Cross-Country EV Road Trip Pros and Cons

Our family members are driving from the Pacific NW across the US, all the way to Florida, over the course of several weeks at a balanced pace. They are not staying at any specific place for more than a few days en route.

As we watched them plan their Tesla road trip – and thinking of our own epic road trips we’ve taken in the past with our Prius, it got us pondering the pros and cons of EV road trips.

In this specific case, we’re going to focus on a Tesla cross country EV trip.

Cross Country EV Road Trip: Cons

Con #1: Stopping to Charge

It doesn’t matter what EV you have and how much range you have, you’ll need to stop more often and wait longer to recharge to get back on the road compared to an ICE vehicle refueling at a pump.

That being said, charge times are getting better. Superchargers for both the CCS and Tesla’s NACS are continuing to get better (especially Tesla). The time to recharge and get back on the road is shorter.

But it’s still something you need to account for in your travels. A road trip in an EV will take longer than an ICE (for now).

Con #2: Location and Availability of Charging Stations

If you are not a fan of intentionality or don’t like planning ahead, you probably shouldn’t take a long road trip with your EV.

It would be very stressful to try and determine where you would need to charge on your trip. Supposedly there are about 30,000 supercharging stations in the US (both Tesla NACS and CCS). It’s not a bad number, but comparatively there are over 127,000(!) gas stations.

The charging infrastructure has a long way to go. Of course you don’t have to supercharge. There are lots of ways to charge slowly. It will just add more time to your trip.

If you have time, you can find ways to build in charging as part of the trip experience. But for a lot of folks, time is a luxury we don’t always have.

Con #3: Range Anxiety is Real

There are so many variables that affect an EV’s range. I remember once we took our little Chevy Spark EV (max range 82) up a mountain to a retreat. It was 60 miles away. I thought: no problem. I was wrong!

We barely got there, and the EV started turning off displays on its own(!) to conserve power. We made it to our destination with 1 mile on the range display.

Elevation is a big factor. (Btw – going back home we ended up with more than half our range left.)

Weather is another factor. We all know that cold weather can affect range. Wind and rain (traction) are factors. And weight. Don’t forget about weight. Are you towing something? Will you be carrying a lot of gear with you? That affects range too.

All this to say that with EV trip planning, there’s just a lot more to consider. Even more so if you’ll also be towing a trailer behind the EV. But it’s not all bad news!

So what’s the good news?

Cross Country Road Trip EV: Pros

Pro #1: A Better Road Trip Vehicle

Most EVs are more comfortable and fun to drive compared to their ICE counterpart.

Here are 3 specific reasons:

1) The heavy EV batteries make EVs more grounded and smoother on roads.

2) EVs have instant torque. Zippy. Sparky. So much easier to make that quick left turn, pass another vehicle safely, and just fun.

3) Since most EVs today have newer technology, things like lane assist, adaptive cruise control, and full auto driving can help during long driving segments.

I personally like adaptive cruise control that slows down when coming up on slower vehicles but still gives me full control of steering. I know some people can be hands-off when driving an EV with auto driving tech, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it.

All this adds to the overall driving experience on an EV road trip.

Pro #2: A More Intentional Journey

This might sound strange to folks, but putting some thought and energy into travel planning can be incredibly rewarding.

Because EVs road trips require a lot more preplanning of where to stop to charge, it allows for a more balance pace of travel.

I’ll never forget the first time we did a road trip in an EV. I thought I was going to hate stopping to charge, but I actually enjoyed it. I got to rest. We stretched our legs. Sometimes I even took a nap.

It also gave me a chance to explore the area a little where the charger was located. Some charge locations are flat out boring. But others are close to restaurants, towns, and other helpful points of interest. These are places that you might have missed, or would have skipped altogether, if you didn’t need to stop.

I’ve also noticed that because the trip takes a little longer and we need to charge, we’ve also stayed with family and friends and have used charging as an excuse to spend more time together.

Pro #3: Goodbye Gas Stations

Though the availability of fueling stations significantly outnumbers EV charging stations, there’s something nice about never needing to visit one.

Usually in busy areas with terrible restrooms, I’ve never really missed a gas station. On the few EV road trips I’ve taken, I’d much rather charge in a less trafficked area or take the opportunity to sit down for a meal.

I didn’t mention the cost of an EV road trip as either a pro or negative.

I debated this as I thought about taking a long road trip in an EV vs. an ICE. It’s just too hard to write generally about costs, as there are so many factors.

If you were to take our Prius V wagon on a road trip, that would cost significantly less to fuel and drive across the country than most SUVs and probably a lot less money (and time) than charging an EV.

But maybe you’re one of the lucky “grandfathered” folks that has an unlimited free charging benefit that came with your EV purchase. For some Tesla owners, that benefit can last a long time if they hold onto their car. For some, it’s a limited number of years.

Regardless, unlimited free charging is a HUGE benefit, especially if you’re planning long road trips. The savings there are incredibly significant compared to any ICE vehicle.

All this to say that if you’re planning to take a long road trip, you’ve probably already thought about this.

I can’t wait to go on another EV road trip. I’m still thinking that a plug-in Hybrid is the best option for us at the moment (don’t tell our current car that). Or maybe I can get someone to loan me a Tesla with unlimited charging….

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Over to you: What pros and cons of EV road trips stand out most in your opinion? What concerns or benefits have we overlooked? Let us know in the comments.