[bvkamp]

My daughter got a college scholarship so we agreed to buy her a new car. She chose a black Pro S RWD. It arrived in late July and I drove it around town for a few weeks to get used to it. During the first few days the driver side window switch panel failed. My dealer replaced it fairly quickly and got me back on the road. Otherwise the car performed great.

On Labor Day weekend I embarked on a journey from Chicago to Corvallis, Oregon (home of Oregon State University). The car was flawless and I really enjoyed the journey. I chose a route on I-80 through Omaha and the cut south to Denver- there just aren't enough charging stations yet in Wyoming. The Dakotas and Montana are also sparse, but I expect that to improve soon. From Denver I took I-70 to Green River Utah, where I cut north on 191 to Provo, then onto Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Corvallis. I was able to knock out this trip in 3 (full) days.

Electrify America chargers were plentiful along this route, typically right off the interstate in a Walmart parking lot (really good people-watching while you charge). I would typically charge to 80%. I found charging to 90% or more just takes too long. If you need to do it you can, but I found it more efficient to just charge to 80% and stop a little more often. An 80% charge would typically show as 190-210 miles depending on how I had been driving and the conditions (speed, headwind, climbing/descending, temperature). The computer continually adjusts your predicted range based on recent past performance. It was pretty accurate too! So I would pull into a charging station with 20% (maybe 50 miles left) and plug in. I could stretch my legs, go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk over to a restaurant. Getting the car back to 80% usually took under 30 minutes. So most of the trip I found myself driving 75 mph for 2 hours or so and then stopping for a quick charge. This mode of travel had a nice rhythm to it. I wasn't worn out at the end of the day.

I never had to wait for a charger but I hope they keep building these things to keep up with demand. A couple times I plugged into a charger and it wasn't working. You can call EA and a friendly rep can sometimes reset it remotely. Otherwise I would just move over to the next charger. Probably 2-3 times I plugged in and the charger was only delivering 25-50 kw. You want it to be delivering 100 or more kw, otherwise it takes too long. Again, I would usually just move to the next charger and it was fine.

I met some great EV drivers at these charging stations along my journey. In rural Iowa, an Audi eTron pulled in right next to me while I was charging. Immediately the passenger door opened and out jumped an enthusiastic teenager to initiate the charging. I could tell he was autistic as he came over to survey my ID.4. I started up a conversation with him and quickly found out that he was an EV expert... a savant really. He told me all about my car- features, performance numbers, sales figures- he knew it all. Made my day. That same charging station had wind turbines spinning right next to the chargers. For a moment I felt maybe we aren't doomed after all.

I really love this car. My own car is a Tesla Model Y and I honestly didn't expect to fall in love with the VW. The doors have a nice thud when you close them. The interior materials feel like they are high quality. Buttons and switches have a nice feel and just the right detent where appropriate. The "piano black" surfaces sure show fingerprints though! The seat was comfortable on my long journey, and I could easily tune the adjustment to my liking. The sunroof is huge- I kept the shade open when it was overcast, but there was too much "greenhouse effect" with direct sunlight (I suppose that could be used to your advantage in the winter). Acceleration was plenty adequate- I would probably opt for the AWD and faster acceleration if I get another one, but this is what they had available for delivery. It only snows about an inch per year in Corvallis so the AWD was less critical for my daughter. Steering was responsive. Brakes felt good although I kind of missed the true one-pedal driving of my Tesla. The VW has a much more traditional stop-and-go feel. The suspension soaked up the bumps but you could still feel just the right amount of the road- well balanced. The car was quiet with no annoying rattles. It really had that German luxury car feel to it (in the past I've owned a BMW and a Mercedes). The infotainment system took a little getting used to but I liked it. It does Android Auto well. Overall it's not quite as intuitive as the Tesla, but it was nice to have certain "real" buttons for things like climate without having to dive into a touchscreen menu (like on the Tesla).

I would highly recommend this car to anyone who is on the fence. I've heard that "range fear" is most EV shopper's biggest deterrent. Trust me, this car can be driven anywhere you want without a lot of effort.

 

[Spin]

View attachment 6019

My daughter got a college scholarship so we agreed to buy her a new car. She chose a black Pro S RWD. It arrived in late July and I drove it around town for a few weeks to get used to it. During the first few days the driver side window switch panel failed. My dealer replaced it fairly quickly and got me back on the road. Otherwise the car performed great.

On Labor Day weekend I embarked on a journey from Chicago to Corvallis, Oregon (home of Oregon State University). The car was flawless and I really enjoyed the journey. I chose a route on I-80 through Omaha and the cut south to Denver- there just aren't enough charging stations yet in Wyoming. The Dakotas and Montana are also sparse, but I expect that to improve soon. From Denver I took I-70 to Green River Utah, where I cut north on 191 to Provo, then onto Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Corvallis. I was able to knock out this trip in 3 (full) days.

Electrify America chargers were plentiful along this route, typically right off the interstate in a Walmart parking lot (really good people-watching while you charge). I would typically charge to 80%. I found charging to 90% or more just takes too long. If you need to do it you can, but I found it more efficient to just charge to 80% and stop a little more often. An 80% charge would typically show as 190-210 miles depending on how I had been driving and the conditions (speed, headwind, climbing/descending, temperature). The computer continually adjusts your predicted range based on recent past performance. It was pretty accurate too! So I would pull into a charging station with 20% (maybe 50 miles left) and plug in. I could stretch my legs, go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk over to a restaurant. Getting the car back to 80% usually took under 30 minutes. So most of the trip I found myself driving 75 mph for 2 hours or so and then stopping for a quick charge. This mode of travel had a nice rhythm to it. I wasn't worn out at the end of the day.

I never had to wait for a charger but I hope they keep building these things to keep up with demand. A couple times I plugged into a charger and it wasn't working. You can call EA and a friendly rep can sometimes reset it remotely. Otherwise I would just move over to the next charger. Probably 2-3 times I plugged in and the charger was only delivering 25-50 kw. You want it to be delivering 100 or more kw, otherwise it takes too long. Again, I would usually just move to the next charger and it was fine.

I met some great EV drivers at these charging stations along my journey. In rural Iowa, an Audi eTron pulled in right next to me while I was charging. Immediately the passenger door opened and out jumped an enthusiastic teenager to initiate the charging. I could tell he was autistic as he came over to survey my ID.4. I started up a conversation with him and quickly found out that he was an EV expert... a savant really. He told me all about my car- features, performance numbers, sales figures- he knew it all. Made my day. That same charging station had wind turbines spinning right next to the chargers. For a moment I felt maybe we aren't doomed after all.

I really love this car. My own car is a Tesla Model Y and I honestly didn't expect to fall in love with the VW. The doors have a nice thud when you close them. The interior materials feel like they are high quality. Buttons and switches have a nice feel and just the right detent where appropriate. The "piano black" surfaces sure show fingerprints though! The seat was comfortable on my long journey, and I could easily tune the adjustment to my liking. The sunroof is huge- I kept the shade open when it was overcast, but there was too much "greenhouse effect" with direct sunlight (I suppose that could be used to your advantage in the winter). Acceleration was plenty adequate- I would probably opt for the AWD and faster acceleration if I get another one, but this is what they had available for delivery. It only snows about an inch per year in Corvallis so the AWD was less critical for my daughter. Steering was responsive. Brakes felt good although I kind of missed the true one-pedal driving of my Tesla. The VW has a much more traditional stop-go feel. The suspension soaked up the bumps but you could still feel just the right amount of the road- well balanced. The car was quiet with no annoying rattles. It really had that German luxury car feel to it (in the past I've owned a BMW and a Mercedes). The infotainment system took a little getting used to but a liked it. It does Android Auto well. Overall it's not quite as intuitive as the Tesla, but it was nice to have certain "real" buttons for things like climate without having to dive into a touchscreen menu (like on the Tesla).

I would highly recommend this car to anyone who is on the fence. I've heard that "range fear" is most EV shopper's
biggest deterrent. Trust me, this car can be driven anywhere you want without a lot of effort.

Thanks for this post. We have done 1 road trip of about 400 miles each way but we will be driving to Florida from NY this winter. I hope to charge at EA exclusively and I'm glad to hear you had good luck with them. I also enjoy talking to other drivers while charging. It helps pass the time.

 

[Nai3t]

... I chose a route on I-80 through Omaha and the cut south to Denver- there just aren't enough charging stations yet in Wyoming. The Dakotas and Montana are also sparse...

Genius! I've looked at this charging black hole and wondered. Just circumvent it! Of course! How much mileage did this add to your trip?

... In a Walmart parking lot (really good people-watching while you charge) ...

I felt like people were watching me! Amazing how many people at Walmart just sit in their cars. Well... mainly trucks.

... I met some great EV drivers at these charging stations along my journey....

When I drove San Antonio to Oakland in August, out of 17 charging stops, I was with another EV only once, at my first stop in Texas. A little disappointing, I must say.

 

[bvkamp]

Genius! I've looked at this charging black hole and wondered. Just circumvent it! Of course! How much mileage did this add to your trip?

Since I didn't really have a choice, I didn't run a calculation of miles added. Maybe 150?

 

[Spin]

One good thing about the I-95 corridor on the east coast is that it is well covered by EA. Even if I stretch it and it looks like I might come up short there are many other options.

 

[NVJim]

View attachment 6019

My daughter got a college scholarship so we agreed to buy her a new car. She chose a black Pro S RWD. It arrived in late July and I drove it around town for a few weeks to get used to it. During the first few days the driver side window switch panel failed. My dealer replaced it fairly quickly and got me back on the road. Otherwise the car performed great.

On Labor Day weekend I embarked on a journey from Chicago to Corvallis, Oregon (home of Oregon State University). The car was flawless and I really enjoyed the journey. I chose a route on I-80 through Omaha and the cut south to Denver- there just aren't enough charging stations yet in Wyoming. The Dakotas and Montana are also sparse, but I expect that to improve soon. From Denver I took I-70 to Green River Utah, where I cut north on 191 to Provo, then onto Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Corvallis. I was able to knock out this trip in 3 (full) days.

Electrify America chargers were plentiful along this route, typically right off the interstate in a Walmart parking lot (really good people-watching while you charge). I would typically charge to 80%. I found charging to 90% or more just takes too long. If you need to do it you can, but I found it more efficient to just charge to 80% and stop a little more often. An 80% charge would typically show as 190-210 miles depending on how I had been driving and the conditions (speed, headwind, climbing/descending, temperature). The computer continually adjusts your predicted range based on recent past performance. It was pretty accurate too! So I would pull into a charging station with 20% (maybe 50 miles left) and plug in. I could stretch my legs, go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk over to a restaurant. Getting the car back to 80% usually took under 30 minutes. So most of the trip I found myself driving 75 mph for 2 hours or so and then stopping for a quick charge. This mode of travel had a nice rhythm to it. I wasn't worn out at the end of the day.

I never had to wait for a charger but I hope they keep building these things to keep up with demand. A couple times I plugged into a charger and it wasn't working. You can call EA and a friendly rep can sometimes reset it remotely. Otherwise I would just move over to the next charger. Probably 2-3 times I plugged in and the charger was only delivering 25-50 kw. You want it to be delivering 100 or more kw, otherwise it takes too long. Again, I would usually just move to the next charger and it was fine.

I met some great EV drivers at these charging stations along my journey. In rural Iowa, an Audi eTron pulled in right next to me while I was charging. Immediately the passenger door opened and out jumped an enthusiastic teenager to initiate the charging. I could tell he was autistic as he came over to survey my ID.4. I started up a conversation with him and quickly found out that he was an EV expert... a savant really. He told me all about my car- features, performance numbers, sales figures- he knew it all. Made my day. That same charging station had wind turbines spinning right next to the chargers. For a moment I felt maybe we aren't doomed after all.

I really love this car. My own car is a Tesla Model Y and I honestly didn't expect to fall in love with the VW. The doors have a nice thud when you close them. The interior materials feel like they are high quality. Buttons and switches have a nice feel and just the right detent where appropriate. The "piano black" surfaces sure show fingerprints though! The seat was comfortable on my long journey, and I could easily tune the adjustment to my liking. The sunroof is huge- I kept the shade open when it was overcast, but there was too much "greenhouse effect" with direct sunlight (I suppose that could be used to your advantage in the winter). Acceleration was plenty adequate- I would probably opt for the AWD and faster acceleration if I get another one, but this is what they had available for delivery. It only snows about an inch per year in Corvallis so the AWD was less critical for my daughter. Steering was responsive. Brakes felt good although I kind of missed the true one-pedal driving of my Tesla. The VW has a much more traditional stop-go feel. The suspension soaked up the bumps but you could still feel just the right amount of the road- well balanced. The car was quiet with no annoying rattles. It really had that German luxury car feel to it (in the past I've owned a BMW and a Mercedes). The infotainment system took a little getting used to but a liked it. It does Android Auto well. Overall it's not quite as intuitive as the Tesla, but it was nice to have certain "real" buttons for things like climate without having to dive into a touchscreen menu (like on the Tesla).

I would highly recommend this car to anyone who is on the fence. I've heard that "range fear" is most EV shopper's
biggest deterrent. Trust me, this car can be driven anywhere you want without a lot of effort.

Thanks for sharing…haven’t planned a trip yet but your description of a break for charging is what I expect…in the past I’ve been a gas-and-go, drive-straight-through driver and am preparing myself for more leisurely travel.

 

[curro]

Since I didn't really have a choice, I didn't run a calculation of miles added. Maybe 150?

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! Based on my calculations you added around 234 miles to your trip to avoid going through Wyoming for a total journey of 2,368 miles (give or take). According to Google Maps that's around 35 hours of driving. So with the more frequent stops, did you end up each day being in the car+stops like 12 hours or so (or maybe 13 hours more like it)? Just wondering how it all adds up.

Another 'wild card' here is that as EVs become more popular will we end up waiting in line to charge so an eight-hour drive with stops might end up being 10 or more hours?

 

[JPWhite]

Another 'wild card' here is that as EVs become more popular will we end up waiting in line to charge so an eight-hour drive with stops might end up being 10 or more hours?

We are certainly in the "Golden Age" of EV's where you can turn up at a charging station and be the only one there. The OP was able to switch stalls depending if they worked at all or if they were too slow. Which is great, now.

As EV's get more plentiful EA will have to improve not just the number of locations and stalls but the reliability of them. In fact reliability should be their primary focus, but instead they are focused on expansion. It won't be long for a new wave of EV's to come to EA stations nationwide, especially since VW is giving 3 years of free fast DC charging without limits. EA needs to work on the reliability. Like now.

 

[dougwmtn]

Ah another "Beaver-Believer" at least that is what we were called way way back in the days. OSU '82.
Could have tried going through Burns, Or. but that stretch from Boise to Burns is long and that Chargepoint charger is not the most reliable.

 

[bvkamp]

Thank you very much for sharing your experience! Based on my calculations you added around 234 miles to your trip to avoid going through Wyoming for a total journey of 2,368 miles (give or take). According to Google Maps that's around 35 hours of driving. So with the more frequent stops, did you end up each day being in the car+stops like 12 hours or so (or maybe 13 hours more like it)? Just wondering how it all adds up.

Another 'wild card' here is that as EVs become more popular will we end up waiting in line to charge so an eight-hour drive with stops might end up being 10 or more hours?

I would say it was more like 3 x 13 hours with stops, but it didn't feel exhausting because of the frequent stops. Early in the trip I was trying to drive 65 and conserve miles. I quickly realized I could drive 75-80 and easily get from station to station. I also had the good fortune of no real traffic until I hit Portland.

 

[bvkamp]

Ah another "Beaver-Believer" at least that is what we were called way way back in the days. OSU '82.
Could have tried going through Burns, Or. but that stretch from Boise to Burns is long and that Chargepoint charger is not the most reliable.

Go Beavs! (daughter Greta is on the basketball team). I looked at some of those alternate routes. Ultimately the free charging at EA was too attractive, so I stayed on the interstate. Didn't pay a penny for charge the entire trip!

 

[bvkamp]

We are certainly in the "Golden Age" of EV's where you can turn up at a charging station and be the only one there. The OP was able to switch stalls depending if they worked at all or if they were too slow. Which is great, now.

As EV's get more plentiful EA will have to improve not just the number of locations and stalls but the reliability of them. In fact reliability should be their primary focus, but instead they are focused on expansion. It won't be long for a new wave of EV's to come to EA stations nationwide, especially since VW is giving 3 years of free fast DC charging without limits. EA needs to work on the reliability. Like now.

Couldn't agree more!

 

[bvkamp]

View attachment 6019

My daughter got a college scholarship so we agreed to buy her a new car. She chose a black Pro S RWD. It arrived in late July and I drove it around town for a few weeks to get used to it. During the first few days the driver side window switch panel failed. My dealer replaced it fairly quickly and got me back on the road. Otherwise the car performed great.

On Labor Day weekend I embarked on a journey from Chicago to Corvallis, Oregon (home of Oregon State University). The car was flawless and I really enjoyed the journey. I chose a route on I-80 through Omaha and the cut south to Denver- there just aren't enough charging stations yet in Wyoming. The Dakotas and Montana are also sparse, but I expect that to improve soon. From Denver I took I-70 to Green River Utah, where I cut north on 191 to Provo, then onto Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Corvallis. I was able to knock out this trip in 3 (full) days.

Electrify America chargers were plentiful along this route, typically right off the interstate in a Walmart parking lot (really good people-watching while you charge). I would typically charge to 80%. I found charging to 90% or more just takes too long. If you need to do it you can, but I found it more efficient to just charge to 80% and stop a little more often. An 80% charge would typically show as 190-210 miles depending on how I had been driving and the conditions (speed, headwind, climbing/descending, temperature). The computer continually adjusts your predicted range based on recent past performance. It was pretty accurate too! So I would pull into a charging station with 20% (maybe 50 miles left) and plug in. I could stretch my legs, go to the bathroom, get a drink, walk over to a restaurant. Getting the car back to 80% usually took under 30 minutes. So most of the trip I found myself driving 75 mph for 2 hours or so and then stopping for a quick charge. This mode of travel had a nice rhythm to it. I wasn't worn out at the end of the day.

I never had to wait for a charger but I hope they keep building these things to keep up with demand. A couple times I plugged into a charger and it wasn't working. You can call EA and a friendly rep can sometimes reset it remotely. Otherwise I would just move over to the next charger. Probably 2-3 times I plugged in and the charger was only delivering 25-50 kw. You want it to be delivering 100 or more kw, otherwise it takes too long. Again, I would usually just move to the next charger and it was fine.

I met some great EV drivers at these charging stations along my journey. In rural Iowa, an Audi eTron pulled in right next to me while I was charging. Immediately the passenger door opened and out jumped an enthusiastic teenager to initiate the charging. I could tell he was autistic as he came over to survey my ID.4. I started up a conversation with him and quickly found out that he was an EV expert... a savant really. He told me all about my car- features, performance numbers, sales figures- he knew it all. Made my day. That same charging station had wind turbines spinning right next to the chargers. For a moment I felt maybe we aren't doomed after all.

I really love this car. My own car is a Tesla Model Y and I honestly didn't expect to fall in love with the VW. The doors have a nice thud when you close them. The interior materials feel like they are high quality. Buttons and switches have a nice feel and just the right detent where appropriate. The "piano black" surfaces sure show fingerprints though! The seat was comfortable on my long journey, and I could easily tune the adjustment to my liking. The sunroof is huge- I kept the shade open when it was overcast, but there was too much "greenhouse effect" with direct sunlight (I suppose that could be used to your advantage in the winter). Acceleration was plenty adequate- I would probably opt for the AWD and faster acceleration if I get another one, but this is what they had available for delivery. It only snows about an inch per year in Corvallis so the AWD was less critical for my daughter. Steering was responsive. Brakes felt good although I kind of missed the true one-pedal driving of my Tesla. The VW has a much more traditional stop-go feel. The suspension soaked up the bumps but you could still feel just the right amount of the road- well balanced. The car was quiet with no annoying rattles. It really had that German luxury car feel to it (in the past I've owned a BMW and a Mercedes). The infotainment system took a little getting used to but a liked it. It does Android Auto well. Overall it's not quite as intuitive as the Tesla, but it was nice to have certain "real" buttons for things like climate without having to dive into a touchscreen menu (like on the Tesla).

I would highly recommend this car to anyone who is on the fence. I've heard that "range fear" is most EV shopper's
biggest deterrent. Trust me, this car can be driven anywhere you want without a lot of effort.

Another couple comments on driving through the mountains:

1) When the car is climbing it feels effortless! While ICE cars downshift, rev, and generally complain, this car behaves like it's on a flat. I had to look around me to tell if I was climbing or descending!

2) Your range gets hit hard while climbing but you make it up on the way down. For example, I began the climb to Loveland Pass on I-70 with 175 miles on the range indicator, was down to 79 miles of range at the pass, and back to 105 miles at Frisco. I was 62 miles into the segment at that point. Regenerative braking!

 

[bvkamp]

We are certainly in the "Golden Age" of EV's where you can turn up at a charging station and be the only one there. The OP was able to switch stalls depending if they worked at all or if they were too slow. Which is great, now.

As EV's get more plentiful EA will have to improve not just the number of locations and stalls but the reliability of them. In fact reliability should be their primary focus, but instead they are focused on expansion. It won't be long for a new wave of EV's to come to EA stations nationwide, especially since VW is giving 3 years of free fast DC charging without limits. EA needs to work on the reliability. Like now.

I looked back at my notes. To your point- there was an EA charging station at a Walmart in Fort Morgan CO. 3 of the 4 chargers were out of order and the 4th one was delivering slow current. I called EA to report it and I would encourage others to do so as it might help encourage maintenance.

 

[Spin]

3 of the 4 chargers were out of order and the 4th one was delivering slow current. I called EA to report it and I would encourage others to do so as it might help encourage maintenance.

Yes, always call. If they don't know about it they can't fix it

 

[DWalk]

I'd almost rather take the extra time to avoid WY... I-70 from denver to I-15 in Utah is beautiful!

 

[plh]

Yes, always call. If they don't know about it they can't fix it

You can also report problems from the app, if you don't want to be on the phone for a while.

 

[hilld]

Go Beavs! (daughter Greta is on the basketball team). I looked at some of those alternate routes. Ultimately the free charging at EA was too attractive, so I stayed on the interstate. Didn't pay a penny for charge the entire trip!

Nice to hear. I graduated from Corvallis High and Oregon State. My stepmom, Aki Hill, was the womens BB coach for 17 years. She is being inducted into the Oregon State Hall of fame next month, nice to have connection to the women's BB program. Go Beavs.

 

[Perfesser]

In June, I drove from the Oregon Coast to Chicago and back. I am ashamed to say that I didn't take the ID4. I just wasn't ready to learn how to efficiently manage the charging stops. The charger hole in Wyoming was my excuse. I took our Touareg TDI, which is comfortable and capable, but the diesel fillups were expensive.

 

[VW TECHNICIAN]

In June, I drove from the Oregon Coast to Chicago and back. I am ashamed to say that I didn't take the ID4. I just wasn't ready to learn how to efficiently manage the charging stops. The charger hole in Wyoming was my excuse. I took our Touareg TDI, which is comfortable and capable, but the diesel fillups were expensive.

I got without the juice in WY. it was my fault. ....and taking US54 and US56 from Kansas to San Diego was experience of my nerves and marathon that was way to long to do it all over again.
But VW warranty covers towing up to 100 miles to nearest charging point.....unless you have Tesla don't take any other EV across WY or have plenty of time to charge on L2 chargers at hotels.
US still has long way to be EV ready Country......
West coast and East coast are quite good but Midwest is disappointing especially for people that like to drive across historical routes .