Road Trips/Charging Flexibility

Hgray

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
116
Reaction score
109
Location
Chandler, AZ
Vehicles
2021 Infinite Blue MME XR RWD
Occupation
Professional Mom
Country flag
The MME will be my first EV. It will be used for long distance road trips into some rural parts of the country. I do have a solid understanding of basic electrical stuff. There is some EV nomenclature that I am just learning. When traveling long distance, I will be using various apps/online resources to find charging stations like hotel, campgrounds, marinas, etc. However, I would like to know if there is any additional hardware one might need like adapter, extension cords, etc. The MME that I ordered is the ER RWD to maximize range. I just want to make sure I understand what might be needed and make sure I am reasonably prepared. Thanks!
Sponsored

 

timbop

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tim
Joined
Jan 3, 2020
Threads
65
Messages
6,832
Reaction score
14,036
Location
New Jersey
Vehicles
Solar powered 2021 MME ER RWD (CA RT1)
Occupation
Software Engineer
Country flag
  1. plugshare.com
  2. abetterrouteplanner.com
  3. The aforementioned "teslatap" adapter that allows you to plug into a hotel or parking garages Tesla "destination charger". A destination charger is what Tesla calls their level 2 AC charger; it is NOT the same thing as a Tesla DC supercharger. I would recommend the 80A capable version just to be safe
  4. Use plugshare to find chargers along your route and at your destination. Use abetterrouteplanner to find the best route with the fastest chargers for your trips
 
Last edited:

Dan G

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dan
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
87
Reaction score
116
Location
Detroit
Vehicles
Hyundai Ioniq
Occupation
Pilot
Country flag
First off, congratulations on the new EV! I have a Hyundai Ioniq and it has a limited range (124 mi) but I've never thought about going back to gas. I even do some semi serious road trips in it. Although, rural areas like it seems you're going to are out of my reach.

There's a pretty good post about adapters already - https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/charging-supplies-for-road-trips-a-list-with-links.631/

As far as extension cords go, you probably won't find anybody that recommends it because it's not recommended by any manufacturer. However, if you did want to get one, make sure it's heavy duty and able to support the type of loads you're going to be putting in it. I believe extension cords are covered in the post above as well. But that'll be up to you.

My additions would be an actual J1772 extension cable. I have one of these and it's saved my butt a few times when a public charger was blocked by another car. And I've used it at hotels when the outlet was just too far away from my car. Probably safer than an extension cord as well, but more expensive.

And as mentioned, the TeslaTap. Can be useful as well.

All the apps mentioned are great to use. And there's even one for camping that shows which campsites provide 50 amps. Though I cannot recall the name of it right now.

Again, welcome to the world of BEVs!
 
Last edited:

ChasingCoral

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Feb 3, 2020
Threads
502
Messages
14,306
Reaction score
28,655
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2021 GB E4X FE, 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat ER
Occupation
Retired oceanographer
Country flag


OP
OP
Hgray

Hgray

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
116
Reaction score
109
Location
Chandler, AZ
Vehicles
2021 Infinite Blue MME XR RWD
Occupation
Professional Mom
Country flag
Thanks everyone! I have some reading and websites to play with!!
 
OP
OP
Hgray

Hgray

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
116
Reaction score
109
Location
Chandler, AZ
Vehicles
2021 Infinite Blue MME XR RWD
Occupation
Professional Mom
Country flag
First off, congratulations on the new EV! I have a Hyundai Ioniq and it has a limited range (124 mi) but I've never thought about going back to gas. I even do some semi serious road trips in it. Although, rural areas like it seems you're going to are out of my reach.

There's a pretty good post about adapters already - https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/charging-supplies-for-road-trips-a-list-with-links.631/

As far as extension cords go, you probably won't find anybody that recommends it because it's not recommended by any manufacturer. However, if you did want to get one, make sure it's heavy duty and able to support the type of loads you're going to be putting in it. I believe extension cords are covered in the post above as well. But that'll be up to you.

My additions would be an actual J1772 extension cable. I have one of these and it's saved my butt a few times when a public charger was blocked by another car. And I've used it at hotels when the outlet was just too far away from my car. Probably safer than an extension cord as well, but more expensive.

And as mentioned, the TeslaTap. Can be useful as well.

All the apps mentioned are great to use. And there's even one for camping that shows which campsites provide 50 amps. Though I cannot recall the name of it right now.

Again, welcome to the world of BEVs!
Thanks so much for the warm welcome! Transitioning from 5.0L F-150 to a MMR will be fun!!!

The adapter thread you referenced I read earlier and created ‘an EV’ shopping list in my Amazon account. Just need to time to sort out in which situation they might be used. But Inhave plenty of time to do that while waiting for my MME!
 

JamieGeek

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Threads
82
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
6,823
Location
Southeastern Michigan
Website
spareelectrons.wordpress.com
Vehicles
Escape PHEV, old: Mach-E, Bolt, C-Max Energi, Focus Electric
Country flag
My additions would be an actual J1772 extension cable. I have one of these and it's saved my butt a few times when a public charger was blocked by another car. And I've used it at hotels when the outlet was just too far away from my car. Probably safer than an extension cord as well, but more expensive.
All you have is 20 feet? Thats nice....

How about 40 feet? (Yeah I know this is just an excuse to post this pic again ;) -- well ok this pic is when I was testing it before the new driveway pic that I posted somewhere else)

Ford Mustang Mach-E Road Trips/Charging Flexibility BoltExtension2
 

ChasingCoral

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mark
Joined
Feb 3, 2020
Threads
502
Messages
14,306
Reaction score
28,655
Location
Maryland
Vehicles
2021 GB E4X FE, 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat ER
Occupation
Retired oceanographer
Country flag
All you have is 20 feet? Thats nice....

How about 40 feet? (Yeah I know this is just an excuse to post this pic again ;) -- well ok this pic is when I was testing it before the new driveway pic that I posted somewhere else)

BoltExtension2.jpg
The Lectron 40' is $239 vs the Lefanev 20' at $179. Depending on application and space it might make sense to go with 40' but I'll bet the 20' covers most needs.

https://www.amazon.com/Lectron-J177...xtension+Cord+for+J1772&qid=1607789308&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Charging-Ext...xtension+Cord+for+J1772&qid=1607789395&sr=8-3
 

Dan G

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dan
Joined
Dec 11, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
87
Reaction score
116
Location
Detroit
Vehicles
Hyundai Ioniq
Occupation
Pilot
Country flag
All you have is 20 feet? Thats nice....

How about 40 feet?
To drive around a 40' cable would take up my whole backseat ?.

I didn't really want to go more than 50' including my EVSE. You're proof positive that it works fine, but I really wasn't sure when I was ordering things.
 
Last edited:

JamieGeek

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Threads
82
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
6,823
Location
Southeastern Michigan
Website
spareelectrons.wordpress.com
Vehicles
Escape PHEV, old: Mach-E, Bolt, C-Max Energi, Focus Electric
Country flag
How heavy does a 40' cable get?
Haven't weighed it, but it isn't that heavy at all. Not like a DCFC cable; it only has to allow for 40 amps to go through it (at least that is what it is rated for).

Amazon link says 17.5 lbs.
 

dbsb3233

Well-Known Member
First Name
TimCO
Joined
Dec 30, 2019
Threads
56
Messages
10,100
Reaction score
11,965
Location
Colorado, USA
Vehicles
2021 Mustang Mach-E FE, 2025 Porche Macan Electric
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
The MME will be my first EV. It will be used for long distance road trips into some rural parts of the country. I do have a solid understanding of basic electrical stuff. There is some EV nomenclature that I am just learning. When traveling long distance, I will be using various apps/online resources to find charging stations like hotel, campgrounds, marinas, etc. However, I would like to know if there is any additional hardware one might need like adapter, extension cords, etc. The MME that I ordered is the ER RWD to maximize range. I just want to make sure I understand what might be needed and make sure I am reasonably prepared. Thanks!
This isn't necessarily for road trips, but remember that the 30% tax credit for buying/wiring a home charger expires in less than 3 weeks. So if you haven't already wired your garage for 240V and bought a charger (if you plan to do either), time is of the essence if you want to take advantage of the 30% tax credit.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8911.pdf
 

JamieGeek

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Threads
82
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
6,823
Location
Southeastern Michigan
Website
spareelectrons.wordpress.com
Vehicles
Escape PHEV, old: Mach-E, Bolt, C-Max Energi, Focus Electric
Country flag
 







Top