Long distance Driving

If you plan to use the EV to take longer trips, considerable planning will be required to ensure you can find the right charging facilities along your route. Unfortunately, this is not currently an easy process. The infrastructure is not yet fully developed, so some areas you may want to explore may not have the charging facilities to allow you to make the trip.  It would be a good idea to investigate what charging facilities may be available on your most traveled longer routes.

The place to start is setting up a profile in PlugShare.com. PlugShare is a great resource of charging facilities around the US and Canada – they provide details such as exact location, connector type, charging speed, provider, cost, user comments, and an overall rating. PlugShare includes all charging options, including Tesla chargers. Before you make your EV purchase, I suggest you research the charging facilities that match the EVs you’re researching for frequently traveled trips and additional travel you are considering in the future. Also, determine distance between chargers. In some situations there are several options in a 150-200 mile segment; however, in rural areas there may only be 1-2 charging options, or possibly none. This is critical information when planning a long-distance trip. 

The rate at which an EV will charge when connected to a DCFC is determined by both the charger capability and the vehicle limitations and battery condition. Vehicle specifications will identify the maximum charging rate for the vehicle you are considering; however, that does not mean you will always get that charging speed throughout the charging cycle. The charging speeds are actively controlled by the vehicle systems and are dependent on charging hardware limitations, the battery temperature (too hot or too cold will limit charging speed), battery SOC (the higher the SOC, the slower the battery can accept energy), and the vehicle software that protects the battery by establishing a charging curve depending on SOC (each EV is different). This issue applies equally to non-Tesla and Tesla vehicles.

Ambient temperature, wind, and precipitation can all impact your range. Wind is the most problematic. If you have a head wind, or side wind, that increases the amount of energy required to maintain speed, your range will be dramatically reduced. If you are faced with a 10-15 mph headwind (which might not be that noticeable while you are driving) while you are trying to maintain a 75 mph speed, the vehicle is expending energy as if it is trying to maintain 85-90 mph. 

Extreme cold or hot temperatures will also affect the battery temperature. The battery efficiency is reduced when at extreme temperatures. Additionally, the Battery Management System (BMS) may automatically activate to maintain a more reasonable battery temperature – which uses energy to operate. These conditions will reduce your range. 

Precipitation on the roadway (rain/snow/slush) will cause extra rolling resistance and reduce your range as well. When planning a long trip, it is a good idea to research the weather conditions expected – many state departments of transportation (DOTs) maintain traveler information sites that include weather and road conditions that could help you determine the weather conditions on the highway. If you don’t have real-time weather conditions, keep an eye on your dash to monitor estimated range and efficiency (miles per kWh). 

This is a pretty obvious one, you just need to be aware of elevation changes and/or mountain passes to be traversed on your trip. If your next charging facility is 3,000 feet above where you are starting, you need to know your range will be reduced along the way. The opposite is also true – you might be able to make it to a charging facility farther away if you are going to be traveling primarily downhill.