Charge & Explore

A practical guide to charging on an EV road trip

Charging on the road is less about finding a plug and more about planning stops that suit both the car and the people in it. This guide covers the basics that make a long drive in an electric car predictable.

The three kinds of charging

Level 1: a standard household outlet

In North America this is the ordinary 120-volt wall outlet. It is the slowest option, adding only a few miles of range for every hour plugged in. It is useful overnight at home or at a relative's house, but it will not help much on a travel day.

Level 2: 240-volt charging

Level 2 is what most home chargers, workplaces, hotels and shopping-centre lots provide. A meaningful top-up takes hours rather than minutes, which makes it ideal while you sleep, work or spend an afternoon somewhere. On a road trip, a hotel with Level 2 charging can mean starting the next day full without a separate stop.

DC fast charging

DC fast chargers feed the battery directly and are the backbone of road-trip charging. The speed you actually get is limited by whichever is lower: the most your car can accept or the most the station can deliver. A high-power station will not charge a car faster than the car's own limit.

Why charging slows down as the battery fills

Batteries accept their highest power when they are low and then taper as they fill, to protect the cells. That is why the final stretch to 100 percent can take a surprisingly long time. On a road trip it is usually quicker to arrive with a lowish battery and leave once you have enough to reach the next stop comfortably, rather than waiting to fill completely every time. Many drivers find that stopping somewhere around 80 percent saves time, but the right number depends on the distance to your next charger.

Connectors in North America

Adapters exist for several combinations. Before you rely on one for a trip, check what your vehicle's manufacturer supports and which networks your car can use.

Cold weather

A cold battery charges more slowly and range drops in winter. Many EVs can warm the battery on the way to a fast charger when you set that charger as your navigation destination, which can shorten the session noticeably. In cold weather, plan a little more margin between stops.

Planning a good stop

  1. Work back from what you need. A meal, a restroom, somewhere for kids or a dog to stretch: decide what the break is for, then pick a charger that provides it.
  2. Prefer stations with several stalls. One broken or occupied stall matters less when there are others.
  3. Always have a backup. Know where the next charger is in case the first one is down or crowded, and keep enough range to reach it.
  4. Match the activity to the wait. A 20-minute charge suits a coffee; a 45-minute charge can cover a sit-down meal. Leave yourself a few minutes to walk back.
  5. Check the hours. A great restaurant next to a charger is no help if its kitchen closes before you arrive.

Charging etiquette

Staying comfortable at night

For late stops, choose chargers in well-lit, busy places where possible, keep your phone charged, and be aware of your surroundings as you would at any car park. Charge & Explore shows observable nighttime signals for a stop rather than a crime-based score; see How it works for why.

Where Charge & Explore fits in

Charge & Explore takes the planning steps above and does the comparison for you: it keeps to chargers you can safely reach, estimates the charge time as a range, ranks the stops, and shows places within walking distance of each one. Try it in Demo Mode without an account.