EV Road Trip Tips

 If you're not yet an EV owner but are in the market, you must choose what type of EV is best for you. There are three types of electric vehicles. The first is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which meshes gas and electric power without ever needing to be recharged. Next is a battery electric vehicle (BEV). These are all-electric vehicles that are completely void of gas power and must be recharged in order to operate. Serving as a bridge between HEVs and BEVs are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A PHEV runs like an HEV but also uses a rechargeable battery pack. In addition to the rechargeable battery, PHEVs allow drivers to choose how the vehicle is powered; hybrid, electric, or gas. When a PHEVs battery becomes depleted, you can still continue driving on gas power, unlike with a BEV. As EV technology advances, however, BEV driving ranges are becoming longer and longer, with some exceeding 500 miles! 

When planning a road trip in your EV, you should be sure to plan your route based on where you can find an EV charging station. To do this, you must start by having an accurate understanding of how far your vehicle can drive on a charge, more commonly known as its range. Once you know this, you should take away a few miles to play it safe and reduce your range anxiety. This is also important because sometimes, you'll come across a charging station that is down for maintenance or full. A great way to enjoy your road trip is to find charging stations near rest areas and activities. This way, you and your passengers have a place to eat or something to do while you wait for your vehicle to charge. Most commonly, you'll find charging stations at rest areas as well as shopping centers. However, as EVs become more popular, charging stations are being installed in more remote locations like local, state, and national parks. To find EV charging stations along your route, you can use smartphone GPS maps to find stations between you and your destination. While you're on your trip, you can use apps like EVGo, ChargeHub, and others to find the closest charging station on the go. 

Of course, owning a PHEV is a great way to ensure you don't get stuck without a charge. However, if you opt for an EV, there are ways to make sure you make it to the next charging station. First, you should think of your EV just like you would a gas-powered vehicle. Just like a car with an internal combustion engine, driving aggressively uses more fuel or, in the case of an EV, electricity. Using more electricity reduces your range, meaning you can't drive as far on a single charge. Therefore, it's important to be mindful of the manner in which you are driving. Cruise control is a great way to keep your speed in check and maximize your efficiency. Also, like a gas-powered car, the batteries that power an EV have an ideal operating temperature. In the winter months, you should allow the battery some time to warm up before heading out to maximize its efficiency. It is important to warm up the battery while it is still plugged in, as running the vehicle while unplugged will drain the battery, reducing the range once you start driving. Lastly, you should be mindful of how much cargo you bring along. Just like a traditional vehicle, it takes more power to get more weight moving, and using more power means you get less range. While you will, of course, need to pack things for your trip, try to keep it to the necessities to reduce as much weight as possible.

While taking a road trip in an EV can seem daunting at first, if you follow the tips we've given you on this page, you should be on your way to having a successful trip in your EV! If you're interested in a road-trip-ready EV, then check out the latest PHEV models here at Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, including the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Grand Cherokee 4xe, and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Shop our inventory in-store with a professional sales team member, or peruse our inventory right here on our website. We look forward to serving you!