First Time “Stranded”

[RickMachE]

I use miles per kWh I'm getting, then drop it by 0.2, i.e. if I'm getting 2.7 I plan on 2.5.

We have to go 197 miles from a charger in Ohio to home. Last trip, there was only one of 6 or 8 EA chargers at full speed, and it was a 350kWh. I knew that from the way down, so I went right to it. As I was at around 70%, more cars showed up. I apologized, but said I needed 95% to safely get home, and not a single person had an issue with that.

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[Jeffvisor]

No beer, wine or whiskey, but there was a hot tub and I had my swimsuit.

This is a trip that I want to take fairly regularly. Unfortunately, I do live in a rural area so I have a choice between using state highways part of the way or adding several hours (without considering charging time) to stay on interstates. I’ll probably try a different route next time. Much as I love my MME I’ll probably use my PHEV when possible to make this trip. This was a relocation trip from our winter home and I wanted DH and I to have two cars for the months we were down south so to do that I had to drive the MME. I won’t worry so much about “hogging” chargers in future as I’ve now experienced the unreliability of past experience and app reporting in knowing whether the next charger is in good operating order. I will try to avoid weekend travel, will try to travel during regular business hours, and I will try to have a day’s buffer as to when I need to get home in case I need to stay at a motel overnight.

I knew I was pushing the limits because I wanted to see what the car was capable of in regard to long distance travel. I learned something and no real harm was done.

I had a similar situation in Central PA.... recently ran in to charging issues my car said I would not make it home it was 12:30 at night and no chargers alone the highway. Didn't have enough range to get off and look at hotels for chargers. Found a free level 2 at Hollywood Casino but it was in the VIP section luckily may car went around the barrier and fit so I could access it. Charged enough to make it home. It was cold out, so my range dropped very fast going over the mountain. I was on a major interstate 81. When I got home, I did more research on the road was hard to do while driving at the time and saw there was Tesla destination charges at a few places right off the interstate, so I bought a J1772 to Telsa adaptor on Amazon to keep in my car for emergencies. Its was $75.

 

[TGIF]

Ford keeps messing with the GOM calculations. Many vehicles no longer use historical driving data or climate to adjust the range numbers so you really can't use it for accuracy. As one of those who has a vehicle that doesn't adjust for weather or historical data I put a buffer of 50 miles on any DCFC. If the car says I'll get 180, I only count on 130. This will typically cover things like headwinds or climate related changes.

I remember at the time I calculated the SOC/kWh remaining times the current rate of usage. The GOM jived with my calculations so I wasn’t willing to chance truly being stranded. The unknown is how much battery Ford keeps hidden.

 

[DevSecOps]

I remember at the time I calculated the SOC/kWh remaining times the current rate of usage. The GOM jived with my calculations so I wasn’t willing to chance truly being stranded. The unknown is how much battery Ford keeps hidden.

We know how much they keep from us, but with an EV you shouldn't bank on making it home with 0 on the GOM. Any number of variables can quickly go against your calculations and leave you stranded. Every week I play this game for work commutes and a buffer is the only stress free way to go.

 

[AKgrampy]

I use miles per kWh I'm getting, then drop it by 0.2, i.e. if I'm getting 2.7 I plan on 2.5.

We have to go 197 miles from a charger in Ohio to home. Last trip, there was only one of 6 or 8 EA chargers at full speed, and it was a 350kWh. I knew that from the way down, so I went right to it. As I was at around 70%, more cars showed up. I apologized, but said I needed 95% to safely get home, and not a single person had an issue with that.

I may never have to DCFC here in Alaska as I only drive around town (only viable road trip has 100 miles with no electricity and more than that with no chargers) but do people really hover around chargers and get mad when you charge over a certain percentage? I would charge to whatever level I felt I needed to comfortably make it to my next location with a cushion for plan B and not worry what others think.

 

[RickMachE]

I may never have to DCFC here in Alaska as I only drive around town (only viable road trip has 100 miles with no electricity and more than that with no chargers) but do people really hover around chargers and get mad when you charge over a certain percentage? I would charge to whatever level I felt I needed to comfortably make it to my next location with a cushion for plan B and not worry what others think.

Yes.

If there is a line. You haven't read all the posts about people saying you should only charge to 80%, and then leave, so others can charge?

Remember that it slows down a lot at 80%, and the more at 90%. That's why I said something, "I need another 15 minutes or so, sorry". I probably could have moved to one of the malfunctioning chargers that were delivering about that speed anyway, but it was the last stop of a long day and I was beyond annoyed at EA for that trip.

 

[AKgrampy]

Yes.

If there is a line. You haven't read all the posts about people saying you should only charge to 80%, and then leave, so others can charge?

Remember that it slows down a lot at 80%, and the more at 90%. That's why I said something, "I need another 15 minutes or so, sorry". I probably could have moved to one of the malfunctioning chargers that were delivering about that speed anyway, but it was the last stop of a long day and I was beyond annoyed at EA for that trip.

Yes but I took it as more of a you are wasting your time going beyond 80% so plan around that. I did not realize others hovered like vultures. In his case I certainly would have gone to 90%.

 

[DevSecOps]

...do people really hover around chargers and get mad when you charge over a certain percentage? I would charge to whatever level I felt I needed to comfortably make it to my next location with a cushion for plan B and not worry what others think.

I get equally annoyed when I see ANY Volt charging because they take 3 hours to go from 10-80 (might be slightly exaggerating).

I actually see people go beyond 80% almost every time I'm at a DCFC. Never have I seen anyone move to accommodate someone else. While, yes it's good etiquette to stop at 80% there are times when you'll need more. About a year ago I took a road trip and between 1 charger and the other I needed 95% to be safe, there were no chargers in between. So, while I "think" most people do it just because they can, I am also mindful that some people might not have an option. In California, along most of our highways, this isn't the case however and most people are just ignorant or selfish.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

I'm sorry this happened!

I agree with the earlier suggestion that we not do any blaming of you in this. Stuff happens and it sucks when it does. We can back-seat critique all we want, but I don't find that helpful to anyone.

I am curious what things you might do differently next time, if there is a next time.
Not take your Mustang on such a trip?
Time things differently?
Charge to a higher percent even when people are waiting?
Try to push down into very low SOC?

I would be very curios to know how the exact same trip would have gone using the SC network.

 

[AKgrampy]

I get equally annoyed when I see ANY Volt charging because they take 3 hours to go from 10-80 (might be slightly exaggerating).

I actually see people go beyond 80% almost every time I'm at a DCFC. Never have I seen anyone move to accommodate someone else. While, yes it's good etiquette to stop at 80% there are times when you'll need more. About a year ago I took a road trip and between 1 charger and the other I needed 95% to be safe, there were no chargers in between. So, while I "think" most people do it just because they can, I am also mindful that some people might not have an option. In California, along most of our highways, this isn't the case however and most people are just ignorant or selfish.

I think it may be awhile before I rent an EV on one of my vacations!

 

[RickMachE]

In the 2 instances in 2 years where we have found a line, people were very approachable as to "was wondering, how much are you charging to, so I can figure out my timing" or similar. At one, everyone agreed to limit their charging, because only one charger was working and there was a line. At the others, a bunch of a-holes parked and went shopping and their cars were sitting at 100%, plus there was a line. I gave one a dirty look, and said "when there is a line, most people leave when they get to 80%". Then I left, and found an FPL location.

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