The first time you consider taking a road trip in an EV, it may seem like the worst idea ever. After all, aren’t EV car batteries supposed to run out of juice after 100 miles or so?
Yes and no. It depends on how you drive. If you do your best to use regenerative braking (which will put some charge back in the battery) and plan your itinerary around charging stations using apps that show them, then yes, EVs are more than capable of taking long trips without stopping for hours at a time. But is traveling in an electric vehicle for a mid to long drive possible? What are the things that you should know before making the drive? Let’s talk about taking a road trip in an EV and the many things you should prepare to make the journey more fun and memorable.
What are EVs or Electric Vehicles?
Before we continue, let’s try to talk about electric vehicles first. Electric vehicles, or EVs, run on electricity instead of gasoline. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny city cars to massive SUVs.
They’re becoming more and more popular as people realize the many benefits they offer over gas cars:
- EVs are much cheaper to operate than gas cars. You can save a lot of money on your electric bill by driving an EV.
- EVs don’t produce any emissions, which is excellent for the environment.
- They’re much quieter than gas cars, so you can listen to music or talk without having to raise your voice.
- They’re smoother and easier to drive than gas cars.
- They’re more fun to drive than gas cars; did you know that electric vehicles can often out-accelerate their gas counterparts?
What types of road trips are possible in EVs?
Imagine what people would think if they saw someone stopping for gas every hour to go 100 miles. It would probably take them five times as long to get to their destination, right?
Like any other vehicle, there are possible road trips and road trips that aren’t. Here’s a list of road trip possibilities for EVs:
- A day trip around the city is doable. It may be even easier if you have an all-electric car since you won’t ever run out of power.
- A road trip to your friend’s or family’s house in another city is also possible. Not many people live very far apart. As long as you charge every night or at work, there should be no problem making short road trips to visit your friends and family.
- Road trips from one state to another are entirely feasible with EVs. You can make road trips across the US or even cross an entire continent, like Europe or Asia, if you so choose.
- Road trips where you stay overnight are doable. Many hotels offer free charging for their guests, so ask around before making plans! Otherwise, it should be easy to find public charging stations that you can plug into while sleeping for the night (or wherever else).
Just remember that road tripping in an EV takes a little bit more planning than road tripping in a gas car, but it’s certainly doable.
What things should you prepare before taking a road trip in an EV?
As we’ve mentioned, taking a road trip in an EV requires a few more preparations than road tripping in a gas car.
You must be ready to invest in charging equipment. Your road trip will be much easier and faster if you bring along at least one fast-charging plug (CHAdeMO or CCS). Having two pins is even better if your road trip involves another person or can take longer than expected.
You’ll need to know where all the public charging stations are so that you can plan and stay on track when road tripping. You’ll also need to know how long each leg of your road trip will take so that you don’t get stuck overnight on the road with no place to stay or no way to charge your car.
Some additional tips include:
- You can bring along a portable solar panel if you have one in case there aren’t any other charging stations around.
- Having a generator in case it gets dark, or you don’t know road conditions in a particular area.
- Bring a map if GPS breaks down or doesn’t work well in certain areas.
In short, road trips in EVs are undoubtedly doable. They take a little bit more planning than road trips in gas cars, but they’re much cheaper and better for the environment too.
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1. Drop in tire pressure
4. Faulty cooling systems
Sometimes all you need is your car keys. It’s essential to keep your keys in your hand when opening a frozen car door so you don’t drop them and lose them. Insert the key into the lock and turn it until you hear a clicking noise or feel the door unlock. Assuming the rest of your door is clear of ice, the lock should work now.
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The reduced engine power warning light shows that something has reduced the flow of fuel and/or air to the engine. It often turns on when a car needs maintenance or repair and doesn’t mean your vehicle is about to break down, but it could be a good time for an oil change.
This question has a very straightforward answer – you get it diagnosed and fixed straight away. Taking it to an expert mechanic will make the affair faster as they can give you the proper diagnosis and suggest a fix right away.
Imagine this scenario. You wake up ten minutes past your alarm time, and you race from the bedroom to the bathroom to start your day. You skip breakfast and grab a piece of toast and rush towards your car you parked outside overnight. You look at your watch, and it says you have 30 minutes. Regular travel time is around 20 minutes, so you know you have time.
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If your car has been in an accident and received damage that’s beyond repair, it will most likely be declared as “salvaged.” This means it can’t be registered or sold as a new car because it has no value as an operational vehicle. It also means the vehicle is considered unsafe to operate on public roadways due to its diminished structural integrity from being damaged in an accident.
Gas is primarily made with a mixture of hydrocarbons. Diesel fuel, on the other hand, consists of only hydrocarbons. When gas is poured into a diesel engine, gas particles will break down the diesel fuel, which will result in some gas particles being burned while others are not. This means some gas will be lost while others are just broken down to smoke and gas that burns.
It’s not always easy to figure out what kind of fuel a car uses, especially if you are not yet a seasoned driver. If you are driving an unfamiliar car, it’s always better to ask than to assume. For example, if you are driving a rental or a borrowed car, you might want to ask them first what fuel to use (or if you even need to fill it up with fuel, as it might be an electric car) before driving off the lot.
The last thing you want to happen in a pandemic road trip – or any road trip – is getting stuck on the side of the road because your car broke down. Remember that your vehicle has been in the garage for some time, and you may not have taken it for a ride. That is why you should do a complete maintenance check-up.
There is a good chance that you and your whole family/group will have at least one phone with them during the trip. Make sure you have the means to charge them while on the road (although getting everybody to put down their phones is much better). You can do this with the help of a car phone charger. You can also bring one (or two) power bricks that will give your devices extra juice throughout the trip.
Put simply: for you and your passenger’s safety.
It can be a relatively simple process but will vary depending on what headlights are installed in your vehicle. For example, suppose screws hold down each headlight unit and sliders under them, allowing horizontal movement. In that case, adjusting is easy – just tighten or loosen those bolts/sliders until they’re at an angle that suits you.
