EV6 light coast-to-coast tips

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5000fan

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Planning an epic west-to-east coast adventure in our trusty EV6 Light and hoping to tap into your collective wisdom. We've done some shorter day trips, and while the range crushes my old Leaf's anxiety-inducing limitations, a cross-country trek feels like a whole new ball game. To prep, we're testing the waters with a Bay Area to L.A. round trip (with the added fun of my spouse attempting inflatable mattress car camping - wish me luck!). I've mapped it out with ABRP and other apps (ChargePoint, Google Maps - meh, Apple Maps - not much better), but curious to hear your long-distance experiences with the EV6 Light! Routing tips, charging advice, general survival strategies - all insights welcome!
 
Charging your EV6 in California can be a major hassle, especially when compared to other states. California has a lot of electric cars, and the charging stations frequently fail. This can lead to long wait times. I've had to wait to charge at nearly half of the charging stations I've visited in California. The East Coast could be worse, but it's difficult to envision it being as bad as California.
 
5000fan said:
Planning an epic west-to-east coast adventure in our trusty EV6 Light and hoping to tap into your collective wisdom. We've done some shorter day trips, and while the range crushes my old Leaf's anxiety-inducing limitations, a cross-country trek feels like a whole new ball game. To prep, we're testing the waters with a Bay Area to L.A. round trip (with the added fun of my spouse attempting inflatable mattress car camping - wish me luck!). I've mapped it out with ABRP and other apps (ChargePoint, Google Maps - meh, Apple Maps - not much better), but curious to hear your long-distance experiences with the EV6 Light! Routing tips, charging advice, general survival strategies - all insights welcome!
Click to expand...
EVgo is also an excellent choice for charging the EV6 in cities and suburbs. Even though some apps may list EVgo chargers as slower, our car can charge quickly from them.
 
5000fan said:
Planning an epic west-to-east coast adventure in our trusty EV6 Light and hoping to tap into your collective wisdom. We've done some shorter day trips, and while the range crushes my old Leaf's anxiety-inducing limitations, a cross-country trek feels like a whole new ball game. To prep, we're testing the waters with a Bay Area to L.A. round trip (with the added fun of my spouse attempting inflatable mattress car camping - wish me luck!). I've mapped it out with ABRP and other apps (ChargePoint, Google Maps - meh, Apple Maps - not much better), but curious to hear your long-distance experiences with the EV6 Light! Routing tips, charging advice, general survival strategies - all insights welcome!
Click to expand...
I've found it useful to plan longer trips with ABRP, but I prefer to drive using Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. ABRP has led me down some odd roads instead of highways, so I haven't used it for navigation in almost two years. I also check Plugshare in advance to ensure there are enough working chargers at my destination, especially in remote areas.
 
Plan ahead of time for a hassle-free EV road trip. Estimate the extra time required for charging, as well as the stops you'll avoid at gas stations. Use ABRP or Chargeway to plan your route, taking into account any necessary detours for dining or visiting other destinations. Use PlugShare to check the quality of the chargers along your route.

Preconditioning the battery for optimal charging speed on the EV6 requires the use of the built-in navigation system. Set your destination and let the navigation suggest charging points. Choose your vetted chargers from the options provided, and the car will prepare for efficient charging.

Safe travels!
 

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