Road trip in July. questions from a brand new owner

[dogmodes]

We just came back from a long road trip, about 1000 miles one way (two full days of driving).
I am a little chicken (and I don’t want the boss/wife to have anxiety attack), so I always use ABRP to see if what it recommends. I found that Tesla is too optimistic, and sometimes trying to get the battery too low (sometimes below 10 perc) at the the next charging point. I either charged a little higher or added another stop (as recommended by ABRP) so I would not have to worry about it.

Yeah gotta love when the Tesla adjusts itself and then says you’ll arrive with -3%. Then comes the stay below 65 messages. What’s annoying is there were literally 4 superchargers closer on the same freeway that we could’ve stopped at.

I hope they had a minimum arrival SOC option and the ability to edit and choose chargers without having to do a new trip. Also to complain more, the searching for superchargers isn’t always great. There were some I just couldn’t find searching but they were there.

 

[Schradey]

We just returned from a 2,500 mile California road trip yesterday in our Standard Range MY. I echo all of the ideas mentioned already, but wanted to add that the PlugShare app was useful to scout Superchargers. California Superchargers are densely populated, giving us ample choice of charging locations. Plugshare has user-generated info about food and other nearby amenities for each supercharger, pictures of the surroundings, and other useful info from which to make a choice about the best supercharging stop.

 

[WADan]

Not sure what’s the weather is like in your location, but I got a roof shade for our trip (Utah, Arizona) since the temperatures were already around 100’s, and it helped tremendously!

 

[Dvs76]

*sugar* just got real. i got my vin last night and a 10 day window for delivery. the dogs ran away because i was jumping up and down and acting like a kid on christmas. haha

 

[threeputts]

Here's what I have figured out to minimize charging time on long trips. When you get to a supercharger plug in first then figure out what battery percentage you want to charge to. Use the energy screen to see what your average wh/mi has been for the last 30 miles. Assuming you expect the next leg to be similar driving conditions (speed, temperature, wind), multiply that times the number of miles to the next supercharger, which you can get by telling the car to navigate to it. Divide that number by 750 (assuming 75kwh battery size) and the result will be the battery percentage needed to get there. Then add whatever safety buffer you are comfortable with (I add 10%) and charge to at least that level at your current stop. If you expect better efficiency for the next leg (slower or more favorable temps or downhill or less headwind) you can reduce your buffer a bit, if the opposite is true add more buffer.

 

[StealthMicro]

*sugar* just got real. i got my vin last night and a 10 day window for delivery. the dogs ran away because i was jumping up and down and acting like a kid on christmas. haha

Did you have to okay the radar removal and if so did that happen when you got the VIN or before that time. Were you checking during the day yesterday and your VIN appeared overnight? MYP on order and waiting for the VIN myself. Also when was your profile completion date if you don't mind sharing?

 

[Dvs76]

Did you have to okay the radar removal and if so did that happen when you got the VIN or before that time. Were you checking during the day yesterday and your VIN appeared overnight? MYP on order and waiting for the VIN myself. Also when was your profile completion date if you don't mind sharing?

i had to accept the radar change and then right after i had a vin. i ordered Apri 30th. i appeared at night before bed. then the next day the window got closer. its now June 10th to June 16th! good luck to your vin as well.

 

[brian.c]

When we do long trips, we try to stay at locations with destination chargers. Our last 2 long trips we found multiple hotels with free charging. Nothing like getting to the hotel with 10% and leaving at 90% (for free).

I personally plan out my own trips, and do not use trip planner much. I like to pick places to charge that I would enjoy stopping at. Places with better food options, places to take a walk, clean bathroom options etc. The Tesla app always wants me to stop at the worst possible place, or time. I also always check reviews and comments before hand, so I know what to expect. I will also usually use google maps before hand to find exactly where the chargers are located. I have found on multiple occasions that there are no markings, and the chargers can not be seen from the road (placed behind businesses).

Also keep an eye if all chargers are being used. We will check every 5 minutes or so, when we are getting close to a planned to stop. If its very full, we will look to stop a little early, or later if possible. Its odd, I have seen superchargers 100% full, but then the next is nearly empty.

I would also suggest getting comfortable with autopilot, or FSD if you have it. After 8 hours of driving with autopilot on 90% of the time, I still feel refreshed and not nearly as tired/sore as with our old Lexus.

 

[Dvs76]

When we do long trips, we try to stay at locations with destination chargers. Our last 2 long trips we found multiple hotels with free charging. Nothing like getting to the hotel with 10% and leaving at 90% (for free).

I personally plan out my own trips, and do not use trip planner much. I like to pick places to charge that I would enjoy stopping at. Places with better food options, places to take a walk, clean bathroom options etc. The Tesla app always wants me to stop at the worst possible place, or time. I also always check reviews and comments before hand, so I know what to expect. I will also usually use google maps before hand to find exactly where the chargers are located. I have found on multiple occasions that there are no markings, and the chargers can not be seen from the road (placed behind businesses).

Also keep an eye if all chargers are being used. We will check every 5 minutes or so, when we are getting close to a planned to stop. If its very full, we will look to stop a little early, or later if possible. Its odd, I have seen superchargers 100% full, but then the next is nearly empty.

I would also suggest getting comfortable with autopilot, or FSD if you have it. After 8 hours of driving with autopilot on 90% of the time, I still feel refreshed and not nearly as tired/sore as with our old Lexus.

yes i have to learn how to use them i did order fsd.

 

[dolfs]

When we do long trips, we try to stay at locations with destination chargers. Our last 2 long trips we found multiple hotels with free charging. Nothing like getting to the hotel with 10% and leaving at 90% (for free).

I personally plan out my own trips, and do not use trip planner much. I like to pick places to charge that I would enjoy stopping at. Places with better food options, places to take a walk, clean bathroom options etc. The Tesla app always wants me to stop at the worst possible place, or time. I also always check reviews and comments before hand, so I know what to expect. I will also usually use google maps before hand to find exactly where the chargers are located. I have found on multiple occasions that there are no markings, and the chargers can not be seen from the road (placed behind businesses).

Also keep an eye if all chargers are being used. We will check every 5 minutes or so, when we are getting close to a planned to stop. If its very full, we will look to stop a little early, or later if possible. Its odd, I have seen superchargers 100% full, but then the next is nearly empty.

I would also suggest getting comfortable with autopilot, or FSD if you have it. After 8 hours of driving with autopilot on 90% of the time, I still feel refreshed and not nearly as tired/sore as with our old Lexus.

Except when the hotel claims to have three chargers, you arrive to find all three available... and all three not operating...

 

[Fourdoor]

Except when the hotel claims to have three chargers, you arrive to find all three available... and all three not operating...

I found one (Atlanta, GA) where all three Tesla chargers were operational... charging at a blistering 208V 10 amps! (a hair over 2 KW) so I used the Blink J1772 charger at 5 KW (208V 24 amps). I had to pay for it ($0.04 per min, so at 5 KW that come out to $0.48 per kWh), but it was better to have a full charge in the morning than half a charge.

Keith

 

[Needsdecaf]

Watch out for headwinds. Can spike consumption something fierce.

Bring your mobile charger. And order the full kit of plug heads from Tesla. You can always find someplace to charge. RV Parks are great L2 locations.

Otherwise, everyone above has most all of it covered.

Oh, and try to drive the car a good bit before you leave and get used to how things work.

 

[brian.c]

Except when the hotel claims to have three chargers, you arrive to find all three available... and all three not operating...

Yes, very true... We have had to wait in line to get one. Always make sure to have a back up plan just in case they are out of order, or being used. Also never expect fast charging, we found one free charger that gave a whopping 3 miles an hour. Recent stay at Lego land was between 7-11 miles an hour. 2 Hyatts we recently stayed at were both around 40. I have also had them stop mid charge, and required me to go down, unplug, plug back in to get it going again.

Something else to keep in mind while traveling, with sentry mode activated, can eat up a lot of battery over a few days. On our first road trip, after a 3 night hotel stay, barely made our next leg of travel. We had supercharges if needed, just was not planning on extra stops, and nothing that was convenient.

 

[brian.c]

Watch out for headwinds. Can spike consumption something fierce.

Bring your mobile charger. And order the full kit of plug heads from Tesla. You can always find someplace to charge. RV Parks are great L2 locations.

Otherwise, everyone above has most all of it covered.

Oh, and try to drive the car a good bit before you leave and get used to how things work.

Yeah, this got me on my last trip... Left supercharger saying 10% soc at the completion of our trip... Get about 25 minutes in, and its already warning us to slow down to 65 to make it... then comes the warning to 60... Eventually changed direction eliminating the headwind, made it home with about 8%, but did slow down some for much of the drive so I did not need to make another stop.

 

[BigPoppa]

I took my Model Y Performance with the 21" wheels on a road trip from the San Francisco Bay Area to Southern California (Morongo Casino/Resort). I started my trip with 100% charge. I used the built in navigation and stopped when it told me to stop for a charge and left when it told me to.

• I found the built-in navigation to be within 3% of the estimated SoC when I stopped as instructed.
• I set my auto pilot at +5mph over the speed limit and left it there until I got about 30 miles from my final destination. At that point, impatience kicked in and I started driving it like I stole it to get through traffic.
• Based on my charging stops and SoC at each stop, I guesstimate my freeway range at +5mph over the limit to be about 190-200 miles...a bit disappointing but then again my settings meant I was averaging 75mph with a pull up the I-5 Grapevine. Based on the huge difference between city and freeway riding on my electric motorcycle, I did expect my freeway range to drop significantly from the advertised range.

My return trip was a mirror image...started at 100% and then stopped and charged when the built-in nav told me to.

 

[Dvs76]

Watch out for headwinds. Can spike consumption something fierce.

Bring your mobile charger. And order the full kit of plug heads from Tesla. You can always find someplace to charge. RV Parks are great L2 locations.

Otherwise, everyone above has most all of it covered.

Oh, and try to drive the car a good bit before you leave and get used to how things work.

order the full set of plug heads? the Nema set for $220?

 

[ShockedMy21]

Just made my drop off appointment for the 10th, which I was super happy to get since we had a road trip planned from Seattle to Bend, OR (about 6 hour drive) the very next day! Was really hoping to have the Tesla in time for the trip, and it just squeaked in!

I'm 99% sure the answer is not to worry about it, but anything I should consider going right out of the gate on a road trip with the car? The batteries won't have had a single cycle on them, and I'll be hitting the SC's on day one. Any concerns about varying engine (motor) speed like on ICE cars the first couple hundred miles? I planned the route on ABRP and looks easy enough. I'll only charge to 90% before heading out the next morning, and plenty of SC's along the way.

 

[bluenycom]

Just came back from 2800 miles road trip as well. I used ABRP just for initial planning to have an idea where I should stop for charging and overnight stay. During the trip, i used the built in system with pretty accurate estimate range to destination.

Destination charging is good if they are working and available. At one site (Mesa Verde NP), multiple cars (ICE) block all the chargers and my wife was about to have a panic attack. Luckily, I was able to slide in to one side on the grass.

 

[Pianewman]

bluenycom: Sending a private message.

 

[Dennisis]

Just made my drop off appointment for the 10th, which I was super happy to get since we had a road trip planned from Seattle to Bend, OR (about 6 hour drive) the very next day! Was really hoping to have the Tesla in time for the trip, and it just squeaked in!

I'm 99% sure the answer is not to worry about it, but anything I should consider going right out of the gate on a road trip with the car? The batteries won't have had a single cycle on them, and I'll be hitting the SC's on day one. Any concerns about varying engine (motor) speed like on ICE cars the first couple hundred miles? I planned the route on ABRP and looks easy enough. I'll only charge to 90% before heading out the next morning, and plenty of SC's along the way.

Nope! No pistons, rings, and valves to break in and get seated evenly - drive normally. I'd make sure the tire pressures are set properly but other than that, all you really have to do is put in your destination and let the car tell you where to stop and for how long. If you drive faster, drive all uphill, drive into the wind the whole way, etc... it may tell you to stop sooner than initially indicated but that's OK. Enjoy! Edit: I should say, there are lots of tips on things to carry just in case like a tire plug kit, etc... - do a search and you'll find lots of info on this...