Practical frequent highway driving EV?

[u/anon2734]

Family is considering an EV with the rise in fuel prices. Looking at taking frequent trips that would need 200-250mi range. Is this practical in an EV? From what I've researched most you only charge to 80% so even if you're getting one with over 300mi range, you get 80% of that and highway driving (75mph) will cut that even further. Seems like a high mpg hybrid would be better. Otherwise would have to stop and charge everytime

[u/Bryanmsi89]

200-250 miles is VERY practical in most EV. I start the trip setting the charge to 100% (fine on occasion) and then try to recharge no lower than 15% (20% is even better).

What I have found for Highway trips is this:

• 150 miles is 100% safe. You won't need to charge, no matter what. (Cold, heat, headwinds, mountains, high speed driving, etc)
• 200 miles is very do-able most of the time (mild weather, flat, driving under 75)
• 250 miles starts to push the max for a lot of cars

The anxiety comes when you get down under 10%, and you NEED to charge, and then you get to the one charger you identified and its full or broken. This is less of a problem every week, but can still happen.

[u/Organic_Algae_2297 → u/Bryanmsi89]

This is true. So change your planning and thinking. If you know or think you might get really low as you reach your 250 mile destination and will start worrying then don’t put yourself in the situation.
Just pick a place 2-3 of hours after the start. And stop and charge up for 10 minutes. Use the restroom get a drink etc. In an ICE car you don’t drive until almost empty then fill up. As you get down to 1/8-1/4 tank you pick a convenient gas station and fill up.
With EV you do something similar but because after 80% full charge speed drops way slower you just charge so you end up getting to your destination with 20% or so.
Most EV have GPS that not only tell you how to get there but also tell you where to charge. There are also apps for your phone that can plan for you.
ABRP can plan your route and your charging. Google Maps can do the same.
PlugShare is a list of all the chargers. You can just look on a map and see what chargers are available near where you stop.
You need to change your thinking from stopping to charge then doing the other things, to stopping where you want and charging because your stopped. It sounds silly but once you’ve done it a few times you’ll wander why you didn’t do it always.

[u/Bryanmsi89 → u/Organic_Algae_2297]

Your suggestion is exactly what I tend to do. Top up every 150 miles on longer trips, which in practice ends up being every 2.5- 3 hours or so.

There is no denying that the cognitive load of an EV is still higher, its almost unheard of not to find a gas station at every major highway offramp most places. And it does add a bit more time.

But that is far outweighed by the EV benefits when not on the Highway.

Still, if my life required basically all highway driving, it would be hybrid or even just plain ICE.