Northern Virginia to Richmond on I-95. Sometimes 80mph and sometimes 30mph due to typically frustrating summer traffic.

About an hour of free L2 charging at the VCU garage.

Our task in Richmond was clearing out our son’s college apartment. Filled the back of the EV6 with a rollout drawer designed to fit underneath a twin bed. And two bar stools.

A leisurely drive home off I-95, thru the Virginia countryside…with a stop at a very nice farm brewery, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery.

A quick 12-min L3 charge for insurance and a pitstop in Haymarket. The 350kw EA charger was slow (no faster than 75kw/hr) but that didn’t matter…I probably could have made it home without the charge.

262+ miles. No charging costs. Plenty of room to bring back everything we wanted to bring back

In November 2011, I had the chance to test drive an EV for the first time…a Nissan LEAF in downtown Honolulu. I was impressed, but not quite ready to buy.

My gateway car to EV ownership was the 2013 Chevy Volt…a remarkable car for its time. Bob Lutz got it right with this one. I owned it until 2020 and drove over 60k problem-free miles using less than 123 gallons of gas. The Volt taught me about charging and demonstrated how most of my city trips were less than its 40-mile battery range. If only the dealerships understood what they were selling at the time…they delivered the car to me without a charge and I had to use gas on the way home. I discovered its one true fault when we moved back to the East Coast…battery cars usually don’t warm as quickly as gas cars. I discovered the value of heated seats and a heated steering wheel (which the Volt lacked).

My first full EV was a 2014 BMW i3 that I bought in January 2018 when it was cold in Northern Virginia and EV interest was relatively low. The MSRP on the i3 was around $45k…and I bought it as a certified pre-owned BMW for $18k. It had a carbon fiber frame, a roomy and remarkable interior ever (with real wood), suicide doors and fast-warming seat heaters. And the tightest turning radius ever! No need for three-point turns!

The only real drawback of the i3 was its limited range…it was a true city car with 80 miles of range (or 60 when it was really cold). L3 (DC fast charging) capability partially compensated for its low range…I could drive to Annapolis or Baltimore and have a beverage while I charged up for the drive home.

I kept the BMW i3 until 2021 when the used car market went crazy…and then sold it for 75% of what I paid for it.

I bought my second full EV in January 2020 to replace the Volt…a 2020 Chevy Bolt Premier, Chevy’s first full EV since the EV1 of the 1990s. It was and continues to be excellent, despite a still outstanding recall of its battery pack. Before the recall, it had enough range to get me to Richmond or WV and back on a single charge. The tech is excellent…Apple Car Play, backup camera, blind spot warning. The seats are heated as is the steering wheel. The Bolt is solid, but not ”sexy.” I’m still enjoying this car today for its utility but it’s my wife’s primary driver.

We’ve road-tripped in the Bolt— see a previous post on that. It’s only real drawback is its relative slow L3 charging…~50kw/hr.

But now we’ve have the best…the Kia EV6.

Highly recommended:

1. Standard Navigation Software. Either your vehicle’s or your favorite app thru Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Google Maps is my go-to.
2. Apps on your phone for charging networks. I have Electrify America (EA), ChargePoint, and EVgo.
3. An app that highlights all the EV chargers or plugs that are available for your use…I utilize PlugShare and find it excellent.
4. A dedicated EV route planner app…after reading good reviews about ABRP (A Better Route Planner), I’ve started using it myself.

BLUF: Your EV trip will be much smoother with access to the right data and a little bit of planning.

I prefer my iPhone based navigation (displayed thru Apple Car Play) over car-based systems. Why? Because they’re good, they update automatically, and I can access them when I’m away from the car.

On my last road trip, I developed my plan for the day using ABRP…you can set different preferences for how many stops you’d like and your preferred charging networks (I used EA because of my free Kw). I found ABRP accurately highlighted which legs might be most challenging due to range/elevation gain/road conditions.

Along the way, while I was charging, I used the EA app to confirm that the chargers at the next stop were available and working…and luckily never came across a charging location that was fully down.

At my destination, I used PlugShare to find L1 wall plugs or L2 chargers that I could use…for instance, PlugShare was quite handy identifying a free L2 charger I could use on Western Illinois’ parking lot while I went for a run.

For my EV6, I found that I can generally 20% of the battery in one long night’s charging from a L1 wallplug.

Always charge when you can, especially if it’s free.

If your predicted range is less than t he distance to your next destination, you have a major problem (I’ve never encountered this).

For an alternative view of a long road trip, read this: https://www.wsj.com/articles/i-rented-an-electric-car-for-a-four-day-road-trip-i-spent-more-time-charging-it-than-i-did-sleeping-11654268401

My experience was much better than theirs…I think they forgot about the data and planning.

Lesson 1: the ”tap” function using your virtual EA card from your Apple iPhone’s wallet NEVER seems to work. I gave up trying after a couple of failed stops…instead, I activated a charge through the EA app on my iPhone and found that to work without fail.

Lesson 2: If the 350kw plugs are filled and you need a big charge (i.e. 20 to 80%), better to start on a 150kw and switch to a 350 when it comes open. Not the most convenient, but it reduces your charging time.

Lesson 3: If you’re not getting the expected charge rate, trying switching plugs or chargers. Sometimes specific chargers seem to be slow and you may get a better result by trying a different one.

Thought 1: BIGGER, CLEARER markings on the chargers that are easy to see and distinguish. As I drive up, it would be nice to easily see which are 150 and which are 350…and which are ”unavailable” (i.e. broken). And how about putting the charger numbers in large, easy-to-find and see font?

Thought 2: Charger locations— the best I found was outside of Cincinnati near a ”Fresh Thyme” market…I was able to procure a selection of the best of Ohio craft brews while I charged. Second best were those located at Sheetz in PA…decent lunch or snacks available. Last were those located a Wal Marts…ok, but you have to walk far to find the restrooms and the food selection isn’t as convenient.

Thought 3: I hope EA is properly modeling EV adoption and building chargers accordingly…I only had to wait for an open plug once on my road trip. I hope it stays that way and they build out sufficient capacity to meet increased EV demand. As demand increases, I would guess that many of their 4 charger stations should be expanded to 6 or 8 in the next year or two…or additional 4 charger stations should be added nearby. We’ll see if bottlenecks occur in the near future.

So with the Kia EV6, our longest road trip experience to date was much different:

1. Faster L3 charging…up to 250kw/hr (vice 50 for the Bolt)
2. Great driving technology…smart cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot detection.
3. 1000kw of free charging on Electrify America (EA) chargers when you buy a new Kia EV6.
4. More room and more comfort than the Bolt. Heated and ventilated seats.

Our itinerary was the following:

1. Day 1: Northern VA to Dayton, OH
2. Day 2: Dayton, OH to Macomb, IL
3. Day 3: Sidetrip to Springfield, IL
4. Day 4: In-and-around Macomb
5. Day 5: In-and-around Macomb
6. Day 6: Macomb, IL to Cincinnati, OH
7. Day 7: Cincinnati, OH to home. Trip Complete.

Each of the long legs was about 350-500 miles. Never was stranded by the road. Was able to hook up to a charger without waiting – with one exception- at our first stop in Bedford, PA. Had to wait about 20 minutes because 1 out of 4 chargers were broken and the other 3 were occupied by a Chevy Bolt and two Ford Mustang Mach-e’s.

We were weather-lucky for most of the trip…never was rained on during a charge. Also, during the real hot 90 degree-plus days, you can sit in your EV and run the A/C (and ventilated seats if you have them) while you charge…quite pleasant and really doesn’t notably slow the charging process.

All-in-all a great trip…I’ll do it again.

So some upfront EV lingo:

L1= plugging into a standard wall socket.

L2= plugging into a 240v socket (or a dedicated) L2 charger.

L3= DC fast charger.

Bottom line upfront– L3 chargers are necessary on your route and L1 or L2 are necessary at your destination.

Back in October of 2020 we took our first long road trip in our 2020 Chevrolet Bolt…from Northern VA to Wilmington, NC. During the height of COVID, there wasn’t much traffic on the road and our travels were seamless, but slow. We used the Electrify America (EA) L3 network for first time and paid about $40 for 4 charges (two each way).

L3 charging was slow due to the limitations of the Bolt which fast charges at somewhere around 50kw/hr…leading to some stops of up to an hour…good time for reading, but not so good if you want to rapidly arrive at your destination.

Another challenge at that time was that Wilmington’s L2/L3 charging infrastructure was pretty weak. Luckily the excellent Mad Boar restaurant and pub about 40 miles outside of Wilmington on I-40 had a free single L3 charger (relatively slow at 50kw/hr, but equal to the capability of the Bolt to receive power)– a great way to attract EV-driving business. And we were lucky enough to hit it twice without having to wait. (they also have a bank of Tesla Superchargers).

And we stayed at a hotel in Wrightsville Beach where we managed to find a wall socket in the garage so we could get a L1 charge.

While we had a good experience on this trip, we didn’t do it again: here’s why:

1. Relatively slow L3 charging in the Bolt (50kw/hr).
2. A really slow trip…ok if you have the time, but usually we do not.
3. Too many single points of failure- if a charging station was out of service, we would have had an even longer wait (or have been stuck).

So I’ve done the following:

1. Transported four adults (me plus three) and their running gear to a overnight Ragnar Trail race. Two were 6 feet plus tall— and everyone was comfortable. I should note that we were “glamping” and didn’t have to bring our own tents.
2. Transported four adults to a two-night work trip…over 300 miles away. One carry-on bag each. Another comfortable road trip for all.
3. And our latest- my son and I drove from VA to IL. We put the rear seats down and this is what we brought home:

2 inflatable SUP

4 life vests (PFD)

1 stereo (a big old-school model- amplifier, turntable and 2 big JBL speakers)

2 carry on bags

2 backpacks

1 guitar in a hard case

1 Yeti cooler

2 used books

34 cans of local craft beer

1 bottle of bourbon

Here’s a pic:

So the bottom line is that a long road trip is no problem for 2 and a short road trip is no problem for 4. Families with young children (and all the gear they require – strollers, cribs, etc.) may not have the same experience.

I’ve also hit the limits when picking up my daughter from the airport with her luggage as she returned from college on the West Coast…we had four adults in the car, so one of her three large duffle bags laid across the laps of the backseat passengers…luckily it was a short trip.

On the other hand, we managed to bring five from the DC area to Baltimore with enough stuff to support the two we were going to drop off for a six week apartment stay…I think it was a pretty tight fit for those in the backseat.

For some more expert opinion, check out autoblog’s EV6 luggage test: https://www.autoblog.com/2022/03/23/kia-ev6-luggage-test/

I spent some time in Korea in the early-to-mid 1990s. At that time, Korean cars were probably a half step better than a Yugo or Trabant. But this year, a new electric vehicle (EV) from Korea caught my attention for its beautiful design, great performance characteristics, and all-around utility. So in late February, I literally drove a new Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD First Edition off the showroom floor. It’s a “Glacier” color exterior. And after four + months, I’m still smitten.

This I spent Friday and Saturday at Pocahontas State Park near Richmond, Virginia for my first Trail Ragnar race.  Ragnar are team relay running events…the standard format is a 12-person team for Road events and 8-person for Trails.  They’re well-run and are outstanding fun…just be sure to join a team of people you want to spend time with in close quarters.  We finished the event in just over 24 hours…in the top quarter of all finishers.  Each team mate had roughly 3 legs of ~1 hour each, both day and night.  Total combined distance was just under 16 miles for each runner…but I assure you it feels like a lot more on the trail.

Some lessons learned:

 

1. Trails.  Different than roads…duh.  You need a different mental focus than road running or rocks, roots, and the route will eat you up.  Be cautious about making one of these your first trail run.  And be prepared to run in the dark thru the woods by yourself.  Trail-specific running shoes are definitely preferred.
2. Glamping is outstanding.  For an extra charge, they set up your camp site, keep you supplied with ice, and provide great touches like mimosas (not kidding!).  We participated in the second ever Ragnar “glampsite” and it was fantastic.  Your logistics are simplified when you don’t need to worry about tents and other big gear.  Unfortunately, they’re ramping up the price over the incredible intro deal we received ($150@ for the event we just did).
3. Body management is key- when to eat, when to drink, when to sleep, when to wake, when to…you get the idea.  Everyone is different…know yourself, grasshopper.
4. Think about transitions.  In the middle of the night, you don’t want to leave a runner hanging at the transition point, waiting for the next runner.  Our rule was that the incoming runner ensures the runner two ahead in the sequence is up and going.  If you’re in the glam site, sleep in pairs dictated by your team’s running sequence.
5. Lights for the inevitable night leg.  Learned a lesson from some of my ultra friends and discovered I like a light in my hand better than a headlamp.
6. Weather…for the run, we had near-perfect weather…but after near-torrential rainfalls the night before, the trails were quite muddy in some places.  Be prepared for all conditions that may occur at the location and season of your event.
7. Gear…all the obvious things, plus bring a mug for coffee or hot chocolate (Ragnar are cupless events)…one pair of socks for each leg…sandals to chill…and an extra pair of running shoes.
8. The Run Sequence:  Last is tough, so pick a tough, fast runner for that position.  I run my best legs early, so I should seek to do the hardest legs first.  Think about night running…put those who are concerned on the easy legs at night.

Ragnar Richmond Trail info.  Includes trail maps.

General info on Pocahontas State Park.

A few weeks ago, I was in California during my daughter’s spring break, looking at colleges.  While there, I found the first 5+ mile run where I could view the entire route at the start, from beginning to end.  The location was the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge…a short drive from our hotel in Newark, CA.  

The refuge has a trail network on the levees with flat dirt trails that allow you to run through the marshlands and mudflats, seemingly out into the Bay.  Plenty of bird life…but I only recognized the geese, cranes and ducks.  I suppose I should learned to be a better bird watcher.  Along the way, two geese landed on the levee ahead of me and decide to run with me for a short distance.

At the end of the run (or the beginning), depending on which way you decide to go, you can get a decent hill climb up the hillock which overlooks the Bay.  

 

 

What this trip to California reminded me is that there’s a great park or place for a hike or run wherever you go.

When I finished up at the base of the hillock, I noticed this little guy (and many of his brothers), waking up on this dewy morning on the trail.  Plenty of food for birds.  

Map of the run: