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Traveling with an electric vehicle: Making a cost-effective and efficient trip

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INSIDER SECRET: Going all-electric for your daily drive (or even road trip) likely means huge savings from not having to refuel at gas stations, and you can save even more money by using one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards for your everyday purchases.

As recently as 10 years ago, people laughed at the idea of an electric vehicle being a viable mode of transportation for a daily short-haul driver, let alone one who goes on long road trips. They were mocked as unsafe, unreliable, and able to only travel very short distances before requiring a ton of time to recharge.

Fast forward to today. Technological advancements in batteries used in electric vehicles now allow you to travel long distances. Charging is quick and seamless. And electric car company manufacturers like Tesla have shown they’re a viable (even preferable) alternative for daily drivers, winning awards like MotorTrend’s Car of the Year.

Using an electric vehicle can make for a very cost-effective and fun road trip. (Photo by Smile Fight/Shutterstock)

Electric vehicles can also be much more economical. I personally own a Tesla Model S, and it has saved me over $500 a month on gas. Over an 8-year period of ownership, that will add up to $48,000.

(Note: If you decide to go all-electric, you probably won’t have much use for a gas credit card. That’s where some of the best no-annual-fee credit cards can be a great substitute. These cards don’t cost you anything to keep open and offer a strong rewards rate on everyday purchases.)

To give you confidence that an electric vehicle can be used for traveling long distances, we’ll go over current trends and options, as well as some of the pros and cons compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Electric vehicle options

If you’re thinking about going electric, you can choose between a hybrid car or a fully electric vehicle.

Hybrid vehicles use two different types of power. The most common ones combine a gasoline-powered engine with an electric motor. Some of the most efficient hybrids have a fuel efficiency rated as high as 60 mpg on the highway, according to CarsDirect. That’s a lot higher than the overall average U.S. vehicle fuel economy, which Reuters says is 24.7 mpg.

Fully electric vehicles, however, deliver the most in terms of fuel efficiency. Vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 have been rated as high as 136 mpg equivalent (the EPA energy measurement for electric vehicles), and can save you tons of money you would otherwise spend on gas.

Road trips in an electric vehicle

With technological advancements in batteries, electric vehicles can now go just as far on a charge as gasoline-powered cars can on a tank of gas.

According to Business Insider, here are some of the top-selling electric vehicles, along with their top battery range:

  • Tesla Model 3 – 310 miles
  • Tesla Model S – 370 miles
  • Tesla Model X – 325 miles
  • Chevrolet Bolt EV – 238 miles
  • Nissan Leaf – 226 miles
  • BMW i3 – 153 miles (up to 200 miles with range extender)
  • Volkswagen e-Golf – 125 miles
  • Audi e-Tron – 204 miles
  • Jaguar I-Pace – 234 miles
  • Smart EQ Fortwo – 58 miles

Making your road trip seamless

There are a number of things you can do to make a road trip in an electric or hybrid vehicle seamless, such as planning your route to include charging stations, making use of EV-specific perks, staying close to large cities, driving efficiently and more.

Charging

Today, charging an electric vehicle can be done quickly and conveniently, both at home and on the road.

At-home charging

One of the greatest advantages of owning an electric vehicle is the fact that you can charge your car on your own time and in the safety, comfort and convenience of your own property. In other words, you won’t have to make a special trip to a gas station to refuel.

The popular YouTube channel Like Tesla cites the following data points in one of their videos:

  • According to a study done by Kelly Blue Book, the average length of car ownership is five years
  • The average person drives 37 miles per day while getting 24 mpg
  • With those numbers in mind, the average person would need to refuel once every nine days
  • Doing the math, that’s 40 stops at a gas station per year (365 days per year/nine days)

Assuming it takes five minutes to refuel, that’s at least 200 minutes per year the driver of a gasoline-powered car spends at gas stations, versus zero for an electric vehicle if you have access to a convenient place to charge it when it is not in use (i.e. at night while you sleep).

If this sounds appealing to you, do keep in mind that you will need to have a charging station installed by an electrician, which can be an added cost of a few hundred dollars. You’ll also want to make sure that installing a charging station is allowed, depending on your living arrangement.

Those living in apartments or condominiums, for instance, may not have the physical space necessary to install a charging station. In some cases, you may have to seek approval from your landlord or homeowner’s association. If charging at home isn’t possible, you’ll have to rely on public charging stations which can be far less convenient than refueling in a gasoline-powered car.

Destination charging

Charging your car on a long road trip can be just as seamless as charging art home because of the number of public charging stations now available throughout the U.S.

According to GreenCarCongress, there are over 68,800 Level 2 and DC Fast charging units throughout the U.S. Additionally, Tesla also has its own charging network of over 14,000 Superchargers in more than 1,600+ unique locations nationwide.

Recharging your car on a long road trip can be quite convenient. After driving for several hours, it’s not unusual for many people to want to stop for at least 15-30 minutes to eat, rest, and use the restrooms. With a vehicle like the Tesla Model 3, that’s enough time to charge the car to 80%.

Planning your route

Although electric vehicle charging stations are becoming increasingly common, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead to make sure there are enough charging stations along your specific route. Tools like EVTripPlanner can be helpful in mapping out a route for your road trip to ensure you have the ability to recharge at convenient points along the way.

Some vehicles, such as Tesla, have an in-car navigation system that includes the locations of charging stations, along with recommended stops, to ensure you do not run your battery too low.

Utilizing destination perks

As an owner of an electric vehicle, there are a number of perks that you may be able to enjoy:

  • Priority parking spaces: some retail stores and shopping centers will have special designated parking spaces right up front for electric vehicles. These can save you tons of time because you can skip having to circle a busy parking lot for a spot.
  • HOV carpool lane access: depending on the state in which you reside, you may be eligible to apply for HOV lane stickers that will grant you access to the carpool lanes even if you are traveling solo. If you live in a busy metropolitan area like I do, carpool lanes can easily shave off 15-30 minutes off your commute.
  • Free valet parking and hotel charging: some hotels offer free valet parking and destination charging. This can save you the trouble of having to make a special trip to find a charging station before or after your arrival to the hotel. Not all hotel locations will offer this so you’ll need to check ahead of time, but some hotel chains that offer this include:
    • Marriott
    • Holiday Inn
    • Best Western
    • Hyatt

Stay closer to cities

Large cities typically have a higher density of charging stations. Tesla Superchargers, for instance, are typically located in large shopping centers or within walking distance to restaurants and entertainment areas.

For anyone looking to own or rent an electric vehicle, living in or around a large city likely means you’ll have easy access to a strong public charging infrastructure to support your daily driving needs.

Here is a list of top EV-friendly cities, according to AutoBlog:

  • Portland, Oregon
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Baltimore
  • New York
  • Denver
  • Los Angeles
  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • Austin
  • San Francisco

Drive efficiently

If you’re looking to skip as many charging stations as possible or are worried about running out of juice before your next stop, there are a few things you can do to improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Not using your car’s air conditioning or other accessories are two small things that can help. But by and large, the single largest thing affecting your car’s range is your driving style.

Speed is one of the biggest items that can negatively affect your range. The faster you go, the more aerodynamic resistance will come into play. Simply put: slow down and limit your top speed to significantly improve your range. You can also avoid “jackrabbit” starts, and instead take it nice and easy on the accelerator.

Drafting is another strategy you can use to improve your car’s efficiency. By driving behind another large vehicle, you can improve your own vehicle’s fuel efficiency because you’ll have a lot less aerodynamic resistance to cut through.

Keep in mind that altitude, temperature, and weather conditions may also affect your vehicle’s range. Because you don’t have control over those factors, it’s a good idea to build in an appropriate buffer to ensure you don’t run out of battery life.

Don’t push your limits

It’s never a good idea to run your car’s gas tank down to zero, but it goes doubly-true for an electric vehicle. Even though your car’s battery reading might indicate it has a few miles left, it’s largely dependent on the accuracy of that reading and your battery’s calibration. Your battery’s age, health, temperature and weather conditions are just a few factors that could affect the accuracy of that reading. Because of this, there have been few reports of people’s cars running out of battery even though the battery gauge indicated it still had several miles left.

The best thing to do is to keep a buffer of at least 10-15 miles to avoid being stranded.

If you run out of battery

If you do happen to run out of battery power and find yourself stranded, roadside assistance should be your first call. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, some roadside assistance services may be able to provide charging services so that you can make it to the nearest charging station. AAA, for instance, offers these services in certain locations. In other cases, your car may have to be towed to a charging station.

Bottom line

Thanks to technological advancements, a road trip in an electric vehicle is not only possible but can be more preferable compared to a more traditional gasoline-powered car. Electric vehicles nowadays can drive many hundreds of miles on a single charge, are much more economical and can be recharged quickly and conveniently at home or on the road.

Plus, as an EV owner, you can take advantage of special perks like carpool lane access, priority parking space in certain shopping centers, free valet parking, free hotel charging and more.

If you’ve taken a road trip in an electric vehicle, let us know what your experience was like in the comments below.

For the latest tips and tricks on saving money on your travels, please subscribe to the Million Mile Secrets daily email newsletter.

Electric Crossovers, Kia

Top 7 Electric Crossover SUVs w/ 250 Miles of Range

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New battery-electric vehicles that will released for the model years of 2018 and 2019 could possibly shift the attention of consumers away from Tesla. Audi, Hyundai and at least a couple new manufacturers finally matured enough to make their own all-electric cars in the crossover SUV bodies. This video can serve as a quick overview of current market situation. Some cars are already on sale in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and China, so we were able to add prices and final technical information about them, while some are waiting for their first public debuts (companies already confirmed their production, though). Short list of things this video presentation will teach you (information about the sourced used in making this video are in the end of the presentation; image by autoblog.com/2018/02/27/hyundai-kona-electric-suv-revealed): – Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo can finally set the company to the path of electrifying their whole lineup. The 600hp E Cross Turismo SUV will be good for urban and offroad driving thanks to rugged tires and 310 miles of range; – Jaguar I-Pace is slightly bigger than most of cars on the list. Despite this, it will still show great range and be slightly cheaper than Tesla’s SUV. – Hyundai Kona is the competitor for the domination among more affordable EV options. Hyundai are known for making cars with competitive pricing and good specifications, so Kona Electric is the first long-range option to Bolt EV. – Chevrolet Bolt EV is usually described as the uncool all-electric car. Customers, who are not chasing the hype could have the time of their lives driving this car: it has the range of over 200 miles and low price compared to most of the competition. – Nio ES8 is the cheaper alternative to Model X that was created for the Chinese market. The main selling point of this big SUV is its pricing. For the smaller amount of money, you get cars that are not less advanced than ones created by Elon Musk’s company. – Audi Etron is scheduled to start rolling out of the production lines in the second half of 2018. Consumers in Europe can already place their reservations for Audi’s first long-range SUV. – Tesla Model X: no list is complete without this product. Although everyone is chasing Elon Musk, in 99% of cases Tesla remains on top. Let’s see if anything changes for them this year.

Tesla Motors

Tesla Reveals a Super Semi, 0-60 in Under 5 Seconds!

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At an event in Los Angeles on November 16th, 2017, Tesla unveiled its new Semi electric truck, which is capable of traveling 800 kilometers (500 miles) on a single charge with a loaded trailer.

Powered by four independent Model 3 motors, the vehicle can go from 0-60 mph in just five seconds; it’ll take 20 seconds while paired with an 80,000 pound load. The idea with the Semi is to create a shipping solution that’s not only more environmentally friendly than a diesel truck, but also more economical to own and operate.

The interior features a central cockpit for greater visibility and two large displays for navigation and other controls on either side of the cabin. The shatter-proof windshield uses Tesla Armor Glass that the company says is far more durable than standard glass; that’s a big deal because a cracked windshield takes time to replace, and it’s illegal to drive with a damaged one in the US, which means downtime and money down the drain for trucking companies.

In addition, the Semi beams data to a mobile app that presents vital information about the vehicle, along with remote diagnostics, preventative maintenance, and fleet management information.

With the Semi, the big draw for logistics companies will likely be the lower cost of ownership. Tesla says that a diesel truck is 20 percent more expensive to run per mile, and that running an Autopilot-powered convoy of Semis is even more economical than transporting cargo by rail, while also being 10 times safer than having the vehicles manned by human drivers.

It’ll be interesting to see if that’s enough to convince shipping companies to make the switch to Tesla’s electric offering. The Semi will begin production in 2019, and you can reserve them now by wiring across $5,000 apiece.

SOURCE: TheNextWeb

Chevy, Chevy Bolt, Model S, Tesla Motors

Chevy Bolt Or Tesla Model S, Which Is The Best EV For A Road Trip?

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Everyone loves a road trip: Driving through a region, discovering its magic, one mile at a time, while being as free as a bird to stop and sleep wherever you want to. It’s no wonder that road trips are an American symbol: They’re linked to a natural sense of freedom and exploration of vast landscapes that are so iconic of the US. But when it comes to road trips, it’s always the old Mustang or the long Cadillac that get in the picture of the perfect trip. Have you ever considered an electric car instead? We’re comparing the Tesla Model S and the Chevy Bolt to find out the best car for the exercise!

Chevy Bolt EV

The essentials on the road

Even though an electric car has a different fuelling system, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pack like for a standard road trip, namely a box of tools to be able to change a flat tyre and cables to revive the battery. Admittedly, there’s no need to worry in case you’ve forgotten a tool or you find yourself unable to move the car. The tow truck service is equally available to fuel-powered and electric vehicles! But, you’ll enjoy the road trip more if you don’t need it!

Planning ahead

If it’s your first long drive with an EV, make sure to check a map of charging stations in the area before you leave. These are more difficult to find than fuel stations!

Tesla Model S: Supercharged in 30min

The Tesla Model S has some serious bragging rights, as with any electric car that allows you to invest in the future. But what is really exciting about this model is that you can in only 30 minutes get the car charged to complete a 170-mile-long journey, assuming you are using a Tesla Supercharger charging station. Remember the EV charging map? That’s why you need it! Additionally, the Tesla S is a fast car that can even beat the Ferrari 458 in a race.

Chevy Bolt: 313 miles on a charge

In comparison, the Chevy Bolt offers an impressive driving range on one charge: Up to 238 miles, although drivers claim to have managed 313 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately the Chevy Bolt can’t use the Tesla Supercharger, but you can use DC fast-charging stations to deliver 90 miles in the first 30 min. If you’re stopping in a hotel, it will take a 240-volt Level 2 charging station 9 hours to fill a discharged battery pack.

The verdict

According to EPA estimates, the 259 miles range of the Tesla Model S beats the Chevy Bolt, especially if you take into account the time of charge. However, recent tests by Consumer Reports show otherwise: The Chevy Bolt surpasses expectations with a 235 miles range, vs the Tesla that only hits 250 miles. But charging time and comfort are in favor of the Tesla’s vehicle.

In conclusion, a long-distance road trip is better planned with a Tesla Model S, as you’ll be making the most of its supercharging abilities and comfy seats. However, if you’re driving only a few hundred miles, the Chevy Bolt is a great alternative that exceeds range expectations, as long as you remember to use DC fast-charging stations!

Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3 First Impressions

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Marques Brownlee, YouTube tech reviewer extraordinaire, had the chance to do a short test drive of the Tesla Model 3. He already owns a Tesla Model S, so he provides a pretty reserved review of Tesla’s new affordable option.

Marques praises Tesla for retaining the spirit of their brand in the minimalist Model 3, but expresses concerns about how everything is controlled on the 15 inch touchscreen, even the glove box. Judging by the top voted YouTube comments, this is a shared worry among the general population:

Sketcher02041 day ago
“Everything is simple” (Needs software to open the glove compartment)
Atom Five1 day ago
That monitor goes out for any reason, I mean, it’s a single point of failure. Doesn’t seem safe at all. I could be wrong. Please tell me I’m wrong.
Gregory Gant1 day ago
Putting everything on the touchscreen with no physical buttons and a speedometer in front of the driver is a big mistake IMHO.What happens when the screen fails for some reason,you are totally screwed!! You don’t know what the hell is going on ! Epic fail !
Even though Tesla has likely made plenty of safety measures to prevent any sort of problem with touchscreen malfunctions, popular perceptions can influence whether or not the Tesla Model 3 will be adopted by the masses.  So I hope Tesla shows more ride alongs and tutorials on navigating the touchscreen, as well as reassuring electric car novices that a car can be safely operated without physical buttons and a traditional dashboard.
Marques also talks about options like colors, wheels, and automation packages.  $5000 will get you semi automation with self parking, lane holding, and speed changing autopilot.  For $5000 more you can basically just tell your car where to go from point A to point B, which is full-automation.  The safety sensors will be on the base model with no extra charge.  This brings up an interesting issue as to why the software is so expensive when the hardware is standard, as it isn’t physical, but digital script that could be copied and distributed, or even pirated.  However, I’m not sure if anyone is daring or stupid enough to trust their lives to bootleg PirateBay Uber.
As a successful YouTuber who already owns a Model S, Marques Brownlee represents the middle class Tesla owner, whereas most of his viewers seem to be younger people, highschoolers and young adults.  To him, it seems the Model 3 is kind of meh, to his audience, the Model 3 is hardly “affordable”.  In fact it’s about the same price as a C class Mercedes, so many could consider Elon Musk’s idea of an affordable people’s car rather condescending.  So Tesla has to find a way to manage these views as the hype train slows down in the next couple years, though they have time to think about before their supply can match the unprecedented initial demand.
Tesla Model 3

Everything You Need to Know About the Tesla Model 3 Before the July Reveal

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Tesla is gearing up for the big reveal of the Model 3, its first mass-market car.

CEO Elon Musk unveiled the car last March, but Tesla will show off the production version of the sedan in July. The summer show will allow the roughly 400,000 customers who preordered the vehicle a chance to see the final version before deliveries begin at the end of the year.

We broke down everything you need to know about the Model 3 — here’s a closer look:

First, the basics. Tesla will offer at least four color options for the Model 3: red, silver, metallic gray, and black.

First, the basics. Tesla will offer at least four color options for the Model 3: red, silver, metallic gray, and black.

Tesla

Tesla’s big selling point for the Model 3 is its affordability, with a starting price of $35,000 before tax incentives. But for customers who want the full Tesla experience, however, the final price will most likely surpass $40,000.

Tesla's big selling point for the Model 3 is its affordability, with a starting price of $35,000 before tax incentives. But for customers who want the full Tesla experience, however, the final price will most likely surpass $40,000.

REUTERS/Joe White/File Photo

It’s unclear whether customers who buy the Tesla Model 3 will be eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax incentive — that credit applies only to the first 200,000 cars a manufacturer sells domestically.

Tesla globally sold about 80,000 vehicles in 2016 and about 50,000 vehicles in 2015. Factoring cars sold since 2008, Tesla will be cutting it close to 200,000 vehicles by the time deliveries begin at the end of the year.

But the credit doesn’t disappear the second an automaker hits 200,000 vehicles. Instead, the credit would first fall by 50%, CNN reported.

On its website, Tesla doesn’t make any guarantees about the federal tax incentive.

“We are committed to providing you with the most current information about incentives at the time of purchase. We’ll do the same when it’s time for confirming your Model 3 order,” the website says.

Tesla’s new Autopilot system will also cost at least $7,100, but more on that later.

Tesla says the car will be able to drive at least 215 miles on a single charge. That’s pretty darn good for a $35,000 car!

Tesla says the car will be able to drive at least 215 miles on a single charge. That's pretty darn good for a $35,000 car!

YouTube/Motor Trend

The latest models of the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric cost about $30,000 but have more limited ranges: 107 miles and 124 miles, respectively.

The Model 3 will compete more closely with the Chevy Bolt, which can drive 238 miles on a single charge and starts at $37,495.

The Model 3 can accelerate to 60 mph in under six seconds.

The Model 3 can accelerate to 60 mph in under six seconds.

Tesla Motors

That edges out the Chevy Bolt, which can do 0-60 mph in about seven seconds. Musk has saidthat more-expensive versions of the car will have longer ranges and faster acceleration times, but he hasn’t announced those yet.

It comes equipped with a new suite of sensors that can support full autonomy.

It comes equipped with a new suite of sensors that can support full autonomy.

Tesla

The Model 3 comes with eight cameras, one radar sensor, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a new Nvidia Drive PX2 supercomputer to support Tesla’s second-generation Autopilot system, dubbed Enhanced Autopilot.

Tesla says Enhanced Autopilot will eventually allow the car to match its speed to traffic conditions, automatically change lanes without driver input, merge on and off highways, and park itself. Tesla owners could also summon the car in more complex environments, like a crowded parking lot.

It costs an extra $5,000 to activate Enhanced Autopilot features at the time of purchase, but standard safety features will come free.

Tesla says the new hardware will eventually allow the cars to drive themselves. But the self-driving feature will cost an additional $4,000 after purchasing the vehicle. The regulatory environment will determine when Tesla can release the fully driverless system.

Tesla said the Model 3 is designed to achieve a five-star safety rating.

Tesla said the Model 3 is designed to achieve a five-star safety rating.

Tesla

Tesla has been a leader when it comes to safety. The government recently dubbed the Model X the safest SUV ever after it earned a five-star rating in every safety category and subcategory.

The Model S has also secured a five-star rating in every category.

Model 3 owners get access to Tesla’s massive Supercharger network.

Model 3 owners get access to Tesla's massive Supercharger network.

Tesla

Tesla’s Supercharger network is nothing to sniff at. A Supercharger can restore 170 miles of range in 30 minutes. That’s much faster than a Tesla partner station or a wall socket.

Better yet, Tesla is doubling the number of Superchargers worldwide by the end of 2017. The gray dots on the map above show the new Superchargers expected to come online by the end of the year.

But the perk is no longer free. Unless you can snag a referral code from a friend, you will have to pay for access once you’ve reached 1,000 miles. Thankfully, it’s a small fee.

The Model 3 offers a ton of space for a passenger sedan.

The Model 3 offers a ton of space for a passenger sedan.

Tesla

The car, which seats five, can even fit a 7-foot surfboard, Musk said last year.

Tesla will offer a glass roof as an option on the Model 3.

Tesla will offer a glass roof as an option on the Model 3.

Tesla

Just like it does with the Model S, Tesla will offer an array of premium features for its Model 3, Electrek reported. In addition to the glass roof, Tesla will allow customers to purchase 18- or 19-inch wheels, according to the report.

Tesla opened its glass division in October to make its solar roofs. The group is developing glass that can use heating elements to clear snow while generating energy. Musk said this kind of glass could be used as a rear defroster on cars, but it’s unclear whether we will see this technology on the Model 3.

The sedan features a clean design.

The sedan features a clean design.

Tesla

See how there’s no grille? The car is completely smooth.

Like the Model X, the handles are flush with the door.

Like the Model X, the handles are flush with the door.

Tesla

It also comes with a massive 15-inch tablet. But unlike the tablets in the Model S and Model X, the display is horizontal.

It also comes with a massive 15-inch tablet. But unlike the tablets in the Model S and Model X, the display is horizontal.

Tesla

Reorienting the touchscreen might make it easier to access different features while driving.

A lot is riding on Tesla’s big Model 3 reveal. We’ll be watching in July to see what else is new.

A lot is riding on Tesla's big Model 3 reveal. We'll be watching in July to see what else is new.

Tesla

Originally Article by BusinessInsider