Cali to Texas in a SR Select

[MMEGamer]

Trip Details:

Start: Central California
Stop: Dallas, Texas

Total driving time : ~ 36 H

Charging Network: EA only

Applications used to plan road trip: PlugShare, Google maps, EA app

Car: Mach E Select SR

Total EA network cost ~$50 (Ford App)

Major obstacle: Slow charging rate at certain DC Fast Chargers (~30 kWh) due to extreme temperatures >110 F. This only occurred at 2-3 locations out of the many stops.

I decided only utilize the EA fast charging network. Given the paucity of EA charging infrastructure in Western Texas, I had to cross over east to OK and then head south to Dallas.

Blue Cruise worked well for the entire duration. I utilized the comments section on PlugShare which made me aware of which specific chargers at certain locations were slower than others. I also planned my nights at a hotel based on walking proximity to an EA charging station.

Many charging stations were not working at most of the locations, however, except for one location I did not have to wait to charge given I was the only person traveling with an EV. I only saw a handful of EV's once I left California.

I would definitely do the trip again.

This trip did make me realize first hand the infrastructure is not ready for mass EV use and the unreliability of the EA network.

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[mdolan92869]

Trip Details:

Start: Central California
Stop: Dallas, Texas

Total driving time : ~ 36 H

Charging Network: EA only

Applications used to plan road trip: PlugShare, Google maps, EA app

Car: Mach E Select SR

Total EA network cost ~$50 (Ford App)

Major obstacle: Slow charging rate at certain DC Fast Chargers (~30 kWh) due to extreme temperatures >110 F. This only occurred at 2-3 locations out of the many stops.

I decided only utilize the EA fast charging network. Given the paucity of EA charging infrastructure in Western Texas, I had to cross over east to OK and then head south to Dallas.

Blue Cruise worked well for the entire duration. I utilized the comments section on PlugShare which made me aware of which specific chargers at certain locations were slower than others. I also planned my nights at a hotel based on walking proximity to an EA charging station.

Many charging stations were not working at most of the locations, however, except for one location I did not have to wait to charge given I was the only person traveling with an EV. I only saw a handful of EV's once I left California.

I would definitely do the trip again.

This trip did make me realize first hand the infrastructure is not ready for mass EV use and the unreliability of the EA network.

What route did you take or were wanting to take? I drove from SoCal to Fort Worth in September 2021 and there was no problem in west Texas finding chargers along I-10, then I-20.

 

[MMEGamer]

There weren't any EA chargers between Amarillo and Dallas. Either I had to go east on I-40 or South on I-27 and east on I-20. I chose to go east I-40 given there were more and reliable EA chargers. The drive time was also slightly shorter. There was a 50KW charger directly between Amarillo and Dallas but I did not want to risk relying on a single charging location. Given I had a SR and not ER, I had to be more mindful. I always kept at least a range of 40 miles at each rest stop just to give me enough range to travel to another location if needed due to any issues.

 

[Monke]

$50 for the trip is very cheap. We usually spent at least $40 for our 700 mile round trip on I-20 east of Dallas. That is not included a tank from home and a fill up when we got home (10-20% left). Most of those electrons are free for us because of a free weekend plan.

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