December Road Trip From GA to PA

[PSUEric]

Took a third trip to Pa, this time in December. Evening temps the first two nights were 11 degrees with the daytimes in the low 30’s. As stated by many folks range took a hit, I went from about 250 to 200 miles once we hit the cold weather. However because we have access to Tesla Superchargers, I never felt like I would run out of charge. I charged twice at a V3 16 stall station using the Porsche adapter in Quakertown, Pa. while visiting family and friends. The first time I lifted the front to clear the curb to be able to connect. The second I was able to pull between 2 stalls and then the one side stall opened up and I moved to that location. Also charged on the way home in Ridgeland, Ga. and can verify the car does precondition for Tesla Superchargers if you enter the location in the PCM.

I charged at EA, Buc-ees, Circle K, GM bp pulse, EVgo and Pilot Flying J. Prices ranged from $0.38 kWh (Pilot Flying J in Skippers, Va) to $0.61 kWh (Pilot Flying J in Ruther Glen, Md.). Most were $0.50 to $0.59 kWh range. I never had to wait to charge. The nicest places we stopped at in no order were Buc-ees with Mercedes chargers, Pilot Flying J and GM bp pulse. Rest rooms were clean with food and drinks excellent.

What was interesting to me was when planning for the trip I looked at the Porsche PCM, ARBP and Apple Maps for each of their options. A couple years ago and each would have been very similar. Today they are very different! ARBP assumed I could go 282 miles from my house to the first chargers, that’s not happening even downhill with a breeze behind me! I always stop at an EA in Pooler, Ga. because that has been a reliable station for me.

ABRP - 4 stops (45 min charging)

• EA Florence SC
• Pilot Flying J Kenly NC
• EVgo Mechanicsville, Va
• Rivian Adventure Network Belcamp, Md

Apple - 7 stops (155 min charging)

• bp pulse Richmond Hill, Ga
• EA Walterboro, SC
• EA Florence SC
• Pilot Flying J Disputanta, Va
• EVgo Lorton, Va
• EA New Castle, Del

Porsche PCM - 7 stops (82 min charging)

• EA Pooler, Ga
• Walterboro, SC
• Buc-ees Florence SC
• Pilot Flying J Kenly NC
• Pilot Flying J Skippers, Va
• Pilot Flying J Ruther, Md
• Rivian Adventure Network Belcamp, Md

I ended up stopping 5 times to charge (including the hotel) on the way up and 6 times (including the hotel) on the way home. It snowed through Virginia and the top half of N Carolina and that along with low temps caused efficiency to increase to over 0.44 kWh/100 miles.

Like daveo4EV has said would happen, charging on main highways through most of the USA has now become second nature easy. Notice none of the programs routed me through any Superchargers on the way up or back. I’m guessing that will change as algorithms catch up. I stopped at hotels on the way up and back, each had free 2nd level charging which was great. I have over 27,000 trouble free miles and the car just eats up miles effortlessly. I cannot think of another car that I’ve had more fun driving.

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[skudinnit257]

Very informative, thanks!

 

[DadOfFive]

Stories like this are really important. I’ve only taken one long trip in my CT 4S. Looks like things continue to get easier! Thanks for the details!

 

[gregeast]

Nice work!

 

[Flying ace]

nice how fast was the 2nd MB unit and the BP Pulse Unit

 

[JerryLNK]

@PSUEric - Thank you for sharing your trip experience. I agree with @DadOfFive that it is important to share these stories. It's counter to a lot of disinformation being spread about EV's. You have inspired me to share my recent trips, which I'll do in a separate set of posts. I did two roundtrips, Lincoln, NE-Columbus,OH-Lincoln, over 1,700 miles each trip. One was in September. The other before Thanksgiving, with colder weather. I then did a Lincoln-Colorado Springs-Lincoln trip to visit my son the first week in December, 1,200 miles roundtrip and that included a drive to the Royal Gorge Bridge. So, 4,600 miles without a problem and in cold temps (below 25). In fact, I haven't had an issue traveling with the Taycan and it just rolled over to 45,000 miles. I spec'd this car and picked it up in Indianapolis in March 2022 and drove it home to Lincoln via Nashville.

Cheers to everyone and here's to many joyful miles ahead!

 

[PSUEric]

nice how fast was the 2nd MB unit and the BP Pulse Unit

The MB units in Florence, SC were 400 KW Alpitronics that I got a max of 254 kW on the way North. I stopped there on the way back and got 260 kW.

The BP Pulse in South Prince George, Vir. were 180 KW unit that I only got a max of 100 kW.

Both stations started charging without any issues. Restrooms were clean and both were close to the highway.

 

[Flying ace]

that MB unit is a charge point. I think maybe 400?

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