

"I still prefer my F-150 with its 40 gallon tank that gives me a 700 miles range."

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication.

More for You

Cole Brings Plenty: Yellowstone 1923 actor found dead days after going missing

Navy captain relieved for ‘loss of confidence’ following investigation

The Exact Time to Quit Your Job, According to Chief HR Officer

Say Goodbye To Popcorn Ceilings Without Removing Them Thanks To This DIY

30 slang words you may not realize came from TV and movies

Teen ends up with stoma after period pain worry

I study people with high emotional intelligence for a living—8 things they never ever do when talking to others

NASA engineers discover why Voyager 1 is sending a stream of gibberish from outside our solar system

9 Insider Secrets You Should Know From a Goodwill Employee

15 Most Valuable Wheat Pennies, Ranked

27 Times Actors Made Mistakes On Set And They Actually Ended Up Being Genius Moments

Forgotten 1990s Blockbusters Everyone Should Rewatch

This common trait is a red flag of a toxic boss, says ex-IBM CEO: 'I used to think it was a great skill'

Mammal Feared Extinct Spotted on Remote Farm

20 Personal Things You Should Never Share With Others

WWE WrestleMania 40 Stage Revealed Ahead of Two-Night Megashow in Philadelphia, PA

Get Rid Of Pesky Wasps Using Two Ingredients You Already Own

32 Child Stars Who Became Successful Adult Actors

Virtual colonoscopy lets you skip the scope. Here’s what to know about the colorectal cancer screening Mark Cuban says saves time and money

Why I started using this blunt cover letter after applying to more than 1,200 jobs and rarely hearing back

Tesla’s $25,000 car means tossing out the 100-year-old assembly line

New system could slash costs in half — if the ev maker can actually pull it off.

Tesla has a plan to fend off cheaper competition from China with a $25,000 electric car . But first it has to overhaul a 100-year-old manufacturing process pioneered by Henry Ford .

The company is moving to what it calls an “unboxed” approach, which is more like building Legos than a traditional production line. Instead of a large, rectangular car moving along a linear conveyer belt, parts are assembled simultaneously in dedicated areas and then the subassemblies are all put together at the end. Tesla says the change could reduce manufacturing footprints by more than 40%, allowing the carmaker to build future plants far faster and at less expense.

If the new assembly process is successful, Tesla says it can slash production costs in half. That will be key to delivering a cheap enough car to stoke demand that’s  slowed of late and pressured the electric-car maker’s stock price. Tesla shares are down 29% so far this year, compared to a 10% increase in the S&P 500 during the same period.

“If we’re going to scale the way we want to do, we have to rethink manufacturing again,” Lars Moravy, Tesla’s vice president of vehicle engineering, said during the company’s March 2023 investor day.

The problem is that investors haven’t heard many details about how Tesla has progressed with the idea since then, even as Chinese automakers have slashed costs  and Detroit carmakers have refocused their efforts on cheaper models, as well.

On the company’s most recent earnings call in January, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk stuck to generalities, saying only that Tesla was “very far along” on making a cheaper car, which is slated to start production at the end of next year. While he mentioned the new “revolutionary manufacturing system,” calling it “far more advanced than any automotive manufacturing system in the world, by a significant margin,” he didn’t elaborate.

Musk is notorious for missing deadlines, and some on Wall Street are dubious that Musk can meet his already-delayed timeline — he  first teased  a $25,000 EV way back in 2020 — much less the savings targets. Tesla’s method is unproven, and may come with its own inefficiencies and risks. A recent  analysis  by Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that the new modular manufacturing process would cut costs by 33% — not half.

Tesla didn’t respond to requests for comment.

In the absence of details, some people are taking it upon themselves to figure out how well the system might work.  Mathew Vachaparampil , CEO of Caresoft, an engineering and automotive benchmarking firm, said his company’s engineers spent 200,000 hours building a digital replica of Tesla’s unboxed platform. They found that Musk’s ambitions are technically possible, and Vachaparampil said they would make “huge financial sense” — if achieved.

Ford's Highland Park plant, birthplace of the factory assembly line. (Ford)

Ford’s legacy

Most mass-market automakers still largely adhere to the same basic setup used by Henry Ford in 1913 to make the Model T:

• Stamped panels are put together in a framing station and welded into a rectangular, boxed-shaped car.
• Doors are put on.
• The vehicle then goes through the paint shop — either dipped into a big vat, or sprayed and dried in large ovens.
• The freshly painted doors are then taken off.
• Wiring and an engine or motors are dropped in along a winding assembly line.
• Seats and other parts of the interior are put in, and then glass windshields and windows are added.
• The doors come back on right before a final inspection.

That process, Tesla executives say, is rife with inefficiencies. Moving a car-sized “box” through a factory (as shown at the top of this article) takes up a lot of space. Painting an entire machine, instead of just the panels that need it, takes time and wastes energy. And working off of a hulking frame means only a few people can assemble their parts at a given time.

The unboxed method doesn’t require a big skeleton of a machine to move through a factory. Instead, splitting off into small groups, workers labor on various components of a vehicle simultaneously before it comes together at a single point in final assembly.

The potential cost savings are substantial, according to Vachaparampil. Caresoft sees at least a 50% reduction in paint-shop investment in new factories alone.

Paint has long been the most expensive part of any auto plant: The high heat required for automotive paint is energy intensive, and there are strict emissions requirements. The throughput of the paint shop largely determines a plant’s total output, according to auto plant experts.

A typical car body is 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide and 15 feet long. Instead of sending the entire rectangular body through a paint shop, Tesla’s unboxed process will paint the individual panels before the car is assembled.

Untested method

The unboxed method has plenty of risks of its own, mainly that it’s unproven and requires shifting to a new assembly process, which could lead to production delays.

But it’s not the first time Tesla has made significant changes to improve long-held manufacturing practices.

With its Model Y , instead of stamping various pieces of the car, Tesla turned to die-casting machine presses to “ gigacast ” — or create giant molds — of the front and rear of the vehicle. That eliminated the need for hundreds of parts and welds.

Other U.S. automakers are also working to fend off the competitive threat posed by Chinese cars. Ford Motor Co., for example, is exploring  a compact EV that would use a cheaper battery .

“The concern is that the lower end of the automotive market isn’t currently being served by electric vehicles , but they will be served by China if U.S.. companies can’t cut costs,” said Susan Helper , a professor of economics at Case Western University, who recently served as a senior adviser for industrial strategy at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

But Musk’s company has an edge over longtime automakers in adapting to novel, potentially cheaper manufacturing techniques. Tesla’s factories are newer than most, and some aren’t even under construction yet, so it can more easily and cheaply tailor its facilities to run on cutting-edge manufacturing methods.

That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The company has warned investors that it’s “between two major growth waves” as demand for the Model 3 and Y — both of which have been out for years — tops out. Tesla delivered 1.8 million cars last year, but aims to deliver 20 million cars by 2030. To do that, it will need much cheaper cars.

• Plants/Manufacturing
• License License
• Facebook Share
• Twitter Share
• Tumblr Share
• Twitch Share
• Flipboard Share
• Instagram Share
• Newsletter Share
• Youtube Share
• Feeds Share

Popular Vehicles

Featured makes, product guides.

• The Best Electric Bikes
• The Best Car Covers
• The Best Portable Air Compressors
• The Best Car GPS Trackers

Choose a Display Name

Please enter a display name

Sign in to post

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Apple lays off over 600 employees in California after abandoning electric car project

Apple is laying off 614 employees in California after abandoning its electric car project. According to the WARN notice posted by the California Employment Development Department, Apple notified the affected employees on March 28 and the changes will go into effect on May 27. Affected employees worked at eight locations in Santa Clara, roughly 45 miles south of San Francisco.

Although the notice doesn’t specify which projects the employees were working on, Bloomberg reports that most of the affected employees were working at buildings related to its canceled car project , while others were working at a facility for its next-generation screen development.

Apple wound down both of these projects toward the end of February. The company started working on its car project, known internally as “Project Titan,” in 2014, and told employees that it was canceling it on February 27. Bloomberg reported at the time that some remaining employees who were working on the car project would be shifted to Apple’s generative AI projects.

Around the same time, Apple reportedly ended efforts to design and develop its own next-generation displays. The displays were supposed to be added to the company’s Apple Watch before potentially going into the company’s other devices.

The layoffs mark Apple’s first major round of job cuts post-pandemic.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple abandons its car: Here are other projects the company has killed