Is it a rite of passage for the first road trip in an electric vehicle (EV6) to be an abysmal one? For the first time since getting our vehicle since this summer I'm wondering if the joke is on us

Discussion
1

Disclaimer: I’ve owned a 2022 KIA EV6 since this past summer and have loved it. My first electric vehicle. I’ve never taken it on a road trip…until now.

For the first time, I’m actually wondering if “the joke is on us,” and I’m not sure if I made the right choice getting an electric vehicle. Now, I’m not actually going to trade it in or anything like that, but here’s my story.

My wife and some friends were planning a road trip, and the week prior (no joke) we had 3 bad signs telling us to rent a gas car instead, but I ignored them. 1. A relative with two electric cars decided to rent a gas one for their road trip. 2. My sister told me, “You guys need to rent a gas car.” 3. My brother-in-law shared a “horror story” about renting an electric car for a road trip during Thanksgiving that turned into a nightmare.

So here’s my story: normally, it’s just me driving in the EV6. But for this trip, it was me, my wife, her friend, and their two 8-year-old kids, along with everyone’s luggage. We left the house with the display showing a 308-mile range. We only got 220 miles before we needed to charge. How did the range take such a hit?

Because of this, our charger plan was way off. Here are the main pain points:

  1. We passed countless Tesla chargers (which we couldn’t use, of course).
  2. EVGO and Electrify America massively over-advertise their charge rates. 350 kW? More like 125 kW.
  3. Found a broken charger? Wait in line for 30 minutes until someone else finishes.
  4. Another broken charger? Great.
  5. We made it to New Orleans, and there were literally only two level 3 chargers we could find—both busy.
  6. One charger didn’t work with the EVGO app; we had to use a credit card at the terminal. (What?)
  7. Pulled into a sketchy Walmart lot late at night to charge, where a loud electric “camera watchtower” warned people to go home. Not safe.
  8. We were 10 miles short on range and had to stop at a community college to sit on a level 2 charger for 45 minutes.

Is the joke on us? Other than the awesome look and acceleration, why do we own cars like this?

Please don’t downvote if this ruffles your feathers. I’m trying to have a realistic discussion. Why do we own these cars? It’s not like we really believe the energy from these chargers is “clean,” right?

For me, the worst parts were waiting for 45 minutes at a community college for 10 more miles of range and that crime-deterrent yelling watchtower at Walmart late at night.

Who wants to feel unsafe dealing with this?

2

You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

3

Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

4

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

5

Gabriel said:

jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

Shell? That’s cool. I didn’t know they were getting into EV chargers. I hope that happens soon.

6

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

Shell? That’s cool. I didn’t know they were getting into EV chargers. I hope that happens soon.

Shell is already pretty far along in Europe, and it’s amazing. They’re well-maintained, and staff inside will announce if a charger stops working so you can move your car. Plus, you can grab a coffee inside instead of waiting outside in the cold or rain.

7

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

Shell? That’s cool. I didn’t know they were getting into EV chargers. I hope that happens soon.

Here’s a link about it: EV Charging with Shell Recharge | Shell United States

8

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

Shell? That’s cool. I didn’t know they were getting into EV chargers. I hope that happens soon.

Pilot/Flying J is also adding chargers at some locations with EVgo. It’s starting to grow!

9

MAKENA said:

jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
jessicah said:
Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

LOL, definitely not that long. Shell is adding chargers at gas stations, more chargers will be built, and battery tech will keep improving. I think in a few years, 400+ mile range will be the norm, and charging will be faster. Having an EV now is like owning the first iPhone—there are ups and downs, but we’re ahead of the curve. People used to ask, ‘When will we get copy and paste? In 10 years?’

Shell? That’s cool. I didn’t know they were getting into EV chargers. I hope that happens soon.

Pilot/Flying J is also adding chargers at some locations with EVgo. It’s starting to grow!

That definitely feels safer than some of the places I’ve been.

10

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

What does a road trip mean to you? We’ve had our EV6 for two weeks and already done 1,000 miles with no issues here in New Zealand. We only have two chargers capable of over 100 kW in the entire South Island, and even with a toddler on board, we’ve managed just fine. Just have to think ahead and not rely on finding chargers whenever you need them like with a gas car.

11

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

In most of the EU, road trips with an EV are no big deal. Fast chargers are along the highways, and you only really see lines during major travel holidays.

12

jessicah said:

Gabriel said:
You really have to plan more than you would with a gas car. One thing I do is travel at night to avoid busy charging times. The app ‘A Better Route Planner’ is a lifesaver and does most of the planning for you. You can set preferences, backup chargers, and how much charge you want to have left when you stop.

Thanks for the app suggestion!

Silly question, but when do you think road trips will be as easy in an EV as in a gas car? 2040?

How about 2019? Even back then, coast-to-coast travel in North America was easy with a Tesla Model 3. For travel between cities, the Supercharger network has pretty much eliminated range anxiety. Kia and other automakers are taking notice, especially with the adoption of Tesla’s charging standard (NACS).

13

We drove from DC to Texas twice during a heatwave with no major issues. It takes planning, though. I always check PlugShare for comments on the next stop in case we need to charge longer or find an alternative. We also drove to Orlando for Christmas, and while chargers were busier, PlugShare helped us find others nearby.

You need to understand the car’s charging curve. The EV6 will never hit 350 kW—our max is 235 kW. Weather and your state of charge when you plug in affect how fast you charge. We’ve been driving EVs for 3 years and road trip up and down the East Coast. It just takes more planning and foresight.

14

Peggy said:
We drove from DC to Texas twice during a heatwave with no major issues. It takes planning, though. I always check PlugShare for comments on the next stop in case we need to charge longer or find an alternative. We also drove to Orlando for Christmas, and while chargers were busier, PlugShare helped us find others nearby.

You need to understand the car’s charging curve. The EV6 will never hit 350 kW—our max is 235 kW. Weather and your state of charge when you plug in affect how fast you charge. We’ve been driving EVs for 3 years and road trip up and down the East Coast. It just takes more planning and foresight.

I feel like Kia needs to be more upfront about the charging speeds. That 350 kW number is super misleading the way it’s advertised.

15

Kenneth said:

Peggy said:
We drove from DC to Texas twice during a heatwave with no major issues. It takes planning, though. I always check PlugShare for comments on the next stop in case we need to charge longer or find an alternative. We also drove to Orlando for Christmas, and while chargers were busier, PlugShare helped us find others nearby.

You need to understand the car’s charging curve. The EV6 will never hit 350 kW—our max is 235 kW. Weather and your state of charge when you plug in affect how fast you charge. We’ve been driving EVs for 3 years and road trip up and down the East Coast. It just takes more planning and foresight.

I feel like Kia needs to be more upfront about the charging speeds. That 350 kW number is super misleading the way it’s advertised.

I don’t recall Kia ever saying the EV6 would hit 350 kW. I think they state the max is 230 kW. The charging curve is actually more important than the max speed.

16

diallo said:

Kenneth said:
Peggy said:
We drove from DC to Texas twice during a heatwave with no major issues. It takes planning, though. I always check PlugShare for comments on the next stop in case we need to charge longer or find an alternative. We also drove to Orlando for Christmas, and while chargers were busier, PlugShare helped us find others nearby.

You need to understand the car’s charging curve. The EV6 will never hit 350 kW—our max is 235 kW. Weather and your state of charge when you plug in affect how fast you charge. We’ve been driving EVs for 3 years and road trip up and down the East Coast. It just takes more planning and foresight.

I feel like Kia needs to be more upfront about the charging speeds. That 350 kW number is super misleading the way it’s advertised.

I don’t recall Kia ever saying the EV6 would hit 350 kW. I think they state the max is 230 kW. The charging curve is actually more important than the max speed.

You’re right, I checked, and now Kia’s website says ‘800V Fast Charging.’ But lots of articles still mention 18-minute charges on a 350 kW charger, which isn’t realistic if the car tops out at 240 kW.

17

Kenneth said:

diallo said:
Kenneth said:
Peggy said:
We drove from DC to Texas twice during a heatwave with no major issues. It takes planning, though. I always check PlugShare for comments on the next stop in case we need to charge longer or find an alternative. We also drove to Orlando for Christmas, and while chargers were busier, PlugShare helped us find others nearby.

You need to understand the car’s charging curve. The EV6 will never hit 350 kW—our max is 235 kW. Weather and your state of charge when you plug in affect how fast you charge. We’ve been driving EVs for 3 years and road trip up and down the East Coast. It just takes more planning and foresight.

I feel like Kia needs to be more upfront about the charging speeds. That 350 kW number is super misleading the way it’s advertised.

I don’t recall Kia ever saying the EV6 would hit 350 kW. I think they state the max is 230 kW. The charging curve is actually more important than the max speed.

You’re right, I checked, and now Kia’s website says ‘800V Fast Charging.’ But lots of articles still mention 18-minute charges on a 350 kW charger, which isn’t realistic if the car tops out at 240 kW.

In ideal conditions, you can still get 18 minutes of charging from 10-80% at 235 kW. You need a 350 kW charger to get 235 kW because the next one down is 150 kW. The issue is when the weather or the charger’s internal battery isn’t ideal, which affects speeds. I did a 1,100-mile trip without major issues, but ABRP is a must, and planning while on the road really helps.

18

Your range probably dropped because of a few factors:

  1. Highway driving at higher speeds.
  2. The extra weight of passengers and luggage.
  3. Climate control—keeping everyone comfortable uses more battery.

Just dropping your speed by 5-10 mph can make a huge difference in range.

19

martin said:
Your range probably dropped because of a few factors:

  1. Highway driving at higher speeds.
  2. The extra weight of passengers and luggage.
  3. Climate control—keeping everyone comfortable uses more battery.

Just dropping your speed by 5-10 mph can make a huge difference in range.

Also, elevation changes can have a big impact on range.

20

Michael said:

martin said:
Your range probably dropped because of a few factors:

  1. Highway driving at higher speeds.
  2. The extra weight of passengers and luggage.
  3. Climate control—keeping everyone comfortable uses more battery.

Just dropping your speed by 5-10 mph can make a huge difference in range.

Also, elevation changes can have a big impact on range.

Elevation is a major factor. I got great efficiency going down to LA, but terrible numbers on the way back uphill.