CA to Dallas trip tips?

[MMEGamer]

Hey everyone,

I have a 2023 MME and I am planning a trip from Central California to Dallas in a few weeks. I have a blast driving it and blue cruise will make the journey a pleasure as well. The range is my concern.

I have a Select RWD so my real world range is closer to ~210 miles full charge. Given the heat and use of climate control during the drive this could dip even more.

I’ve planned the trip using PlugShare. There are no chargers currently east of Amarillo to Dallas. I have to route through OKC into Dallas.

I plan on making this trip alone over a three day period.

Anything else I should consider? Has anyone else made this trip? Any pro-tips?

Thanks

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[mdolan92869]

I did an OC to DFW trip fall 2021, taking my mom to visit her sister. No real problems, there was the occasional slow charger, but I just went to another one. Mine is the extended range, so I didn’t really have much range anxiety. I’d say go for it, wished I had Blue Cruise when I did it, it will be nicer for you. BTW, in Pecos Texas there is an EA charging station in a Sonic Drive-In parking lot. So, if you like burgers and time it right, you can pull in, plug in and eat. No sitting there staring at a WalMart parking lot.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

There are lots of threads here on tools for road trips. ABRP (A Better Route Planner) will map out routes for you. Be sure to set it up initially for your car and driving specifics. It will be much more accurate that way. PlugShare is a good source for lessening the chances of arriving at a non-functioning charger, but know that it's only as good as the info others put into it, so it may not be 100% up to date. (And if it isn't, do others a solid and make your own post to let future users know what's what.) The built-in Ford Nav is supposed to be quite good for routing to charging stations and will pre-condition the battery on the way so that when you arrive charging should go faster. That's more of an issue in the winter months, but worth using anytime, I should imagine. Good luck and have fun! (You're clearly a lot younger than I am - there's no way I'd be able to do that drive in three days!)

 

[Orangefirefish]

Hey everyone,

I have a 2023 MME and I am moving from Central California to Dallas in a few weeks. Initially I had planned to ship the car but now I am considering driving it. I have a blast driving it and blue cruise will make the journey a pleasure as well. The range is my concern.

I have a Select RWD so my real world range is closer to ~210 miles full charge. Given the heat and use of climate control during the drive this could dip even more.

I’ve planned the trip using PlugShare. There are no chargers currently west of Amarillo to Dallas. I have to route through OKC into Dallas.

I plan on making this trip alone over a three day period.

Anything else I should consider? Has anyone else made this trip? Any pro-tips?

Thanks

Have done SF Bay Area to Arkansas and back once, and then back again to Arkansas when we moved with our Premium SR RWD. Stick to EA chargers. No real concerns except in Kingman, AZ where there was a perpetually problematic charger (it was fixed last time I went through)
One thing is in Oklahoma you might find yourself with a non EA charger. Around OKC you should be good on EA but just in case grab the Francis Energy app in advance. The Francis Energy network is fine, sometimes slower chargers but you will need to add money to that network, so it’s a little annoying. Have fun! It’s very doable and actually enjoyable. And enjoy Texas! ?

 

[Monke]

West Texas to Dallas will see 4,000' grade change. You may have to hit every EA stations on I-20. It is summer so the range will not be that bad. Charge in Sweetwater and charge again in Eastland.

 

[scoopman]

Not to jinx you @MMEGamer but do you have the newer design HVBJB? You might also want to get AAA in case you need any support along the way.

 

[BigMach-E]

Not to jinx you @MMEGamer but do you have the newer design HVBJB? You might also want to get AAA in case you need any support along the way.

He does, it’s a 2023 so it has to, right? There’s no way that year can have the older design, I hope:

 

[MMEGamer]

Not to jinx you @MMEGamer but do you have the newer design HVBJB? You might also want to get AAA in case you need any support along the way.

Yeah, it’s the newer design. No issues with the car so far. I wish they had offered an extended range battery.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I recently went from Flagstaff to Houston and back. I have the ER. Instead of routing through OKC, I took the farm highways from the DCFC in Erick, OK to the DCFC in Lawton, OK. It's 120 miles at 65 mph or slower, so you get much better miles/kWh, and it's a very pleasant drive.

 

[dbsb3233]

Watch for elevation changes. Going up or down thousands of feet from one charger to the next can make a serious difference in your mileage. A 4000' climb can potentially drop you as low as 2.0 MPK for that leg. I put an app (MyElevation) on my phone to look up elevations in advance. Or just ask a voice assistant in the car ("Hey Google, what's the elevation of Flagstaff Arizona").

Personally, I charge up to 80% or more every leg, rather than what the trip planners say (they usually target a 10% arrival). I like more safety buffer for more options and more peace of mind. Ya never know what you'll run into. A strong headwind can easily cost 10%. So I charge "top-down" like an ICE car rather than "bottom-up" like the EV trip planners want. The few extra minutes at each charger is worth it. I often arrive at the next charger at 30-40%, so I have enough left to reach a backup charger just in case.

With the SR battery, I'd probably keep my drive legs around 100 miles or less.

Also try to pick hotels that have L2 chargers. Even if they have them, you can't always count on them being available and working, but it's a great bonus when they do. Plugshare usually lists them.

 

[RickMachE]

I have a Select RWD so my real world range is closer to ~210 miles full charge. Given the heat and use of climate control during the drive this could dip even more.

Effective range on every leg but the first is basically 60%, i.e. 80% down to 20% and back to 80%. Use ABRP for best planning.

 

[dbsb3233]

Also note that TX is a per-minute state at EA, so there you probably don't want to charge over 80%. Gets over twice as expensive at that point.

 

[scoopman]

Yeah, it’s the newer design. No issues with the car so far. I wish they had offered an extended range battery.

That's good then -- sounds like quite the adventure to see if you can make it there.

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