SoCal to Las Vegas and back - 2nd road trip with my 21 Premium X

[dimes4slim]

This was our second 270 mile one-way trip to Las Vegas through the Mohave desert. I might have been able to eek this out without stopping for a charge, but I have a wife! We stopped in Barstow, which has several charging choices, but ultimately chose a Tesla location with 120 superchargers. (yes, 120) There were less than a dozen cars at 10 am, so I had my choice. Using my Ford provided adapter for the first time went well, though plug & charge did not work for me. I had to choose the chargers in the Ford app before charging would begin. Is that normal? I also decided to use the Tesla station in Henderson, NV with a similar experience, though this station at the M Hotel had ONLY 24 chargers, with about half in use at 9 pm. Since I only charged to 81%, we decided to stop again at the same Tesla station in Barstow on the return trip. Only 3 were in use at 10 am this time.

If the choir would like to chime in, why wouldn't you always chose a Tesla station with massive number of chargers where a wait would be unlikely? The EA stations locally in Southern California around me have 4 to 6 stalls, and they are usually all in use or broken. I believe the charging prices are similar. Even a small disparity in price would not make it worth waiting to get into a stall.

MY GOM was quite accurate going to Vegas, coming in within 10 miles of actual versus projected range with my electric WahWah pedal usually in the 80 - 85 mph for a good part of the trip. On the return trip, the mapping indicated 122 miles to home so I charged to 141 miles of distance. Since there are several 4,000+ feet of altitude change, expected the differential to shrink until I came down into the L.A basin. It got down to a 4 mile differential (in my favor), but then a message popped up indicating that another charge was necessary to make it home. I ignored it, and magically it soon showed that I had a +17 differential which I maintained upon arrival.

My road trip confidence has been boosted by this experience, thanks to the perceived support of the Tesla network. As an epilogue, about 2 hours after we got home, both of our phones chimed with a message from the Ford app that the right rear tire was down to 25 psi. I quickly noticed a screw in the center of the tread block. At the rate it was losing air, it must have happened quite close to home. A quick trip to America's Tire (Discount Tire outside of southern Cal), they said they couldn't patch it because I was down to 3/32" tread wear. I found an independent Mom & Pop tire shop that did the deed for $25. Since my 2025 Mach-E GT is supposed to arrive later this month, I wasn't looking to spend $1k on new tires.

A big thanks to this forum for all the help, tips, and confidence it provides. I am looking forward to continuing the journey with my new GT soon!

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[ocdxfv]

I recently did a 3200 mile round trip from So Cal to Mt Rushmore and tried to use only Tesla chargers. The end result was 15 Tesla stops, 5 EA stops. The avg. Tesla (with membership) was .39/kWh. EA was .59/kWh. I would only use Tesla if possible.

 

[The Electric Duo]

Congrats on another road trip! We did a similar route recently in our Mach-E but it was from Oceanside to Vegas. We made a video and included a bunch of tips for newer EV owners. We used the EA station in Barstow on the way there and then stopped at the Tesla Supercharger in South Las Vegas. We wanted to show both EA and Tesla stations and charging experience. To the surprise of many, the EA session was flawless and then at the Supercharger we had multiple issues!

 

[HughJazzol]

120?
Damnnn.

 

[The Electric Duo]

120?
Damnnn.

Oh yeah, I forgot we had a video on that too!

 

[IgorKl]

i switched to Tesla as soon as I got adapter. I used other brands chargers only if it make more convenient for my trip. Usually Tesla prices lower than EA along the main roads, but can be higher when TOU enforced.

 

[WallyS56]

This was our second 270 mile one-way trip to Las Vegas through the Mohave desert. I might have been able to eek this out without stopping for a charge, but I have a wife! We stopped in Barstow, which has several charging choices, but ultimately chose a Tesla location with 120 superchargers. (yes, 120) There were less than a dozen cars at 10 am, so I had my choice. Using my Ford provided adapter for the first time went well, though plug & charge did not work for me. I had to choose the chargers in the Ford app before charging would begin. Is that normal? I also decided to use the Tesla station in Henderson, NV with a similar experience, though this station at the M Hotel had ONLY 24 chargers, with about half in use at 9 pm. Since I only charged to 81%, we decided to stop again at the same Tesla station in Barstow on the return trip. Only 3 were in use at 10 am this time.

If the choir would like to chime in, why wouldn't you always chose a Tesla station with massive number of chargers where a wait would be unlikely? The EA stations locally in Southern California around me have 4 to 6 stalls, and they are usually all in use or broken. I believe the charging prices are similar. Even a small disparity in price would not make it worth waiting to get into a stall.

MY GOM was quite accurate going to Vegas, coming in within 10 miles of actual versus projected range with my electric WahWah pedal usually in the 80 - 85 mph for a good part of the trip. On the return trip, the mapping indicated 122 miles to home so I charged to 141 miles of distance. Since there are several 4,000+ feet of altitude change, expected the differential to shrink until I came down into the L.A basin. It got down to a 4 mile differential (in my favor), but then a message popped up indicating that another charge was necessary to make it home. I ignored it, and magically it soon showed that I had a +17 differential which I maintained upon arrival.

My road trip confidence has been boosted by this experience, thanks to the perceived support of the Tesla network. As an epilogue, about 2 hours after we got home, both of our phones chimed with a message from the Ford app that the right rear tire was down to 25 psi. I quickly noticed a screw in the center of the tread block. At the rate it was losing air, it must have happened quite close to home. A quick trip to America's Tire (Discount Tire outside of southern Cal), they said they couldn't patch it because I was down to 3/32" tread wear. I found an independent Mom & Pop tire shop that did the deed for $25. Since my 2025 Mach-E GT is supposed to arrive later this month, I wasn't looking to spend $1k on new tires.

A big thanks to this forum for all the help, tips, and confidence it provides. I am looking forward to continuing the journey with my new GT soon!

With over 10,000 miles in Mach E roadtripping, here are some learned tips:
1. Turn off Ford plug and charge and always use the Tesla app to initiate charging.
2. If you don’t charge at home and/or plan to take more road trips, subscribe to Tesla to get the discount; it pays for itself in one charge. You can initiate and cancel easily depending on your needs.
3. EA is always more expensive than Tesla in my experience and, as noted, less available and dependable. Even with the subscription.
4. Tesla Superchargers always charge faster, even though EA boasts Ultra and Hyper charging.
I’m interested in others experiences pertaining to mine.

 

[Tampamike]

4. Tesla Superchargers always charge faster, even though EA boasts Ultra and Hyper charging.
I’m interested in others experiences pertaining to mine.

I’d disagree on that. The car decides how fast it is going to charge. An EA 350kw unit will be the fastest because it can deliver more amps. Tesla would be second and the EA will be third. The difference, however is a matter of 2 or 3 minutes between them all, in my experience.

 

[leehinde]

I had to choose the chargers in the Ford app before charging would begin. Is that normal?

Didn't even occur to me to use the Ford app the first time I used a supercharger. I used the Tesla app. And that asked which stall I was using as well.

 

[stoopid]

Literally the other day I was talking with a friend in LA about visiting with my MME (when I had an ICE vehicle this was obviously more casual). I know I can get guestimates from the apps/other sites, but real life experience is the kind of peace of mind that could be useful for me in committing to the trip. The max I've done around town in a single trip is 100 miles and that put me at 50%-ish. Range anxiety is real if I'm going to wander deep into the desert.

1) There's up/down hills both ways, and 6 months of the year air conditioning will be running. With my 240 mile range on flat ground in 65F weather, what can I reasonably expect as my margin for error pulling into Barstow? [It's 158 miles from my door to the 120 supercharger station, so maybe 15% remaining? Seems reasonable I'll make it?]

2) How fast will the MME charge with the standard NACS adapter? How long should I reasonably plan to be in Barstow? [I think at 150kw it will be at worse 30 minutes]

3) Once in LA, are all the public chargers crowded? I'll possibly have access to a 120V for mobile charging, but possibly not enough time to charge to 100%. I'd rather be prepared and line up some charging options near Burbank, close to my destination.

4) If known, how much charge would I need to get to Barstow? I know there's that huge hill and that's going suck the battery dry. [Google maps estimate from friend's house to the 120 supercharger station in Barstow is 108 miles]

 

[stoopid]

As an epilogue, about 2 hours after we got home, both of our phones chimed with a message from the Ford app that the right rear tire was down to 25 psi. I quickly noticed a screw in the center of the tread block. At the rate it was losing air, it must have happened quite close to home. A quick trip to America's Tire (Discount Tire outside of southern Cal), they said they couldn't patch it because I was down to 3/32" tread wear. I found an independent Mom & Pop tire shop that did the deed for $25. Since my 2025 Mach-E GT is supposed to arrive later this month, I wasn't looking to spend $1k on new tires.

You can actually patch your own tires. I've never done it and didn't even know it was a thing (I'm a closet car guy, and feel that was something that was somehow in my blindspot so to speak). I carry this kit with me now and already carried a portable air compressor. Because of where I live, I carry water and other things I didn't back East. Any little bit of added security seems warranted if traveling here in the summer.

 

[RickMachE]

Literally the other day I was talking with a friend in LA about visiting with my MME (when I had an ICE vehicle this was obviously more casual). I know I can get guestimates from the apps/other sites, but real life experience is the kind of peace of mind that could be useful for me in committing to the trip. The max I've done around town in a single trip is 100 miles and that put me at 50%-ish. Range anxiety is real if I'm going to wander deep into the desert.

1) There's up/down hills both ways, and 6 months of the year air conditioning will be running. With my 240 mile range on flat ground in 65F weather, what can I reasonably expect as my margin for error pulling into Barstow?

2) How fast will the MME charge with the standard NACS adapter? How long should I reasonably plan to be in Barstow?

3) Once in LA, are all the public chargers crowded? I'll possibly have access to a 120V for mobile charging, but possibly not enough time to charge to 100%. I'd rather be prepared and line up some charging options near Burbank, close to my destination.

4) If known, how much charge would I need to get to Barstow? I know there's that huge hill and that's going suck the battery dry.

You don't get "guesstimates" from an app like ABRP, you get realworld trip planning, taking into account your vehicle, the speed limits, the terrain, etc. And, you get charging time forecasts that are pretty accurate.

As to how much you'll add with 120v charging, it's 1.1kW per hour. Simple math to figure out what you'll have by when.

You'll pull into Barstow with about 24% charge, and you'll be leaving in 16 minutes at 60%, if arriving in LA with 10% works for you.

PlugShare allows you to see chargers at your destination.

 

[WallyS56]

I’d disagree on that. The car decides how fast it is going to charge. An EA 350kw unit will be the fastest because it can deliver more amps. Tesla would be second and the EA will be third. The difference, however is a matter of 2 or 3 minutes between them all, in my experience.

Currently, the charging level capacity on the Mach E’s 91 kw battery can only charge at a maximum of 150 kws so Hyper or Ultra charging levels of 250 or 350 don’t apply. EA also chokes down the charge kilowatts when more cars are using a given station while, at the same time, limiting your charging to 80%. I’ve not experienced this at Tesla Superchargers.

 

[RickMachE]

Currently, the charging level capacity on the Mach E’s 91 kw battery can only charge at a maximum of 150 kws so Hyper or Ultra charging levels of 250 or 350 don’t apply. EA also chokes down the charge kilowatts when more cars are using a given station while, at the same time, limiting your charging to 80%. I’ve not experienced this at Tesla Superchargers.

At some congested locations, they are limiting to 85%, not 80%.

https://www.electrifyamerica.com/soc-pilot/

 

[mdolan92869]

Literally the other day I was talking with a friend in LA about visiting with my MME (when I had an ICE vehicle this was obviously more casual). I know I can get guestimates from the apps/other sites, but real life experience is the kind of peace of mind that could be useful for me in committing to the trip. The max I've done around town in a single trip is 100 miles and that put me at 50%-ish. Range anxiety is real if I'm going to wander deep into the desert.

1) There's up/down hills both ways, and 6 months of the year air conditioning will be running. With my 240 mile range on flat ground in 65F weather, what can I reasonably expect as my margin for error pulling into Barstow? [It's 158 miles from my door to the 120 supercharger station, so maybe 15% remaining? Seems reasonable I'll make it?]

2) How fast will the MME charge with the standard NACS adapter? How long should I reasonably plan to be in Barstow? [I think at 150kw it will be at worse 30 minutes]

3) Once in LA, are all the public chargers crowded? I'll possibly have access to a 120V for mobile charging, but possibly not enough time to charge to 100%. I'd rather be prepared and line up some charging options near Burbank, close to my destination.

4) If known, how much charge would I need to get to Barstow? I know there's that huge hill and that's going suck the battery dry. [Google maps estimate from friend's house to the 120 supercharger station in Barstow is 108 miles]

If you're really worried about range, don't forget that there are EA stations in Baker you can use. Just stop long enough to use the facilities and add a couple of dozen or more miles. Then no worries about getting into Barstow. And once in LA, use the apps (PlugShare, ABRP, etc) to look up nearby stations and see how many are free for use. There are enough of them around town to not worry about it. Just enjoy the trip, you'll be fine.

In the fall of 2021 (pre-Tesla charging), I drove from Orange County to Fort Worth, Texas. Had all sorts of charging anxiety before I left, now I have none. I just drive.

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