If you drive an electric vehicle, or are thinking about getting one, consider the following information about taking extended trips. The news might be better than you expected.


Do you suffer from “range anxiety”?

If you drive an electric vehicle, or are thinking about getting one, are you worried about how far you can really go? Are road trips really a thing of the past?


Well, the truth is today’s EVs and other technology make it super easy to take longer trips without fear of running out of “juice.” Between in-vehicle software assistance and a variety of downloadable apps, you can hit the road with a high level of confidence that you’ll be able to get to your destination in a reasonable amount of time.


To start, consider how much range your EV has on a full charge. As you probably know, that answer will differ based on the vehicle you choose. Many hover around 200-250 miles on a full charge, while others claim 400 miles or more.


Second, ask yourself this: Are you focused on making great time? Or are you just as interested in enjoying the journey?


It turns out that both types of travelers, and everyone in between, can have a fulfilling travel experience in an EV.

gladys and ralph

Let’s hear from Mike and Vicky. They live in Pittsburgh and travel to Myrtle Beach about every six weeks to visit family. Their electric car has a range of approximately 330 miles on a full charge. As they travel the 650 miles each way, they typically stop to give their car a boost three times – two stops for a longer 30-minute charge and one for a quick 15-minute top-up.


Each stop is long enough to stretch their legs, use the restroom and grab a drink and/or snack without cutting too much into their vacation time. What’s more, having planned breaks in the trip helps with driver fatigue and leaves them more energized when they get to their destination. They’ve identified stops with faster chargers as well as locations that add to the enjoyment of their ride, such as favorite restaurants and roadside attractions.


The bottom line for Vicky and Mike is that driving their EV 650 miles takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or roughly 10%) longer than in their old internal combustion vehicle. Plus, they get scheduled breaks, never fear for running out of power and arrive fresh and ready to enjoy their vacation.

Now let’s consider Howard and Joe. These two adventurers have taken several cross-country trips in their EV and find that planning can be as much or as little a part of the trip as they want it to be.


When they planned their first long, all-electric trip – from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco – they used a charger locating website, Google Maps and an Excel spreadsheet to plot the route. They also booked hotels in advance and made plans for a few specific stops near friends and family and to see the sites along the way. In their own words, it took “hours and hours” of planning.


But once they got on the road, they became more and more comfortable letting their car tell them when and where to stop. The onboard software carefully monitors charge levels, identifies nearby charging locations and makes recommendations as to when to stop and how long to charge.


With one successful cross-country trip under their belts, Joe and Howard took off on their next adventure – two weeks exploring Canada and New England.

Joe and Howard

This time, there was only a little bit of planning, identifying overnight stops and points of interest. But aside from that, they just took off and put their trust in the software, embracing the “enjoy the journey” school of travel.


Joe and Howard agree that any EV with less than a 300-mile range could make longer trips a bit more frustrating due to the need for more frequent stops. Joe previously drove an EV with only about a 200-mile range and said he felt “trapped” and was “constantly charging the car.” While he admits that is a bit of an exaggeration, the point remains that longer-range vehicles are a better bet for longer drives.


So, what’s our conclusion? It seems that “range anxiety” shouldn’t really play into one’s decision to go electric. The existing planning tools (in-car and mobile apps) make managing your charge on the go a snap, and the ever-increasing number of charging locations makes it less and less likely that you’ll get stranded. In short, feel free to go EV – no matter how far you plan to travel – and enjoy the ride.


Have more questions about what it is like to own an EV? You can find many answers to your questions and more information on our website.