TX to NM to AZ to NV and back

[T18C97]

Trip was using my wife's 2024 RWD Premium extended range. We left Austin TX and drive to Amarillo TX for the first night staying at a Holiday Inn which had Tesla Destination chargers which charged $0.34/kW and used them to get a 100% charge for the AM.

The next day we drove to Taos NM with a short stop over in Santa Fe for some museum viewing. In Taos we stayed in a nice little B&B which provided Tesla Destination chargers and there was no charge for using them so topped off every night we were there. Our next destination was Sedona AZ and stayed at another B&B which had a ClipperCreek and a Tesla charger available, again no charge for using them. Our last stop was onto Las Vegas where we stayed at a hotel which provided free charging if you used their concierge parking, which we would have used anyway. Now time to head home, stopping in El Paso over night at a motel that again had free Tesla chargers, needed to use my J3400->J1772 adapter for here. Our total trip was 3,128.7 miles and the car computed it at 3.0kW average for the entire trip. Most of this was driving in the 75 to 80 MPH range using BlueCruise where available.

This was the first road trip that we took where we could use Tesla Superchargers, our prior was in our Lyriq before Tesla opened the network up to GM vehicles. Having Tesla available made a world of difference especially in the Austin to Amarillo segment where non Tesla chargers were few and far between.

We did make used of other networks, the new IONNA station in Willcox AZ and the Rivian station in Wickenburg AZ. Both of those charing sessions went smoothly with no problem.

I wish I could say the same for stops using Electrify America stations, they continued to show a network that needs work. From stations that are out of order (but the app doesn't show it) to derated stations to their backend system not working at all so you couldn't charge at member rates and calls to support went unanswered. EVGo was a little better but like EA, show up to a station to find a charger not working although the app said all was well. We also tried a new Shell Recharge location but will probably avoid them in the future. Beside a derated station that we encountered they charge a $1.49 transaction fee on top of the kW rate plus they put a $70 hold on the credit card.

As for how the car performed, it had a couple hiccups. In AZ we ran into a bad rainstorm and after we cleared it the radar system had an issue where adaptive cruise control and Blue Cruise stopped working. But after 15 minutes or so it came back online. Blue Cruise also had a habit of veering towards exit ramps when it shouldn't. Our other car is a Lyriq which has Super Cruise and GM has tons more roads, including 2 lane roads mapped and available for use which would have been nice for the first days drive. I'm hoping that Ford will give this car auto lane change capability which I missed having with Blur Cruise.

Overall we enjoyed the road trip driving an EV. Yes we had to stop more often then if we used an ICE vehicle but frankly we liked the break after 90 to 120 minutes of driving.

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[Charge_Rob]

Hey Love the trip report!

What apps did you use for charging? I see the pre-authorization hold for Shell, does that mean you used their app directly? For all the chargers you mentioned (except Rivian) - IONNA, Shell, Tesla, Electrify America (and tons more) you can pay right inside of FordPass through BlueOval Charge Network with no preauth holds on your card.

 

[IgorKl]

Great trip report. 3 miles per kW it's a great consumption. I usually achieve it only on flats and steady driving

EA and EVGo will be mess until free charging expiration. People abuse them a lot.

 

[T18C97]

Hey Love the trip report!

What apps did you use for charging? I see the pre-authorization hold for Shell, does that mean you used their app directly? For all the chargers you mentioned (except Rivian) - IONNA, Shell, Tesla, Electrify America (and tons more) you can pay right inside of FordPass through BlueOval Charge Network with no preauth holds on your card.

Since I signed up for the monthly subscription plans at Tesla, EA and EVGo I had to use their app to initiate the charge to get the discounted rate. It would be nice if the Ford app would interface with all the other providers out there that had monthly plans so I could have used plug and charge.

As for the other providers I just used their apps just to make things easier in case there were any issues between Ford and the others. The preauthorizations really don't bother me, plenty of room on the card, just mentioning it for others.

 

[T18C97]

One thing I forgot to mention was battery preconditioning. I used ABRP along with a OBD adapter. I had set my route using ABRP so I knew where the chargers were going to be on my route and usually then used the infotainment navigation system to set the charging destination.

With ABRP and the OBD I was able to see the battery temperature and frankly I didn't see setting the destination in the on board navigation having any effect on the battery temperature. The readings when I arrived at the charger were about where they were when I left the previous session. I wasn't seeing any big changing in either heating or cooling the battery, it would start a charge in the upper 70s but also start a charge in the mid 90's.

 

[BOB4X]

One thing I forgot to mention was battery preconditioning. I used ABRP along with a OBD adapter. I had set my route using ABRP so I knew where the chargers were going to be on my route and usually then used the infotainment navigation system to set the charging destination.

With ABRP and the OBD I was able to see the battery temperature and frankly I didn't see setting the destination in the on board navigation having any effect on the battery temperature. The readings when I arrived at the charger were about where they were when I left the previous session. I wasn't seeing any big changing in either heating or cooling the battery, it would start a charge in the upper 70s but also start a charge in the mid 90's.

Did you have to do anything to get the OBD to work with ABRP? I have a 2025 and ABRP won't read the state of charge from the OBD when I link them. It will find the dongle but won't read that PID.

 

[T18C97]

Did you have to do anything to get the OBD to work with ABRP? I have a 2025 and ABRP won't read the state of charge from the OBD when I link them. It will find the dongle but won't read that PID.

No problems making it work.

 

[ebeponyan]

Might want to send your AI header image generator back to geography class.

 

[Tampamike]

That $0.34/kw at the Amarillo Holiday Inn was a little stiff. That’s basically Supercharger rates at level 2 speed. My one experience with a Tesla Destination was a Crowne Plaza at $0.25/kw which the hotel said there would be no charge to use. I guess they meant was that there was no charge by the hotel on top of what Tesla charged.

 

[T18C97]

That $0.34/kw at the Amarillo Holiday Inn was a little stiff. That’s basically Supercharger rates at level 2 speed. My one experience with a Tesla Destination was a Crowne Plaza at $0.25/kw which the hotel said there would be no charge to use. I guess they meant was that there was no charge by the hotel on top of what Tesla charged.

I didn’t have an issue with that price, a kW is a kW. It was nice to have a full charge when I was ready to go in the AM.

 

[Elmst-e]

We just took a somewhat similar trip. Lawrence, Ks. to Santa Fe with stops overnight in Amarillo going and Edmond, Ok coming back. Used EA and EvGo/ Flying J. Charged overnight at hotels in all three locations. Probably the same Holiday Inn express In Amarillo using an adaptor. Santa Fe was at LaFonda, a Chargepoint but free and the same in Edmond at a Hilton Garden. All hotels were smooth overnight charging. The EA stations were a pain to use, needing the “EA shuffle” every time. The EVGo stations were a pleasure to use. You do not need a monthly fee to use them and auto charge+ is the smoothest, quickest app we have used.

 

[RetiredPonyboy]

Trip was using my wife's 2024 RWD Premium extended range. We left Austin TX and drive to Amarillo TX for the first night staying at a Holiday Inn which had Tesla Destination chargers which charged $0.34/kW and used them to get a 100% charge for the AM.

The next day we drove to Taos NM with a short stop over in Santa Fe for some museum viewing. In Taos we stayed in a nice little B&B which provided Tesla Destination chargers and there was no charge for using them so topped off every night we were there. Our next destination was Sedona AZ and stayed at another B&B which had a ClipperCreek and a Tesla charger available, again no charge for using them. Our last stop was onto Las Vegas where we stayed at a hotel which provided free charging if you used their concierge parking, which we would have used anyway. Now time to head home, stopping in El Paso over night at a motel that again had free Tesla chargers, needed to use my J3400->J1772 adapter for here. Our total trip was 3,128.7 miles and the car computed it at 3.0kW average for the entire trip. Most of this was driving in the 75 to 80 MPH range using BlueCruise where available.

This was the first road trip that we took where we could use Tesla Superchargers, our prior was in our Lyriq before Tesla opened the network up to GM vehicles. Having Tesla available made a world of difference especially in the Austin to Amarillo segment where non Tesla chargers were few and far between.

We did make used of other networks, the new IONNA station in Willcox AZ and the Rivian station in Wickenburg AZ. Both of those charing sessions went smoothly with no problem.

I wish I could say the same for stops using Electrify America stations, they continued to show a network that needs work. From stations that are out of order (but the app doesn't show it) to derated stations to their backend system not working at all so you couldn't charge at member rates and calls to support went unanswered. EVGo was a little better but like EA, show up to a station to find a charger not working although the app said all was well. We also tried a new Shell Recharge location but will probably avoid them in the future. Beside a derated station that we encountered they charge a $1.49 transaction fee on top of the kW rate plus they put a $70 hold on the credit card.

As for how the car performed, it had a couple hiccups. In AZ we ran into a bad rainstorm and after we cleared it the radar system had an issue where adaptive cruise control and Blue Cruise stopped working. But after 15 minutes or so it came back online. Blue Cruise also had a habit of veering towards exit ramps when it shouldn't. Our other car is a Lyriq which has Super Cruise and GM has tons more roads, including 2 lane roads mapped and available for use which would have been nice for the first days drive. I'm hoping that Ford will give this car auto lane change capability which I missed having with Blur Cruise.

Overall we enjoyed the road trip driving an EV. Yes we had to stop more often then if we used an ICE vehicle but frankly we liked the break after 90 to 120 minutes of driving.

Great write-up. Do you mind sharing the name of the Sedona B&B? We have stayed at The Cliffs (formerly Orchards Inn) a couple of times and like it but would like to try a B&B next time.

Also, can you expand on "OBD adapter"? I don't know what that is. It monitors battery temperature?

 

[T18C97]

Great write-up. Do you mind sharing the name of the Sedona B&B? We have stayed at The Cliffs (formerly Orchards Inn) a couple of times and like it but would like to try a B&B next time.

Also, can you expand on "OBD adapter"? I don't know what that is. It monitors battery temperature?

This is where we stayed https://adobepines.com/.
On Board Diagnostics is an adapter there connects to a port that’s located under the dash near your left knee. Using software on you phone allows you to see a bunch of data that your cat is collecting.

 

[IgorKl]

One thing I forgot to mention was battery preconditioning. I used ABRP along with a OBD adapter. I had set my route using ABRP so I knew where the chargers were going to be on my route and usually then used the infotainment navigation system to set the charging destination.

With ABRP and the OBD I was able to see the battery temperature and frankly I didn't see setting the destination in the on board navigation having any effect on the battery temperature. The readings when I arrived at the charger were about where they were when I left the previous session. I wasn't seeing any big changing in either heating or cooling the battery, it would start a charge in the upper 70s but also start a charge in the mid 90's.

If your destination was Tesla SC it’s expected behavior, Ford navigation still does not recognize Tesla SC as charging point so no pre-condition.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

Trip was using my wife's 2024 RWD Premium extended range. We left Austin TX and drive to Amarillo TX for the first night staying at a Holiday Inn which had Tesla Destination chargers which charged $0.34/kW and used them to get a 100% charge for the AM.

The next day we drove to Taos NM with a short stop over in Santa Fe for some museum viewing. In Taos we stayed in a nice little B&B which provided Tesla Destination chargers and there was no charge for using them so topped off every night we were there. Our next destination was Sedona AZ and stayed at another B&B which had a ClipperCreek and a Tesla charger available, again no charge for using them. Our last stop was onto Las Vegas where we stayed at a hotel which provided free charging if you used their concierge parking, which we would have used anyway. Now time to head home, stopping in El Paso over night at a motel that again had free Tesla chargers, needed to use my J3400->J1772 adapter for here. Our total trip was 3,128.7 miles and the car computed it at 3.0kW average for the entire trip. Most of this was driving in the 75 to 80 MPH range using BlueCruise where available.

This was the first road trip that we took where we could use Tesla Superchargers, our prior was in our Lyriq before Tesla opened the network up to GM vehicles. Having Tesla available made a world of difference especially in the Austin to Amarillo segment where non Tesla chargers were few and far between.

We did make used of other networks, the new IONNA station in Willcox AZ and the Rivian station in Wickenburg AZ. Both of those charing sessions went smoothly with no problem.

I wish I could say the same for stops using Electrify America stations, they continued to show a network that needs work. From stations that are out of order (but the app doesn't show it) to derated stations to their backend system not working at all so you couldn't charge at member rates and calls to support went unanswered. EVGo was a little better but like EA, show up to a station to find a charger not working although the app said all was well. We also tried a new Shell Recharge location but will probably avoid them in the future. Beside a derated station that we encountered they charge a $1.49 transaction fee on top of the kW rate plus they put a $70 hold on the credit card.

As for how the car performed, it had a couple hiccups. In AZ we ran into a bad rainstorm and after we cleared it the radar system had an issue where adaptive cruise control and Blue Cruise stopped working. But after 15 minutes or so it came back online. Blue Cruise also had a habit of veering towards exit ramps when it shouldn't. Our other car is a Lyriq which has Super Cruise and GM has tons more roads, including 2 lane roads mapped and available for use which would have been nice for the first days drive. I'm hoping that Ford will give this car auto lane change capability which I missed having with Blur Cruise.

Overall we enjoyed the road trip driving an EV. Yes we had to stop more often then if we used an ICE vehicle but frankly we liked the break after 90 to 120 minutes of driving.

A little off topic but......Since you have an MME and a Lyriq. Would you mind a compare and contrast of the 2 vehicles. *If you were allowed to have only one of the two, which one would you choose and why? Thx

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