Is there anything SM could offer to get you to switch from EREV to BEV?

[R1TVT]

Most DCFC chargers in the Northeast are intentionally established around existing infrastructure and restaurants. DCFC operators are very intentional about locations. There are usually gas stations either DIRECTLY on the HWY or DIRECTLY off the exit. DCFC's here tend to be just outside of the traditional gas station "perimeter" and are usually located close to better food options, or near a strip mall or actually inside the parking lot of a location that has a supermarket or restaurants. I'm generalizing, but based on where I charge typically you can see that on the map.

This is my most-frequented Rivian RAN Charger located on the border of NH and VT. There are food options on both sides of this HWY (RTE 89), but directly on this side of the HWY you can see a Chili's Grill and Bar, a Dunkin', a Taco Bell, a 99, LuiLui Italian, Happy Dumpling and a Shaws Supermarket. The charger is essentially at the back of the Shaw's lot and just past the Sunoco gas station.

I would say this resembles many of the DCFC locations that I have seen along the NE Corridor from Maine to Annapolis:

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Since you're on the more advanced side of the country as far as charging goes, are there decent dining options where charging stations are located? I'm starting to scout charging stations and so far I've seen two with non-gas station food in easy walking distance. One was a local restaurant with a single NEMA 14-50 and the other was a decent Tesla setup near food at the beach. Just curious what I have to look forward to as things progress in this end of the world.

I'm not sure where you are in the world.

The only region of the country with worse charger density than where we live and road trip is the sort of northwestern Midwest (WY, MT, ND, SD, NE) region. We're hoping to make a road trip through WY, and MT this summer, towing a trailer. I'll be sure to report about our experiences.

Most of our road trips are through relative charging deserts.

One of the major differences I've seen between myself and new drivers is the comfort level with lower states of charge. With nearly 100k miles of EV driving---most of which has been road tripping---a 10% state of charge doesn't cause me concern. But I also grew up with junkers that would regularly break down on the highway; walking and hitchhiking were the only ways to get out of such a situation. With cell phones, I don't worry about being "stranded."

For dining options, it depends on where we're going and for what purposes. We often bring our fridge with food, especially when it's a camping trip. Sometimes we'll go for a short walk to find a nice place for a picnic. Just as often we'll make a decision of which stop to choose based on dining options.

For example, we only stop at the Needles, CA Electrify America if we aren't hungry. The charge is fast enough that we're ready to go after walking to the nearby McDs to use the restroom, or maybe we find ourselves walking around the block for a bit of exercise after sitting for three hours. If we want to eat, there's a slower, more expensive SC a few miles down the road with a restaurant. Or we stop in Kingman to charge and eat. Needles and Kingman are 60 miles apart. We can easily get to either from either starting location on our road trips. They're each approximately 210 miles to the farther destination going east or west on I-40, which makes for a long, 3-ish hour drive. Sometimes we'll stop in Yucca for a quick restroom break and charge.

When driving north-south through Northern AZ and Southern UT, DCFC charging is even lower density. This gives us few options for DCFC, but the chargers we do have access to are all within walking distance of a grocery store and picnic option or restaurants. In the worst cases, we might have to get fast food.

We had similar habits when driving gas vehicles. We most often brought our lunch and found a place to picnic. But whether it was picnic or restaurant, we would get out of the vehicle to eat, give the kids (2-legs or 4) some time to wander, etc. Our road trips have rarely been about racing to a destination.

 

[Gottesacker]

I'm not sure where you are in the world.

The only region of the country with worse charger density than where we live and road trip is the sort of northwestern Midwest (WY, MT, ND, SD, NE) region. We're hoping to make a road trip through WY, and MT this summer, towing a trailer. I'll be sure to report about our experiences.

My family goes to NE and SD from southern TX every year to visit relatives. The leg from NE to SD was my biggest concern because there are portions where… yea, there’s prairie for 60 miles either way and next to no cell service. That said, along the two routes we normally take I checked it out and Murdo, SD and Ogallala, NE both have multiple chargers available.

Without looking I can about guarantee Rapid City, SD would have chargers (2nd largest city in the state), and undoubtedly more locations along I-80 and I-90 would have more. Getting off those beaten paths and heading North/South is likely where the largest concern for charging would be… but with WalMart expanding charging access, that very well may be a moot point in the next 5 years or so.

 

[speedrye]

I'm not sure where you are in the world.

The only region of the country with worse charger density than where we live and road trip is the sort of northwestern Midwest (WY, MT, ND, SD, NE) region. We're hoping to make a road trip through WY, and MT this summer, towing a trailer. I'll be sure to report about our experiences.

Most of our road trips are through relative charging deserts.

One of the major differences I've seen between myself and new drivers is the comfort level with lower states of charge. With nearly 100k miles of EV driving---most of which has been road tripping---a 10% state of charge doesn't cause me concern. But I also grew up with junkers that would regularly break down on the highway; walking and hitchhiking were the only ways to get out of such a situation. With cell phones, I don't worry about being "stranded."

For dining options, it depends on where we're going and for what purposes. We often bring our fridge with food, especially when it's a camping trip. Sometimes we'll go for a short walk to find a nice place for a picnic. Just as often we'll make a decision of which stop to choose based on dining options.

For example, we only stop at the Needles, CA Electrify America if we aren't hungry. The charge is fast enough that we're ready to go after walking to the nearby McDs to use the restroom, or maybe we find ourselves walking around the block for a bit of exercise after sitting for three hours. If we want to eat, there's a slower, more expensive SC a few miles down the road with a restaurant. Or we stop in Kingman to charge and eat. Needles and Kingman are 60 miles apart. We can easily get to either from either starting location on our road trips. They're each approximately 210 miles to the farther destination going east or west on I-40, which makes for a long, 3-ish hour drive. Sometimes we'll stop in Yucca for a quick restroom break and charge.

When driving north-south through Northern AZ and Southern UT, DCFC charging is even lower density. This gives us few options for DCFC, but the chargers we do have access to are all within walking distance of a grocery store and picnic option or restaurants. In the worst cases, we might have to get fast food.

We had similar habits when driving gas vehicles. We most often brought our lunch and found a place to picnic. But whether it was picnic or restaurant, we would get out of the vehicle to eat, give the kids (2-legs or 4) some time to wander, etc. Our road trips have rarely been about racing to a destination.

It's not a lack of chargers, I'm just wondering about close-to-food chargers as a lot of people mention getting food while charging and I haven't seen much of that yet. Infrastructure is expanding quickly though. I see lots of individual chargers at places like dealership service departments, hotels, random Walmarts, but there aren't many larger charging stations near real restaurants yet. Thankfully Sheetz gas stations are putting in some Tesla chargers and their food is decent.

Maybe I'm just expecting a charging station with multiple chargers off the highway like I see in pictures, but we're not there yet locally, much less ones with food nearby.