Charging Your EV While Traveling: Tips & Tools
If you are going on a road trip, you'll want to make sure you are prepped for a stress-free ride. Here are some top tips and tools to facilitate a smooth journey.
Planning a road trip or vacation in your electric vehicle can be exciting — until you start worrying about where you’ll charge along the route. This is known as “range anxiety,” a term for the fear that your EV won’t have enough battery charge to get you to your destination.
Fortunately, EVs are becoming more common, which means that charging stations and infrastructure is expanding. With some pre-planning and a home EV charger to ensure you depart with a full charge, you can confidently hit the road.
This guide will cover simple tips for charging electric vehicles on long drives, helping you confidently plan your next road trip or vacation.
Understand Your EV’s Range and Charging Time on the Road
Before you hit the road, you’ll need full working knowledge of your electric vehicle, its battery, and public charging stations. Here are a few basics to consider before heading out on a long trip:
Know Your Vehicle’s Range: Knowing how far a full battery will take you is critical because not all batteries provide the same range. Check your vehicle guide for the manufacturer's advice regarding a full battery charge. Alternatively, check out ChargerPro's brand guides to get a feel for range across some of the most popular EVs.
Full Battery Charging Time: Chargers differ in how quickly they can accomplish a full charge. For example, a Level 1 charger is the slowest and can take up to 24 hours to provide a full charge. On the other hand, a Level 3 charger is much faster, with the capability of charging a vehicle in under an hour.
Plan a Buffer: Don’t take the EV range display literally; it might not always be exact. Give yourself some wiggle room to get to a charging station on time.
You may not know your range or charging times if you’re only used to driving your EV in town and not on long road trips. However, understanding them is critical for long trips.
Get Started with Planning and Charging Apps
A good road trip starts with the right apps, which fall into two categories: planning and charging. Some apps will map out the route and help manage the vehicle's charge; others focus on real-time data that gives you information on charging stations. The best apps combine both tasks into one. Here are some apps to consider for your next road trip.
EV Trip Planning Apps
When planning your trip, these EV route planning apps can help you determine where to stop, how much to charge, and how long it will take to reach your destination. Here are our top picks for trip planning apps:
A Better Route Planner (ABRP): ABRP is one of the most trusted and reliable EV planning apps because of its ease of use. Simply input your vehicle model, current charge level, and destination, and ABRP will calculate your best route with charging stops and how long each stop will take.
Chargeway: Chargeway is another favorite app because of its clear directions and suggestions, including color-coded plugs and charging levels specific to your exact make and model. It helps take the guesswork out of finding compatible chargers along your route.
EVNavigation: EVNavigation lets you plan routes with only charging stations in mind. It seamlessly integrates charger data from multiple networks to show station availability.
Most planning apps can also be accessed via a browser if you prefer. However, it’s possible some data won’t be available. Try out these apps and find the one you are the most comfortable with, because you’ll be relying on it as a lifeline when out on the road.
EV Charging Station Apps
On the road, EV charging station apps help you locate nearby chargers, check real-time availability, and even start a charging session from your phone. Here are our top picks for charging apps:
PlugShare: PlugShare is one of the most widely used charging apps because of its crowd-sourced map of charging stations complete with real-time data, reviews, and photos. EV drivers report that PlugShare is reliable and they are comfortable depending on it.
ChargePoint: Lets you find ChargePoint stations, see real-time availability, check pricing, and even start or stop a charging session through the app. It also tracks your charging history and miles saved.
Tesla App (for Tesla drivers): This app is only for Tesla owners. It shows Supercharger availability in real time and integrates with the car’s navigation system.
Research our suggested apps and find the ones you are most comfortable with. Then, practice with them before you head out on your journey. With just a little experience, you’ll be able to easily map out your route and find nearby charging stations long before your battery runs low.
Your EV Road Trip Confidence Checklist
By now, you’ve loaded the apps you’ll need and are ready to get going. Here is a final checklist to make sure you get out the door with everything you need:
Call Ahead: Call ahead to hotels or other accommodations you’ll be staying at to get information on their EV charger setups, the kind of charger they have, and the number of people trying to use it at any given time.
Bring a Portable Charger: Portable chargers can be invaluable on a long trip. A portable EV charger is a compact, plug-in charging unit you can purchase online and carry in your trunk. Check out this guide to learn more about portable EV chargers.
Pack the Right Adapters: You might need adapters depending on the charging station. This is especially true if you’re driving a non-Tesla vehicle and want to use a Tesla Supercharger.
Start with a Full Charge: Get a full charge at home before you head out on your trip. This will get you started on the right foot and give you the confidence to reach the next charging point. Having a level 2 EV charger in your home makes this easy.
Charge During Meals and Breaks: Synchronize your charging time with meals and other breaks. This will keep you moving without additional delays.
Leave a Buffer: Try not to let your battery get below 20%, just in case the next station isn’t where you expect it.
With this checklist along with planning and charging apps, you can travel confidently and efficiently.
Start Every Trip Fully Charged
Experienced EV drivers know the best way to start any trip is with a full charge, and a Level 2 home charger is the best most convenient way to accomplish that.
ChargerPro makes home EV charger installation fast and easy. With upfront transparent pricing, you can enjoy affordable home charger installation by licensed electricians.
Are you unsure which charger is right for your setup? Chat now with a ChargerPro specialist to get personalized recommendations for your home or get an instant price today in just a few simple clicks.
