What I wish I knew about Electric Vehicles before buying one

I did the work on this people! I had a running cost-benefit analysis, that I updated as new electric cars became available, so I’d know the right time to take the plunge. I watched videos and read tons of articles and reviews, learning about each feature and how they compared. I researched home chargers for my daily use and poured over maps to ensure that I’d have what I needed for trips. For the average daily commute, EV’s are quite predictable and it’s been a dream, but I’m on the road three weekends a month. That’s gotta work too, and fast charge speeds are more complex than most people realize. Here’s what I missed.

Not mine, but hot!

Maximum Fast Charge Rate

What completely blindsided me, is that each vehicle has a maximum charge rate, and the fastest advertised speeds at any EV charging station are only attainable with the most expensive models, rarely from American manufacturers. The Ford F-150 Lighting sits in the middle of the road with a 150 kW charging rate (although myself and others have reported as high as 160 kW). I had a bit of frustration with this discovery, and even more when I learned that many chargers won’t ever each their advertised charge rate. However, I feel much more sympathy for some of the more inexpensive EVs like the early Chevy Bolts and Nissan Leaf’s that maxed out in the mid-50s. That would not work with my lifestyle, and I would have had to sell at a loss promptly! So, hey I guess it’s not so bad then after all. Oh, and if you are curious, the Cybertruck and the Lightning get about the same charge rate.

Charge Rate Curve

Batteries are precious things that need to be treated properly to ensure safety and longevity. Your vehicle knows this and ramps up and down the charge rate based how full the battery is. The sweet spot is between 15% and 80%, my F-150 Lightning drops to around 40 kW at the very moment that it reaches 80% charge, and they all drop to rates comparable with some home chargers past 90%. At that point it makes little sense to use a fast charger at all as it’s taking more time to put the miles on than it will to burn them off.

I had learned this from watching intently as my OneWheel charged over the years, but I had been overly optimistic and not considered the full ramifications of the charge rate curve in a full blown, electric vehicle road trip. If I want the fastest charge, I need to stay in the sweet spot, and that means significantly fewer miles between charges, cutting my effective range by 35% (some of which would have been kept in reserve anyway). I can still get to where I need to go, however I need to do more frequent, quicker stops than I had originally thought to be efficient with my time.

Maximum Fast Charge Level

A typical fast charge will stop at 90%, and it took me over a year to figure out that you can change this in your vehicle settings, because I never really wanted to due to the abysmal charge rate. In order to keep chargers available, people need to be using the network most efficiently, and that means encouraging people to move on when things slow down. The vehicle manufacturers do this by setting the default to 90%, while your fellow EV drivers will do it with dirty looks and occasional confrontations. I recently rolled up on the sight of two of four fast chargers crawling at 11 kW with the owners trying to get to 100% and it was a tense situation for sure with those waiting for a turn!

Ironically, if you are home charging to 100%, the effective daily range for EVs is farther than when you might need it on a trip. However if you want to help protect the life of your battery, you shouldn’t spend a lot of time sitting around at 100% anyway, so I’ve taken the step to limit my level at home too, and only reach 100% the night before a long drive. For my friends out there on leases, you don’t need to worry about what your battery life will be like in ten years, so charge it like you stole it! I’m trying to keep this one rolling until retirement.

Mine, and hotter!

How does this change trip planning?

The Lightning was true to it’s advertised range of 230 miles on day one. Adding the Go Fast Camper, loading it down a bit, and over a year of use have given it about a 30 mile haircut. But with what I’ve learned about how fast charging actually works I only plan about 150 miles between stops now. The thing is, I’d probably stop anyway for one thing or another. If you plan it right, it won’t take much longer, but if you get it wrong: it can get out of control and drag your day on much longer than you’d like. It’s good that I also use the Go Fast Camper, and hotel charging to my advantage, so I can start a lot of days at 100% before touching a fast charger.

If you are considering moving to an electric vehicle, make sure you account for this in your planning: assume an 80% recharge capacity when you are away from home, and make sure you buy the one with the effective range that you need to make the best use of your charge time.

Southbound 95

With Ford’s recent move to support Tesla fast chargers, I really would have expected 2024 to be the beginning of an age of stress-free charging for the Lightning and I. However, with delays in shipping the NACS adapter, then Ford releasing an advisory not to use it due to low charging speeds and potential battery damage (two weeks after I got mine), and my general stubbornness about signing up for too many charging networks: It still takes a fair amount of planning to get to from NC to Florida.

Electrify America

If you are driving on any US highway, depending on CCS fast chargers to get those vital kilowatts, Electrify America will be a big part of your journey, almost assuredly at a Wal-Mart parking lot. In reality very few chargers hit the speeds stenciled on them. In my experience an Electrify America charge often performs 20-30% under what is advertised, but there are entire networks that consistently perform even worse. Consistency is key, and these guys are like the Cracker Barrel of the EV game: You would never stop there in your home town, because you know a better place: but we an’t got time for that right now. Since the experience is all the same, the only question you need to ask when planning your trip is simply: “What do I want to do for the next 45 minutes?”

• Lumberton, NC

  There are really only fast food options like Hardees, Chick-fil-A, & Smithfield’s Chicken N Bar-BQ here, but it is a quick stop.

• Florence, SC

  It’s a little off the highway, but provides lots of great food options, even a few where you could sit down and grab something while you charge, which is rare for these Wal-Mart parking lot setups. I really have enjoyed the Eggs Up Grill in previous trips, because food is tasty and they get you in and out of there. The Hibachi place looks promising as well.

• Walterboro, SC

  Close to the road, Fat Jacks would be the most walkable restaurant, which I’ll just say works in a pinch.

• Pooler, GA

  Savannah is always a nice diversion if you have the time, if not there is yet another Wal-Mart parking lot for you here. Ruby Tuesday’s in walking distance.

But what other options exist for those stranded on CCS?

South Of The Border - Hamer, SC

South of the Border, despite advertising 150 kW, typically only provides a 50 kw charge based on plug share reports. So unless you just love hanging around a place that lives somewhere between kitch and sketch, it’s best to just pass it by if you are trying to make decent time. However, when nature calls: it’s a quick stop and it’s only $0.43 a kW (to Electrify America’s $0.48) on the Shell Recharge Network.

The ABC’s of EV’s: Always Be Charging.

Buc-ee’s - Florence, SC

Tesla / NACS chargers had dominated this critter’s parking lot, forcing me to pass their efficiently run restrooms, snacks for days, and prime people-watching opportunities in my previous EV trips. However, Buc-ee’s now has 5, shiny new Mercedes-Benz ChargePoint Chargers that can max out the charging rate of any F-150 Lightning. I had to double check my app, but I realized they charged me $0.58 kW, which roughly works out to a nickle more per mile for me. I imagine it would have been cheaper if I had a different logo on the front of my EV. Time is money, and the faster the charge, the more you’ll spend, but I’d only recommend a quick top off.

When planning a charge stop, redundancy can be very calming. If a charger is crowded or offline, it’s good to have the option to move along to the next one. So this makes Florence, SC and my next pick, the two stops I hinge all of my planning an I-95 trip.

Brunswick, GA

 

Brunswick has to be my best find on I-195 to date; I had just starting to use it before traveling with an EV. It’s the closest that you will get to the ocean before reaching Florida, giving it a distinct vibe. While there aren’t any fast charging options there (yet) the quaint downtown is going through a bit of a revitalization, so it is a fun place to stretch your legs, and do a little shopping. Brunswick is also a great destination for soul food like Sista’s Kitchen. I’ve also recently found this exit to be a top-tier charge stop. The only downside is that you do have to get off the highway a bit for the good stuff but isn’t that always the case?

Yes, they have an Electrify America in a Wal-Mart parking lot, but the ChargePoint charger at Striplings General Store is becoming a tradition for me now. Even though Georgia Power charges $0.48 per kw like the Electrify America’s which are much faster, I only mind a little bit, because they offer some great hot food options as well as baked goods, and a traditional butcher shop. It’s a nice place to find some goodies to pick up for the family on your way down for a visit.

It’s also a good stop because you want to roll into Florida with a topped-off battery. While Jacksonville might appear to have a lot of options, when you look at them more closely: there are not many great ones. If you’ve found any, or have any other tips regarding an I-95 EV trip please let me know. I do highly recommend creating a Florida Power and Light account before you get there, they do seem to have the only reliably fast chargers that I’ve encountered so-far in the state. This is where my trips take me off of 95, but perhaps I’ll make it to Miami and find another I-95 gem.

Baldhead Island, NC

From the first trip that I ever brought a OneWheel with me on, I have always wondered what it would be like to ride a PEV on Baldhead Island. It is a beautiful and tranquil destination located off the coast of North Carolina, known for its stunning natural landscapes, pristine beaches, and charming coastal atmosphere. What makes this place truly unique is that there are no cars allowed on the island, making golf carts and bicycles the primary mode of transportation.

 

Wanting to buzz around all afternoon without even a hint of range anxiety, I left my OneWheels at home, and stole the Honey Badger’s Super 73. Even still, at 3.3 miles end-to-end and a few places to stop to refresh and charge, most devices would do fine for a quick jaunt to hit the high points. I noticed a fellow with an E-skateboard on the ferry out, so I’m far from the first one to explore this gem on a Lithium-powered toy. For a board, you should be able to carry on, but the bulky Super 73 required a $25 check fee, bringing the total ferry fee for me and the bike to $50. Overall it was worth it for me, but only because I committed to putting a bunch of miles in.

Music: Passage To Nigeria - The Jumpstarts

A trip to Bald Head Island is always peaceful as the entire island is designated as a Maritime Preserve. It is also home to a well-maintained golf course and an exclusive country club, but that’s never exactly been my cup of tea. I’m mostly drawn to it’s natural beauty and rich ecosystems, which are very easily accessible by paved roads with most electric vehicles. Either way, it’s a uniquely relaxing place for an PEV enthusiast to visit because you can move around with a much more care-free attitude, not having to worry about motor vehicles. …and if you get out there in the off-season, there are moments where you can feel like you have the place to yourself.

Mr. Rogers was a fan of Electric Vehicles

In 1981 Fred Rogers was in his 11th season of making television for PBS. Mr. Rogers always had an uncanny ability to break down complex ideas for children, and started this season with a series of episodes on divorce, however he always managed to weave other important topics into his programing. In episode 3, he created one of his most memorable moments, when he invited a young Jeff Erlanger onto his program to explain how his electric wheelchair worked and share his story.

Years later, he would be reunited with Jeff when he was inducted into the TV Hall of Fame, the duo making TV history once again.

For a lot of young people this was a powerful moment, so much so, that we can all be forgiven for forgetting how the episode began. In clips of the original conversation between Jeff and Mr. Rogers, he mentions that he once drove an electric vehicle. That part of the program is a little more difficult to find, but it does feature a tiny, blue electric pickup truck, an informative interview with it’s creator, and a test drive.

The Internet provides, and here it is my friends: Mr. Rogers cruising around in an Electric Vehicle in 1981, looking like a BOSS in his jumpsuit.

The entire episode can be found here and you can find out more about the quest to track down this mystery EV pioneer here.

Yes, in a mere 30 minutes, the guy talks about divorce, gets a jog in, learns about electric vehicles, and topped all that off by showing us how to be kind to people for who they are: recognizing and respecting differences, while showing nothing but love. I’ve always felt that we didn’t deserve this guy, but I think I forgot how ahead of his time he really was.

So from now on when someone tells you:

“Electric Vehicles are too new and have too many problems”

You can tell them:

“Mr. Rogers likes EVs just the way they are”