April 2025: 1900-mile eastern USA road trip experiences

[PSUEric]

Great write up with excellent details. I think at least in the eastern part of the U.S. that long trips in a BEV are no longer a scary scenario.

Sponsored

 

[Jonathan S.]

Uh oh, now that you’ve enjoyed such good charging sessions at EA, instead of meeting at the Lynnfield MA Magic Docks, will we have to meet next time at the Burlington Mall EA?
(At least we’ll have LOTS of time to talk there while waiting there!)

Re PCM, unfortunately I can’t even use that to estimate arrival SoC, given that the PCM is frequently providing me with route that take more time *and* travel more miles *and* have higher speeds, all of which prompt the PCM to add charging stops (which typically entail at ~10 minutes of extra roundtrip driving time plus waiting time, plus the actual charging time).

Here’s an example from Wednesday morning:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Co1uGGe7GkoktQV86
The first two routes are almost the same. I arrived at 18% SoC, which after skiing allowed me with plenty of range to drive the final ~18 minutes to my place in Twin Mtn.

PCM instead plotted a route that was suboptimal in every possible way, continuing on I-91N to I-93S, and therefore stopping at the West Lebanon NH EA. In total this would have added about an hour to a 2:50 trip.

As for the more general issue of charging stations amenities, I just always bring along a bottle of glass cleaner, a small squeegee, and a paper towel roll.

Now when is Ionna going to expand to the Northeast … ?

 

[cometguy]

pics?

sure...
First is a photo from a rainy day with me charging all alone at Ionna, Scranton, PA...

Now, here are two photos from Love's Travel Stop (Chargepoint) at Jonestown, PA:

Here's a photo with me waiting in line at EA, Richmond, VA:

Here's me charging at EA in Frederick, MD:

 

[Flying ace]

nice photos! I feel like we're at the dawn of a major infrastructure build. Ionna, Walmart, BP Pulse and GM (via EvGO) are building out rapidly in the last 3 months and have committed to hundreds of new stations.

Along with opening of Tesla SC locations to other brands, and the use of Alpitronic units, this allows a more balanced demand for the new supply and much more improved charging speeds and lower congestion.

 

[cometguy]

I've mapped out my next big road trip, to the midwest, and numerous gas stations with canopies (and windshield-washing supplies) for charging stops, including Flying J, Circle K, Love's, Pilot ...
It'll be nice when New England gets any of these charging stations, plus Ionna...

Big mega-charging station just opened on the outskirts of Logan airport, I see; will have to check that out sometime. (https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/bp-pulse-launch-in-us-with-alpitronic-hyc-400-units.26223/)
... but the US has nothing to compete with Norway's big charging parks:


Imagine something like that (Norway charging park) in the Boston area!
As for Burlington EA, lots of wait times there to get an open bay, yes...
Jonathan, just let me know when you're in the area and we can have another meeting of the Massachusetts Taycan Club.

Sponsored