Road trip nav help -

[azbill]

EA doesn't have the ability to add inbound cars to their availability algorithm like Tesla does

Now that Tesla supports other OEMs, that algorithm is not much better than EA. I tend to look at the status a few miles from the charger exit, and if there is an alternate, I go to that if it is indicating full. If there is no alternate, then the status is useless, just have to wait in line.

Sponsored

 

[BigSkies]

I haven't tried this since the Google Maps update, but I've had good luck with the "add charger to route" function. It seems to recalculate pretty well.

A couple other things that help me:

1. While I plan routes in full day segments, I set my nav for shorter segments. For example, I'll commonly set my nav to wherever I plan to have lunch instead of my final destination. I don't know why this seems to help, but it does.

2. I build a quick mental-model of my charging options before departure. Just looking through chargers on Plugshare, ABRP, or Rivian before I leave will give me a good idea of where I might charge. I'll commonly do something different than what the nav suggests because someone has to pee, I need to stretch my legs, or whatever. It also helps to know where your good backup options are beforehand.

You don't have to memorize it. Just have a rough idea of options. Use the nav as a general guide on charging and not gospel.

3. I try to mostly charge in more rural areas when on the road. Densely populated urban areas have chargers that fill up. This is rarely true in the middle of nowhere.