Embarking on long road trips in an electric vehicle like the Ford Lightning presents unique considerations, especially when it comes to range and charging. While tools like A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) are valuable for planning, understanding their limitations and leveraging additional resources can significantly improve your travel experience. For EV owners, especially those venturing into areas with less developed charging infrastructure, combining ABRP with an OBD2 scanner can be a game-changer.
ABRP serves as a decent starting point for route planning, but it’s not without its quirks. To get the most reliable results, you often need to manually adjust parameters like departure and arrival state of charge (SOC). A crucial tip is to avoid planning routes that dip below a 20% SOC in the planner to provide a buffer and account for real-world conditions. For those with standard range (SR) models or similar EVs where charging stops are more frequent, these manual adjustments become even more important.
Beyond route planning, real-time information about charging station availability is essential. Plugshare emerges as a highly recommended platform for this purpose. Its strength lies in community-driven reports, offering insights into the actual working status of charging stations. User experiences shared on Plugshare can alert you to stations that are down or experiencing issues, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments to your charging plan. This real-world feedback is invaluable compared to relying solely on static charging network data.
To truly mitigate range anxiety and ensure smooth EV road trips, especially in less charger-dense areas, strategic overnight charging is key. Prioritizing accommodations that offer overnight charging, and carrying a mobile charge connector, transforms your journey. By starting each day with a full or near-full battery, you significantly reduce the pressure to find charging during the day and make your daily driving segments more relaxed and flexible.
It’s also important to acknowledge the limitations of certain EVs, like the Ford Lightning, when it comes to ultra-long, non-stop journeys. While a fantastic truck, its efficiency as an EV for extended, rapid travel has been highlighted in comparisons, such as the “Out of Spec Reviews” cross-country EV race where it underperformed against competitors. For optimal range and efficiency, particularly on longer trips, maintaining a moderate speed, around 65 mph rather than 80 mph, makes a noticeable difference in energy consumption.
To gain deeper insights into your EV’s performance and charging status, consider utilizing an OBD2 adapter and a compatible app like Car Scanner Pro. Specifically configured for vehicles like the Lightning, Car Scanner Pro unlocks access to real-time data that isn’t readily available on the vehicle’s standard display. This includes precise charging speeds and the vehicle’s “true” state of charge, which can sometimes differ from the displayed SOC on the dashboard. This accurate, OBD2-sourced information empowers you with a clearer picture of your EV’s actual battery status and charging progress, complementing the planning capabilities of ABRP and the community-sourced data of Plugshare for a more informed and confident EV road trip experience.
