November 21, 2025
A standard theme amongst EV drivers is how the marginally extra frequent stops to cost enhance the street journey expertise.
“At this time we noticed a grizzly,” says Ingrid Ritchey. “And I pulled over subsequent to a different photographer taking photos. I rolled down the window, and he whispered to me. ‘Bears are proper there, 40 yards.’ If it had been a gasoline automobile as an alternative of an EV electrical automobile making a variety of noise, he wouldn’t have been capable of whisper.”
Ingrid Ritchey didn’t anticipate to sneak up on grizzly bears when she was contemplating an electrical automobile. Retired in West Yellowstone, MT, Ritchey is an avid hiker and beginner photographer, touring Yellowstone Nationwide Park in her 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The gasoline engine of her earlier Honda CR-V would scare away wildlife, so she may solely catch glimpses. An electrical automobile lets her mix into the environment.
“It’s so quiet, so silent, that it received’t scare the bears or elk,” she says. “We’re very aware of noise, so an EV suits.”
That is simply one of many surprises drivers uncover once they change their main automobile from gasoline to electrical, CarMax stories.
Street Trippin’ Realities
One of many widespread myths about EV possession is that electrical automobiles aren’t appropriate for street journeys. The reality is, it relies upon completely on the motive force and the EV chosen for the duty.
“My longest journey was from Las Vegas, NV to right here (West Yellowstone),” says Ritchey. Google confirmed it to be a 10-hour, 30-minute drive over 730 miles.
“The primary day of driving, I had two stops,” she says. “And it took solely half-hour to cost. They [charging stations] are normally in an excellent gasoline station or Walmart car parking zone. You cease, go to the restroom, seize a sandwich or an ice cream, and stretch your legs. Seize a cup of espresso, and you then’re prepared—soar within the automobile and go. It’s very easy.”
Ritchey had made this journey in a gasoline automobile earlier than and needed to cease in a single day on the midway level. This custom continues together with her EV, however as an alternative of looking for a close-by gasoline station, she prices whereas sleeping and wakes as much as a full cost. That’s street journey comfort.
Erin Harty, a journalist primarily based in Baltimore, MD, has related ideas about street journeys. She’s averaging 750 miles per week in her 2023 Chevrolet Bolt, which is unbelievable since she doesn’t have entry to residence or office charging. She depends solely on the general public charging community. She visits Chicago a number of instances a 12 months and prefers to drive so her canines can journey simply together with her. It’s a visit she usually made in her Chevrolet Tahoe.
“Low gasoline mileage has all the time given me a variety of environmental guilt,” says Harty. “Particularly now that I’m driving a lot. And naturally, it prices a fortune [to fill up].”
Harty wanted a automobile that might haul cargo and tow, so after shopping for the Bolt EV, she stored her Tahoe as a secondary automobile.
“It’s about 700 miles to Chicago, and usually I attempt to maintain transferring and solely cease lengthy sufficient to get gasoline and use a restroom, perhaps seize some espresso.”
Harty says that if the climate cooperates, she will slog by way of the drive in roughly 11 hours, stopping for gasoline solely a couple of times.
“However I’m fairly wrecked as soon as I get to the place I’m going,” Harty continues. “Driving that a lot and not using a actual break simply takes lots out of you.”
She just lately made the journey to Chicago in her Bolt EV. “It’s only a complete totally different mentality. Though I did do it in in the future, heading out—and that was an extended day—I feel it took me about 16 hours door to door—it was way more stress-free, and I didn’t really feel terrible once I arrived in Chicago.”
A standard theme amongst EV drivers is that the marginally extra frequent stops to cost enhance the road-trip expertise. It provides the motive force moments to relaxation, relatively than the drive changing into a grueling all-day job the place you’re caught behind the wheel. EV homeowners report arriving feeling bodily and mentally contemporary, even when they’ve so as to add hours to the journey.
“I’d say that being compelled to cease each two and a half hours to cost for 40 minutes was truly very nice,” says Jason P., an automotive meeting employee for a serious producer in Detroit, MI.
His 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E did a 1,200-mile spherical journey to Minneapolis final month, an occasion he describes as “pleasant” due to the calm method of the EV.
“There’s that poisonous masculinity mentality, the place you’re feeling you need to ‘go till you hit empty!’ and being compelled to reconcile with the fatigue I used to be not beforehand acknowledging in previous automobiles was actually refreshing. Plus, the chargers are virtually all the time close to a gasoline station or grocery retailer, so … snacks!”
Recharging the Entire Household
Regardless of a always increasing EV charging community, plugging in away from residence can typically be difficult. Selecting when to cease as a lone driver is one factor, however balancing the wants of your complete crew? That takes further consideration.
“Once we journey with two little youngsters, our stops are extra frequent, roughly each two hours,” says Andrew Donnan, a digital advertising and marketing and net improvement specialist in Greenville, SC.
“My worst vary was in a Tesla Mannequin Y Efficiency with a giant cargo field on the highest, a number of bikes on the rear, and 18-inch all-terrain tires. We acquired perhaps 130 miles of vary, however there are many Tesla chargers on the market, so it wasn’t a priority.” With Tesla’s fast charging, the children didn’t have time to get bored.
Realizing this wouldn’t be the final street journey with kids, Donnan swapped the compact Mannequin Y for a full-size Rivian R1S so he and his spouse, two youngsters, and a canine would have loads of area. The electrical SUV is right for his household because of the inside area, and as a automobile fanatic, he appreciates the highly effective efficiency. Donnan has owned a number of high-performance BMWs over time and feels EVs are even simpler to take care of.
“With two youngsters, I not have the time to DIY preserve a high-strung turbo gasoline automobile like I used to. I went with EVs primarily as a result of they’re quick, enjoyable, and don’t appeal to consideration like a quick gasoline automobile would.”
His earlier Mannequin Y additionally earned excessive reward for acceleration, however much less so for consolation and utility, he explains, “Tesla’s Mannequin Y does journey fairly agency, and its aerodynamic form just isn’t good for hauling cumbersome issues within the trunk, like a 60 lb. canine.” He says Lucy, his rescue labradoodle combine, prefers the Rivian for street journeys.
“I drove the Rivian 830 miles residence in 25 hours from the Chicago space,” says Donnan. “The journey was nice!” Donnan credit the snug inside and the extraordinarily quiet drive for contributing to the nice expertise. “And I even took a three-hour nap in it [at a stop]!”
Many new EV homeowners know to anticipate the surprising with public charging and take it of their stride. “On my drive residence from Chicago,” remembers Donnan, “one EA [Electrify America] charging cease was in the course of a car parking zone being resurfaced, however it was additionally 2:00 a.m. They let me cost, however I’d’ve been in a nasty spot had they began laying asphalt and prevented me from charging.”
Considerate Recommendation
EVs carry with them the quirks and distinctive experiences that early tech adopters welcome. The homeowners above have some recommendation should you’re really contemplating an EV.
Location, location, location…
Donnan says whereas he loved the pervasive Tesla Supercharger community, the places assorted tremendously by way of comfort and facilities. “Typically the chargers are behind a fast-food place, typically at a gasoline station, and typically it’s simply in the course of a car parking zone. You actually by no means know the place they will be.”
Donnan’s recommendation is to plan forward and ensure the charger is close to a spot your little one will need to eat. If hen tenders make up nearly all of their eating regimen, getting caught at a charger with solely burger eating places close by will likely be a disappointment.
Know earlier than you go
Additionally, Donnan says to take a look at the charger standing earlier than heading out. “Rivian’s Journey Community let me down as soon as in Blowing Rock, NC, the place it was offline for all six stalls.” He blamed himself, not the automobile or community. He hadn’t checked to see if the charger was displaying on-line, and it had been down for about a month.
“We have been okay, range-wise, to get to a unique station, however it did add an hour or so of journey time. These [Rivian] chargers are nice in any other case.”
Be prepared to talk
A standard remark amongst EV homeowners is being “a mascot” for EV possession. “Individuals are additionally actually thinking about them [EVs] and can strike up a dialog with you in a car parking zone to ask you about your automobile!” says Harty about her Bolt.
Jason P. agrees. “The funniest half is that at each cease throughout sunlight hours, you discover cool individuals who need to speak EVs with you. I want I had identified earlier that everybody and their mom was going to grill me about EV possession,” he jokes. “It’s a very easy-going neighborhood and most drivers I’ve met are extraordinarily pleasant.”
Preserve an open thoughts
Harty says researching is nice, however seat time is best. “Numerous the articles are targeted on specs and are stuffed with acronyms and numbers that don’t make a variety of sense at first, however you don’t must be a “automobile man” (or lady) to drive one in every of these.
“I’ll say that though studying about EVs is sort of intimidating simply because it’s so totally different from a gasoline automobile, as soon as I truly had one and began driving it, issues made much more sense.”
Flexibility helps
Harty can’t cost her Bolt at residence however takes benefit of Baltimore’s strong public charging community. She usually prices at a neighborhood park the place she walks her canines or can “replenish” at a restaurant whereas consuming.
She says folks in flats or with avenue parking ought to nonetheless contemplate an EV. “Truthfully, for most individuals who’ve a storage or a driveway and simply cost their automobile at residence, an EV is a no brainer and is tremendous straightforward. I don’t assume you actually must assume a lot concerning the vary and all that. I’d simply inform those who not having residence or workplace charging doesn’t must be a deal breaker; it’s completely doable to do with out when you’ve got a number of choices for dependable, handy public charging,” says Harty.
EVs Work for Most Individuals
You may be stunned at how effectively an EV can suit your life-style; it simply takes a small mindset shift to adapt to charging relatively than filling up with gasoline. Street trippers ought to contemplate the extra time wanted for a visit, but additionally think about arriving refreshed as an alternative of worn out—you’ll be stunned what a distinction these enforced breaks make.
Households with youngsters will need to take a second take a look at charging places, simply to ensure everybody will get one thing from the cease. However realistically, when charging stations might be discovered at relaxation stops, retail parks, and fast-food retailers, be ready for an in-depth dialogue about snack and lunch choices.
In the event you’re contemplating an EV, get on the market and drive one—you could be pleasantly stunned.
This story was produced by CarMax and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
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