Need tips for planning road trip

[IndyJeffrey]

Hi folks, I am a new MME owner and am about to set off on a couple fall road trips. I am a bit anxious about surviving these trips as I have significant range anxiety based on one 175 mile trip I have taken.

Upcoming trips include one of 270 miles, the other 330 miles (each one way). One of these trips is to Michigan, where one would think there would be an abundance of chargers, but early research shows this may not necessarily be the case. Sigh.

I am looking for the best apps and/or methods for planning these trips. Also, based on your experience, any tips for the trip? Thanks!

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[AliRafiee]

Try PlugShare

 

[Nolanbro]

use built in nav

 

[AhardFSU]

Do you have the NACS adapter from Ford or A2Z or Lectron? That will open up more charging options for your trip. Use Plugshare to identify and read reviews on potential charging stations along your route. You need to know where the stations are before you begin a trip. ABRP is useful in planning your bc it allows you to enter battery state of charge of estimates, which will help it determine where you should/could charge along your route.

 

[Fremont Kid]

I'm not intending to demean your range anxiety. In fact I want to help alleviate it because those are modest one-way trips. Here is my advice - and I've driven from central Illinois to Colorado front range twice, and from the front range to SF Bay Area (2,700 miles round trip). Others on the blog site have driven as far and more. Stay confident.

First, be sure to set a departure time because this time of year the ambient temperature can be cool enough that the battery fluid should be warmed so that the battery will provide optimum range when you begin the trip. This may not be possible if you stay overnight without the mobile charger or a plug-in source for the charger. Temps are not below freezing yet so probably not much range reduction.

Second, plan your trip using both Plug Share and the built-in navigation system. I plan the highways and freeways/Interstates I want to take then use Plug Share to find chargers along those routes. I write a trip plan beginning with the current charging location then the next charging location and note the distance so that I can reach the charger or know that I can reach the next charger, etc. The trip plan to the Bay Area had 10-11 stops.

Third, be sure you practice finding local chargers using the built-in navigation. Navigating the steps is convoluted because you need to set a destination then find chargers along the way, then set a charger as an additional destination or waypoint. Easy once you become familiar. And the system allows chargers to be selected as you drive.

All the best.

 

[Thunderbuck]

Try PlugShare

Yup, this. PlugShare has good (not perfect, but good) trip planning tools.

Just planning a trip myself for early December and I just discovered a cool feature in the PlugShare trip planner: an elevation profile for your trip. It's good to know when you're reaching high elevations (because at those points you're going to see your lowest "buffer").

 

[Sikkun]

A Better Route Planner

 

[Mach-Lee]

Use abetterrouteplanner.com

 

[Fremont Kid]

Yup, this. PlugShare has good (not perfect, but good) trip planning tools.

Just planning a trip myself for early December and I just discovered a cool feature in the PlugShare trip planner: an elevation profile for your trip. It's good to know when you're reaching high elevations (because at those points you're going to see your lowest "buffer").

True. For fun you can monitor how much energy is regenerated downhill.

 

[IndyJeffrey]

Do you have the NACS adapter from Ford or A2Z or Lectron? That will open up more charging options for your trip. Use Plugshare to identify and read reviews on potential charging stations along your route. You need to know where the stations are before you begin a trip. ABRP is useful in planning your bc it allows you to enter battery state of charge of estimates, which will help it determine where you should/could charge along your route.

Sadly, my adapter is scheduled to arrive in November.

Thank you to everyone for the tips!

 

[kltye]

I live sort of nearby and I'm quite familiar with the chargers in the area. I'm pretty sure most of Michigan has you covered (unless you're going to the UP). Which Mach-E do you have? I am spoiled with the efficiency of my ER RWD, so if you have an SR AWD it's quite a bit of difference.

 

[Wallie]

Hi folks, I am a new MME owner and am about to set off on a couple fall road trips. I am a bit anxious about surviving these trips as I have significant range anxiety based on one 175 mile trip I have taken.

Upcoming trips include one of 270 miles, the other 330 miles (each one way). One of these trips is to Michigan, where one would think there would be an abundance of chargers, but early research shows this may not necessarily be the case. Sigh.

I am looking for the best apps and/or methods for planning these trips. Also, based on your experience, any tips for the trip? Thanks!

I drove from Amsterdam (Holland) to Barcelona (Spain) and back using the Ford built-in navigation without any problem ?
Apple Maps works fine too but you need to add your car to Apple Maps for correct battery information.

Make sure to bring multiple charging cards with you?

 

[AhardFSU]

Sadly, my adapter is scheduled to arrive in November.

Oof!

 

[CameraCarl]

Sadly, my adapter is scheduled to arrive in November.

Considering how frequently the adapters have been delayed, you seriously need to consider getting an A2Z adapter. They have a deal where you get extra savings if you buy both the adapter for the Tesla Supercharger and the Tesla destination (found at many hotels) chargers.

 

[Thunderbuck]

Sadly, my adapter is scheduled to arrive in November.

I faced a situation where I was planning a big trip and wanted Supercharger access and I bit the bullet and bought the A2Z. I liked it so much I'm keeping it. I figure with all those GM and Kia/Hyundai drivers who aren't getting adapters I can find one of them to sell my Ford one to when it finally arrives.

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