Driving Trip from NYC to Washington DC

[simonskol]

Hi,
We've recently purchased our first electric car, a 2019 Nissan Leaf, with the higher battery capacity (about 235 mile per charge). We want to take it down from NYC (we actually live about 40 miles north of NYC) to visit family in the Washington DC area this Thanksgiving. The distance is about 270 miles, requiring at least one charge. After reviewing all the charge stations available along I-95, we newbies see that there are a relatively small number of L3 charging stations along the way. L2 stations would be out of the question, as a normal trip in a gas car takes about 5 hours, and we can't spend a whole day traveling. Has anyone else made this trip, and if so, how did they fare? What charging stations did they find along I-95? Also, we're staying in the Silver Spring, MD area, and note that there are some L3 chargers in the neighboring Tacoma Park. What was your experience using those stations, as we would need to charge at least 1 or 2 times while we're there. Thanks.
Simon

 

[WetEV]

Some resources when traveling by EV.

https://www.plugshare.com

Read the comments on places you might want to stop. Especially recent comments.

For planning the trip, this is is the currently best online route planner.

 

[simonskol]

Thank you for your reply. I have the locator you included. I guess I was just looking for support in making our first long distance drive. Everything seems just more complicated due to limited L3 chargers along I-95 and in the vicinity of where we're staying. Just wondering how the "old" pros handle this. We're thinking of doing a dry run with our gas powered car and see what it's like looking for an L3. I was hoping to hear from someone who's already done that run, and can report the best do's and don'ts.

 

[Kieran973]

Hi Simon,

I've done the drive from NYC to D.C. and back in the 40 kwh Leaf, so doing it in the Leaf Plus should be relatively easy for you. And there are actually plenty of fast chargers along the 95 corridor. EVGo chargers are the most reliable, but the ones at the Maryland rest stops (Chesapeake House and Maryland House) have also been reliable for me. What I do on these trips is aim to stop at fast charging stations with more than one plug - ideally with 4-6 plugs - that way, you're never waiting in line for a charger or getting stranded by a broken charger. For example, there are 6 Chademo DCFC plugs at a Shop Rite at 127 Ark St, Mt, Laurel, NJ - this is right off the NJ Turnpike. There are also 6 Chademo DCFC plugs at both the Maryland House and Chesapeake House rest stops on 95 in Maryland. There are also 6 Chademo DCFC plugs at 5267 Campbell Blvd, Nottingham, MD 21236, which is also right off 95. This a a strip mall called "Nottingham Commons" - there's a Chipotle, etc. I just checked plugshare, and at every single one of these locations, all of their respective 6 plugs are reported as available as of right now. There are also other DCFC stations with 1-2 plugs near all these locations in the extremely rare case that all 6 plugs at your plan A locations fail.

So, this is just a ballpark estimate, but assuming you drive 65-70 mph, and assuming 80% of EPA range at these speeds and in this weather, this means that if you charge to 100% before you leave, you'd be leaving with 172 miles of range. You said you live 40 miles north of NYC - I'm not sure if this is CT or the lower Hudson Valley area, but that Shop Rite in Mt Laurel is about 80 miles from NYC, so lets say it's 120 miles from you. That would put you there with about 50 miles of range and about 30% SOC left. So charge there to about 80% SOC, then drive 104 miles to Nottingham Commons. From Nottingham Commons, it's only another 48 miles to Silver Spring, MD, so to arrive in Silver Spring with 20% SOC, you'd only need to charge to around 47% SOC at Nottingham Commons. Of course, since this is your first road trip, charge to whatever levels you're comfortable with, just be aware that this will mean a little more time waiting for the charge to finish.

Speaking of charge time, assuming an average DCFC speed of 40 kW, and since you stated your total trip was about 270 miles, assuming you wanted to arrive in Silver Spring with 20% SOC, my math says that you would need to add about 47.7 kWh on your DCFC stops, which means 71 minutes of total DCFC time (or 35 minutes charging at each of your fast charge stops).

In addition to the plugshare app, I would also recommend downloading the EVGo app. And the morning you leave, check each location's status in both apps to see which plugs are operational.

Finally, here is my report back on a drive this past May from NYC to Boston and back - different weather conditions, but otherwise very similar to the NYC-DC drive in a lot of ways.

Good luck on your drive.
https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26049&start=20

 

[WetEV]

Thank you for your reply. I have the locator you included. I guess I was just looking for support in making our first long distance drive. Everything seems just more complicated due to limited L3 chargers along I-95 and in the vicinity of where we're staying. Just wondering how the "old" pros handle this. We're thinking of doing a dry run with our gas powered car and see what it's like looking for an L3. I was hoping to hear from someone who's already done that run, and can report the best do's and don'ts.

I missed giving you a pointer to the route planner.

https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=bb7c91fc-cae2-4879-b305-44f03b189c8e

Yes, this plan is very low risk, meaning slower. But that's not a bad plan for the first trip.

This one might be better, as uses a different stop with two chargers.

https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=37ad7d3c-1990-4b65-900d-94605b3672e9

This is what I do. Use Plugshare and Google Maps to visit the locations on my computer days before the trip. What I can't give you is any local information, as I'm on the other coast. I can't give you any idea about how busy these locations are going to be on your travel days.

On the day of the trip, have a cell phone with at least Plugshare on it. Plugshare will show availability for EVgo and some other networks.

First stop on both above plans is at:

https://www.plugshare.com/location/136391

Recent reviews are all fairly positive. Check.

Look at the photos attached.

Then, on plugshare, click to google maps.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3223755,-74.4869926,3a,60y,31.14h,84.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTnRhvqeTF915V6ZrQJuE0A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

and overhead view

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3209133,-74.487873,178a,35y,21.79h,44.97t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

And the view from the exit

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3222732,-74.4865821,3a,47.1y,219.39h,89.29t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_nbuLRLMbTL6i7kfoVsiMA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en


Next stop is at

https://www.plugshare.com/location/190888

OR

https://www.plugshare.com/location/14947
(Two cables to charge from rather than one!)

Google street view:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7094922,-75.5624226,3a,48.7y,228.45h,79.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snQw7oufi9w9-klyqt2y1eg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Compare the view in plugshare with GSV. Notice that streetview isn't recent enough to show the site, and the trees are bigger in the Plugshare pictures.

Overhead view.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Electrify+America+Charging+Station/@39.7093862,-75.5627059,106m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x695d610559cde622!8m2!3d39.709324!4d-75.5626489?hl=en

OR

GSV not helpful

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6844041,-75.4843722,3a,60y,179.39h,92.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAkwebsZADZQq2SgkJOAcIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Overhead view is

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blink+Charging+Station/@39.6834657,-75.4843739,36m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x3a2c910f55ccdd1a!8m2!3d39.683467!4d-75.484314?hl=en

https://www.plugshare.com/location/196725

Last stop:

https://www.plugshare.com/location/196725

Looks like was under constuctuion when GSV image was taken:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.2653951,-76.5618733,3a,28.3y,334.4h,82.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_pnDrLWmPgVUVtnA1E_Dpw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

Summary, look at the pictures in Plugshare. Read the directions in Plugshare.
Look with Google overhead view and street view.

Usually not a problem.

 

[powersurge]

With a Leaf +, your trip is a piece of apple pie... With a 200+ mile range the world is your charging station. I have traveled long distance with an original 24KWH Leaf, and made it work. You can travel with such ease it is like almost a gas car. If you are traveling 2-300 miles, then you can travel 100-150 miles, and then charge only ONCE!! That is cake!!

However, you need to have some changes of expectations....
1) You should not expect to PLAN all of your stops. Kind of how you plan your bathroom stops. You should plan a stop at the 50% or so level of battery. If you are successful, then you are set. If there is a problem, then you can THEN do a plan B and plan C. You will still have a great buffer of range to take you to the next places in your plan. You just have to make sure you plan to stop BEFORE you would actually be stuck if that charger is a no-go (like the point of no return).

2) You should also expect to make your driving trip a trip of "Discovery", where you are on an adventure. You may want to find (and pass) some of the charging stations you identified on your research map, just to be aware of the good places to go. For example, I have made the same 200 mile trip from Long Island, New York to New Paltz, NY a bunch of times. During those trips, I found and recorded good AND BAD places to charge, and keep the maps in my EV Traveling Book. Think of yourself a Magellan, who is mapping out his voyages.. The point is, if you want to have an enjoyable EV trip, you must not expect to make the trip as in a gas car....

 

[herrylauu]

Take I-95 South from Manhattan, or you can also take the NJ Turnpike and merge onto I-95 South.
stumble guys