A Tesla owner took a 9-day road trip through a town without an EV charger by using trickle charging from an outlet at an abandoned gas station.

A Tesla owner took a 9-day road trip through a town without an EV charger by using trickle charging from an outlet at an abandoned gas station.

Road Tripping in a Tesla: When Charging Becomes an Adventure

Planning an Electric Adventure

Kathleen Goforth, a proud Tesla owner and climate action advocate, embarked on a daring 9-day road trip through the remote and undeveloped Carrizo Plain National Monument in California. This journey posed a unique challenge, as the vast grassland offered no services, including food, water, or gas stations, let alone electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Goforth, determined to prove that electric road trips are viable, set out to conquer this obstacle, armed with careful planning and a touch of creativity.

Before hitting the road, Goforth meticulously planned her route. Leveraging Travelocity’s filter for hotels with EV chargers and Plugshare’s Trip Planner, she secured reliable charging options along the way. Armed with these resources, she felt confident in her ability to power her Tesla Model Y during the trip.

The Charging Conundrum

However, it was when Goforth and her husband reached the Carrizo Plain that the real challenge presented itself. There were no EV chargers within a 50-mile radius of their destination. Undeterred, they initially planned to use an RV hook-up site near the California Valley Lodge, just 20 miles outside the monument. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the site was no longer available, forcing them to come up with an alternative solution.

Across the street from the lodge stood an abandoned gas station, its pumps long gone, but with electricity still flowing. Goforth humorously remarked, “I loved the poetic justice of recharging our EV at a defunct gas station!” They connected their Tesla to a standard 120V outlet, opting for a trickle charge, which added a few miles of range per hour. While not as fast as a Level 2 charger, this method provided enough charge overnight to cover their daily excursions around the monument.

For the subsequent two days, Goforth and her husband relied on the former gas station to replenish their Tesla’s battery as they explored the surrounding area. To complete their journey and return home, they were able to access a Level 2 charger and a Tesla Supercharger at their final stops.

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The Joy of Electric Road Trips

Throughout their 1,000-mile voyage, the couple saved over $300 in fuel costs. With hindsight, Goforth expressed her excitement for future EV adventures, reflecting on how easy, fun, and cost-effective road trips can be in an electric vehicle.

While some EV owners have shared horror stories about the challenges of finding chargers on long road trips, Goforth’s experience highlights the importance of meticulous planning and resourcefulness. Properly plotting out the trip, leveraging available charging resources, and sometimes thinking outside the box can turn a potentially daunting journey into an enjoyable adventure.

Tesla’s Advantage and the Journey Ahead

Tesla owners often have a distinct advantage when it comes to navigating longer journeys. Tesla’s superfast Superchargers and the company’s internal navigation system provide seamless assistance in plotting paths with multiple charging sites. These features make road trips in a Tesla even more convenient and enjoyable.

Organizations like Acterra are actively working to dispel the notion that EVs are unattainable for some due to cost, firmly believing that electric vehicles are accessible to everyone. As more charging stations continue to sprout up across the country, the obstacles faced by EV road trippers will gradually become a thing of the past.

So, whether it’s gracefully trickling charge from an abandoned gas station or zipping through Tesla’s Superchargers on a cross-country adventure, electric road trips are expanding possibilities and redefining the joy of the open road.

Do you own an electric car? Have any stories from your own road trips? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to the reporter at [email protected].

• Cars
• Electric Cars
• Tesla