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