Real Costs, Charging Stops & What Actually Worked
Part 1: Early Birds
We pulled out of Maryland just before 5 a.m. with about 250 miles of range and a fully awake 4-year-old in the backseat. No, I don’t have the transfer-from-bed-asleep superpower.
Shortly after the sun rose at 6:24 a.m. we were 100 miles into our trip and still under two hours. More importantly, baby girl fell back asleep and stayed that way through most of the entire first leg.
That gave us a quiet, efficient start you just don’t get later in the day.
Driving time – 2 1/2 hours, 140 miles
Stop #1: Electrify America in Richmond, VA
We arrived in Richmond with 38% battery. After plugging in, we walked over to the nearby Chick-Fil-A for breakfast. 17 minutes later, the Kia was back up to 80% charged. We were back on the road shortly after 7:30 a.m. All-in-all, an A+ experience. Cost: $22 ($0.48 kWh)
Part 2: Entertainment Ready
We crossed into North Carolina shortly before 9 a.m. At this point, baby girl was awake and looking for something to do. I had the tablet set up on the back of the front passenger seat so she could watch it like a TV. Several favorite movies and tv shows were pre-downloaded. I also brought a grab bag of activities, such as themed coloring books, magna-tiles, other magnet toys, etc. She could easily request to switch from one to the next as the bag was up front with me.
Driving Time – 2 1/2 hours, 160 miles
Stop #2: Electrify America in Smithfield, NC
We reached Smithfield with 19% battery. We plugged in and walked to the nearest restroom, which is not super convenient to the chargers at Carolina Premium Outlets. But I was happy this time the chargers worked, as last year there was a wait due to an inoperable plug. 24 minutes later, the Kia was back up to 80%. All-in-all, an A experience (closer restroom would put it at A+). We were back on the road shortly after 10:30 a.m. Cost: $40 ($0.56 kWh)
Part 3: Bored Now
The activity bag inevitably wore out its usefulness around 11 a.m. Baby girl had written her name, put stickers all over herself, colored some princesses, and played with magnets. More importantly, she was finished with one movie and wanted to watch something else. I calmly walked her through the steps to switch her show. This problem became more frequent as her attention span dwindled and she wanted to switch more frequently.
I suggested a nap, but that was shot down immediately.
Drive Time – 2 1/2 hours, 140 miles
Stop #3: IONNA in Florence, SC
We reached Florence with 35% battery. Having pre-planned, I knew there was nothing in the immediate vicinity of this station, but there was a nearby shopping mall. I ordered from Chipotle while at my previous stop, and chose a pickup time that aligned with when I expected to be in the area. After eating, we made our way over to IONNA and plugged in. With nothing else to do, we killed 16 minutes by playing “demon hunters” in an open field nearby, using a palm tree for shade under the Carolina sun. We were back on the road around 1:30 p.m.
All-in-all, a B experience, due to the two-stop requirement (slightly offset by the best price of the day). Cost: $20 ($0.38 kWh)
Part 4: The Final Stretch
We crossed the Savannah River at 2:30 p.m. I was doing a little too good on my staying hydrated, so I needed a quick pit stop bathroom break at a rest area about 120 miles into this last leg. We were still at 34% battery life and it was shortly after 3 p.m.
We crossed into Georgia at 4 p.m. and arrived at our hotel 11 minutes later with 11% battery life and 26 miles left. After checking in and taking a power nap, we went in search of ice cream and a charger at the nearby Tanger Outlets EA.
Drive Time – 2 1/2 hours, 170 miles
Stop #4: Electrify America in Pooler, GA
Navigating an especially busy shopping center, I found the EA chargers (also looked for Rivian but they weren’t where the map said they would be). Also noted Tesla chargers where the Rivian chargers were supposed to be, but they were blocked off (maybe a new install?)
We ran over to Marble Slab Creamery for a quick ice cream while the car charged, making it back with less than 10 seconds left before the idle fee (they charge you if you leave your car plugged in too long after charging is completed). All-in-all an A experience (an A+ station would have been closer to the ice cream shop and cheaper). The 27 minute charge cost $45 ($0.56 kWh).
A Real World Comparison: Gas to EV
For a fair experiment, I am comparing what I would have paid if I still had my 2014 Subaru Forester, which typically gave me 350 miles and held roughly 13 gallons. For example, if I charged 42% (or from 38% to 80%), then I calculated 42% of 13 gallons and multiplied that to the current average gas price of each destination where I charged.
Charging Location: Gas Price X (est) Gallons Pumped = Gas Cost
- Richmond: $4.15 X 5.5 = $22.83 vs. $21.98 (38% to 80%)
- Smithfield: $3.94 X 8 = $31.52 vs $39.85 (19% to 80%)
- Florence: $3.78 X 5.85 = $22.11 vs $20.11 (35% to 80%)
- Pooler: $3.75 X 9.1 = $34.13 vs $44.64 (10% to 80%)
Based on this comparison, two of the stops were on par (gas vs electric) while two were more expensive to charge than the estimated gas price. The two more expensive stops were in major shopping centers (Carolina Premium Outlets and Savannah Tanger Outlets).
What I Learned:
- Skip the chargers at outlets, particularly for a road trip. Focus on charging stations at gas stations, like the Pilot Flying J’s, which partner with EVGo.
- Use ABRP, but shop around as well. ABRP is helpful for spacing out your stops, and for showing which chargers work for your vehicle, which ones are well rated, and which ones are fast. But make sure you look at what’s in the area and plan accordingly. For example, I only learned later in my trip that Buc-ee’s in Florence provides EV chargers now (more on this forthcoming).
- In ABRP, set your destination charge level to at or near 80%, so it will factor in a DC charging station near your destination. This prevents you from starting your next day on low battery.
Final Takeaways for 600 Miles of EV Travel
- Plan your stops ahead of time – factor in how you’ll spend your charging time (bathroom, snacks, etc). Have a backup plan if charging issues arise.
- Start early and take breaks consistently every two hours to stretch, caffeinate, and let little ones get their wiggles out.
- Enjoy the ride! Pick good tunes or an engaging audiobook. Keep snacks and your beverage of choice easy to reach.
- Stay calm and focused regardless of how young passengers behave.