Picked this specific hotel due to the fact I thought complementary EV charging was included based on their app, only to find it was .44c per kWh… more expensive than the ionna fast charger 2 minutes away. (Parking is free at the hotel anyways so idk what they were trying to say other than free ev charging)
24 GMC sierra ev max range
Average miles per KWH: 1.9
Average speed 77mph
Charge stops: 2
First stop 127kwh spent 80$
Second stop: 67kwh spent 40$
Arrived at hotel with 24% left and free charging at the hotel.
Equivalent cost MPG (assuming 4$ a gallon): 22mpg
Not bad.
Here’s my notes:
If gas prices were lower, it would definitely be way cheaper to road trip a gas car.
If I didn’t get free charging at this hotel, it would suck.
Range anxiety was not a thing.
For planning purposes from 100% at highway speeds I’d estimate 350 of max usable range to be safe. I wouldn’t be comfortable over that.
This is the most comfortable car ever to road trip.
The infotainment system keeps dropping signal or crashing apps. It’s annoying.
Call hotels before booking to make sure they have charging. I made the mistake after a hotel said they did, but all their chargers were out of order.
I think the rest of this trip may be expensive as the next hotel doesn’t have free charging
Overall. Road tripping isn’t as bad as I thought, still to make it cost effective, charging at home or free hotel charging is your best bet. Otherwise, good luck as it’s probably about twice as expensive as gas.
I’ll do a post road trip report after. But leg 1: majority of the trip at 77mph, about 95% super cruise on. 2 adults, 3 suitcases, 1 kid and an e-bike and stroller in the bed. Efficiency of about 1.8 before bathroom stop and 1.9 after. Started trip at 100% and took it down to 17% and had a total distance of 333 miles and about 4 hours 45 minutes of driving.
I would say the largest distance I’d plan without a stop would be 350miles of highway driving.
Google vs ABRP: we ended up following ABRP because it had one stop at buccees (never been and wanted to check it out) vs googles 2 stops. I will say, googles stops would have lined up better with my bladder.
Charge stop. Mercedes 350 charger. 0 issues. Expensive as fuck though. 80$ for 124kwh. 30 minute charge time. Apparently I could have downloaded charge point and paid a subscription to save more money but hey, this is my first time. Finishing the trip today. The plan is to drive to Savannah and charge at a hotel for the night, finishing with a 2 and a half hour drive tomorrow to Florida. I’ll update afterwords
Other things of note: so much room. This thing is the most comfortable on road trips and fits so much stuff. Frunkfits a carryon and full size luggage and some other stuff. Our charge stop did not add any time to the trip as we didn’t wait around at all. The infotainment is ok at best. Apps tend to crash or not load right, it can be slow and glitchy. Super cruise is amazing! Made the trip so much easier.