Hitting the road this weekend? Get ready for your electric road trip!

[On the Road with Ralph]

What's your preferred method for cost comparison?

Thanks for asking; that's a good question.

On my long distance travel, I am most likely to stop at one of three charging networks: Tesla, EA, or iONNA (ok, occasionally ChargePoint). The stop is going to coincide with my need for a break (I am fond of saying that what determines the range of my truck is not the battery – it's my bladder), so I'm also going to want amenities there. It's getting to be pretty common that at any natural stopping point there will be two or more choices. So as I'm driving along, I'll check the appropriate network app or PlugShare for the pricing at each station. Some of that can be done on the center screen via CarPlay. In the case of iONNA, it's just easy to assume that it's going to be either 37¢ or 39¢ (unless they are running a holiday special).

I actually prefer to do a significant portion of my travel at night – there is less traffic and charging stations are likely to be less congested. So I make time-of-day pricing part of my trip planning. Often, night and early morning kW costs are A LOT lower than daytime, particularly at Tesla Superchargers. Case in point: There is a Tesla site in Santa Fe that, even with a membership, is 40¢ during the day, but only 21¢ at night. It is worth noting that the nearby EA site - which is always crowded - is a flat 42¢ with a membership.

On my most recent 2000± mile trip through the open West, my average cost per kW was just over 31¢ (tho' that includes one free charge at a hotel - and I often choose lodging based on whether it has L2 chargers). I suspect this is significantly lower than what most EV drivers - especially those that default to plug-and-charge - experience.

Side note: With this thread, my response score just broke 1000. I hope I've been able to contribute to the discussions.

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[Rayden]

Thanks for the response, Ralph. As I've said here before, I think GasBuddy is missing an opportunity to create a ChargeBuddy and make it function the same way.

 

[RickLightning]

Thanks for the response, Ralph. As I've said here before, I think GasBuddy is missing an opportunity to create a ChargeBuddy and make it function the same way.

The problem would be that crowd sourcing charging costs would be a cluster. The actual cost is in apps already.

 

[RickLightning]

My three road trip tips are:
1) Keep plug and charge enabled because you never know when you will end up at a charging station with no cell service and no credit card reader.
2) Carry at least a gallon of water in the frunk for you and your dog.
3) Try to charge at the least cost charging station when possible because charging providers track this information and if we want cheaper charging, providers need to know we are price sensitive.

1) Except when a Tesla or EA session fails to start (and Tesla has no display), then Plug & Charge takes over and you don't know...

3) I cannot imagine anyone sophisticated enough to track that, and most consumers are too ill-informed to understand pricing today. That is why so many laud the high priced EVgo chargers. Many don't even realize that some Tesla chargers, near others, are a different price. And years of free GM and other makes has screwed up the data.

 

[RickLightning]

What's your preferred method for cost comparison?

Lowest price...

 

[Ned B]

I was returning from vacation yesterday, and the nearest ‘fast’ charger was at a Ford dealer nearby, they had two DCFC, and several level 2 chargers as well. Despite my being the only vehicle charging it was a comparatively slow DCFC session. Other than that it was excellent! Plug & Charge went smooth & it was easy to get to. The next nearest charger was a Tesla, out of my way by several miles.

I went from 30-80%, unplugged & headed towards home. I was going to use an EA for the next leg (SR battery), but spotted a Pilot charger. That one was faster, similar 35-80% charge. When I was almost home I got the Warning, but was only 6 miles away, so I ignored it. Great experience with both sessions. My level 2 had me back up to 80 by the time I headed out to work early this morning.

 

[RickLightning]

I was returning from vacation yesterday, and the nearest ‘fast’ charger was at a Ford dealer nearby, they had two DCFC, and several level 2 chargers as well. Despite my being the only vehicle charging it was a comparatively slow DCFC session. Other than that it was excellent! Plug & Charge went smooth & it was easy to get to. The next nearest charger was a Tesla, out of my way by several miles.

I went from 30-80%, unplugged & headed towards home. I was going to use an EA for the next leg (SR battery), but spotted a Pilot charger. That one was faster, similar 35-80% charge. When I was almost home I got the Warning, but was only 6 miles away, so I ignored it. Great experience with both sessions. My level 2 had me back up to 80 by the time I headed out to work early this morning.

Many Ford dealerships have relatively slow DCFC. Many are 125kWs that max out around 110kW.

The Tesla would have maxed out in the 180s. And likely was cheaper. A few miles would have been worth it.

PlugShare would have shown you the Ford charging speed. Ford app would show you the cost.

 

[K6CCC]

I cannot imagine anyone sophisticated enough to track that, and most consumers are too ill-informed to understand pricing today. That is why so many laud the high priced EVgo chargers. Many don't even realize that some Tesla chargers, near others, are a different price. And years of free GM and other makes has screwed up the data.

Off hand, I wold disagree with that. I'm sure there are plenty of people that check pricing when DCFCing. I certainly do. As with many people most of my charging is at home so only using DCFC on the road. Using my last road trip to Tucson as an example, my first overnight was in Quartzite, AZ. There is an 4 stall E.A. station, a 6 stall Rivian station, and an 84 stall Tesla station available (there is also a 36 stall Tesla only station). I checked pricing for all three and with the Tesla membership, it was the least expensive - and with 84 stalls, plenty of space. Coming home my last stop was El Centro, CA where there are two Tesla stations available to us and an E.A. station. I stopped at the more northern Tesla station because it was the least expensive (it also was a V4 so had the longer cables).

If there is a widespread exception, I would speculate that it is Tesla drivers because they most likely just go to the closest Tesla SuperCharger...

 

[RickLightning]

Off hand, I wold disagree with that. I'm sure there are plenty of people that check pricing when DCFCing. I certainly do. As with many people most of my charging is at home so only using DCFC on the road. Using my last road trip to Tucson as an example, my first overnight was in Quartzite, AZ. There is an 4 stall E.A. station, a 6 stall Rivian station, and an 84 stall Tesla station available (there is also a 36 stall Tesla only station). I checked pricing for all three and with the Tesla membership, it was the least expensive - and with 84 stalls, plenty of space. Coming home my last stop was El Centro, CA where there are two Tesla stations available to us and an E.A. station. I stopped at the more northern Tesla station because it was the least expensive (it also was a V4 so had the longer cables).

If there is a widespread exception, I would speculate that it is Tesla drivers because they most likely just go to the closest Tesla SuperCharger...

You may disagree, but it is reality. Few check prices.

 

[K6CCC]

You may disagree, but it is reality. Few check prices.

Of course either of us know that answer, we're just speculating..

 

[DavidS]

You may disagree, but it is reality. Few check prices.

Lots of people pay extra for their gas too until it suddenly jumps 50%.

 

[Mal106]

I check prices always and, with few exceptions, Tesla is the cheapest. Off hours some of their DCFC chargers are only $.01 more than my home charging. I feel like any animosity for Elon should be exhibited by selling stock. Anything else just hurts the hard working middle class employees of the most American auto manufacturer there is.

DCFC and it's pricing is still one of the biggest obstructions to EV adoption there is. If locations and pricing were as visable as gas, I think many more would consider EVs.

Having said that, I just finished a 6100 mi road trip. I did the math and, though I really wanted to use the Lightning, gas prices would have had to be $8.20 a gallon to break even. The PHEV Niro got 47mpg average at 65 to 85mph and my calculations were based on 40mpg. I based truck mileage at 2 mi per KWH which is optomistic at those speeds. The most I paid for gas was $7.759 in So CA and the average was about $4.10. I love the truck but it's not very efficient at hiway speeds.

The 100% charge at home to start and getting back with 10% or so makes shorter road trips far more competitive.

 

[Ned B]

Many Ford dealerships have relatively slow DCFC. Many are 125kWs that max out around 110kW.

The Tesla would have maxed out in the 180s. And likely was cheaper. A few miles would have been worth it.

PlugShare would have shown you the Ford charging speed. Ford app would show you the cost.

Well, good to know. Storm is Mostly a comfortable commute truck for me, replacing my last Volt. My selection process was what’s easiest to get to, then to the interstate. Surprisingly few charging options near my daughter’s house in Chesapeake VA. In the end, next time I’ll probably choose either the Tesla, or the EA which at least had strong DIY vibes, located at IKEA.
also I’m still trying out traveling with Storm, next up will be headed towards Gettysburg & the other daughter & grandkids..

 

[carys98]

Well, good to know. Storm is Mostly a comfortable commute truck for me, replacing my last Volt. My selection process was what’s easiest to get to, then to the interstate. Surprisingly few charging options near my daughter’s house in Chesapeake VA. In the end, next time I’ll probably choose either the Tesla, or the EA which at least had strong DIY vibes, located at IKEA.
also I’m still trying out traveling with Storm, next up will be headed towards Gettysburg & the other daughter & grandkids..

There is a Mercedes station at the outlets near the Norfolk Ikea that is cheaper and has the Alpitronic chargers that Ionna uses.

 

[Charge_Rob]

EVgo offers its own plug-in charge service through its own app, which allows for automatic charging. Auto plug+

I would strongly advise against using Autocharge with EVgo or any other network, it its far less secure - we have even seen recently EVgo Autocharge being used for unauthorized charge sessions by others.

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