One Week 3,144 Mile Road Trip in SR Lightning Pro

[biers]

Just got back from a long road trip from SW WA to Phoenix to partake in some spring training games. Went south on 5 through OR and CA, then back home through UT, ID and OR.

The truck did awesome, absolutely flawless. Most of the driving was at 70 mph, even when posted speeds were 65-80. Did a couple hundred miles at 75 when I had a tailwind. Averaged 2.1 m/kWh over the whole trip.

DC charging was mostly done on EA and was great. Only once didn’t I have to switch chargers when mine was only pushing 41kW. Few charges on CP250s and one Tesla Magic Dock in Boardman, OR.

Was able to charge overnight on 6 of the 7 nights. We all know it, but getting my Supercharger adapter will be a game changer. I’ve been painfully watching the CCS network grow since 2017 so I’ve got PlugShare, ABRP and all the apps dialed in. With the adapter I can cut my planning time down to 1/10th of what I spend now.

In the SR starting the day with a full charge I drove up to 190 miles depending on charging location, then it was charge to 80-85% and drive up to 160 miles. This proved to be a great road trip pace, drive 2-2.5 hours and stop to charge 35-45 min. As Jim said, it’s not range anxiety, it’s charging anxiety.

 

[Maxx]

It gives me hope to see a Pro Bro rockin it in the wild Pre-Superchargers.

 

[biers]

It gives me hope to see a Pro Bro rockin it in the wild Pre-Superchargers.

It felt like the Wild West. Especially the 220 mile DC gap across the Hopi and Navajo reservations. That was an overnight at the RV park special. Didn’t see a single electric car that whole stretch.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Just got back from a long road trip from SW WA to Phoenix to partake in some spring training games. Went south on 5 through OR and CA, then back home through UT, ID and OR.

The truck did awesome, absolutely flawless. Most of the driving was at 70 mph, even when posted speeds were 65-80. Did a couple hundred miles at 75 when I had a tailwind. Averaged 2.1 m/kWh over the whole trip.

DC charging was mostly done on EA and was great. Only once didn’t I have to switch chargers when mine was only pushing 41kW. Few charges on CP250s and one Tesla Magic Dock in Boardman, OR.

Was able to charge overnight on 6 of the 7 nights. We all know it, but getting my Supercharger adapter will be a game changer. I’ve been painfully watching the CCS network grow since 2017 so I’ve got PlugShare, ABRP and all the apps dialed in. With the adapter I can cut my planning time down to 1/10th of what I spend now.

In the SR starting the day with a full charge I drove up to 190 miles depending on charging location, then it was charge to 80-85% and drive up to 160 miles. This proved to be a great road trip pace, drive 2-2.5 hours and stop to charge 35-45 min. As Jim said, it’s not range anxiety, it’s charging anxiety.

Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing

 

[Ayrshireman]

Biers,
Great photos of your trip. Totally agree comment about charging anxiety. Simple formula for me in transition was reset time expectations (vs ACI gas stop); use time to relax or exercise/be productive and relish not using gas. I regularly do 240 mi in Northeast conditions trip at 73mph and stop once for 20 min top off. No worries!

 

[Ayrshireman]

Biers,
Great photos of your trip. Totally agree comment about charging anxiety. Simple formula for me in transition was reset time expectations (vs ACI gas stop); use time to relax or exercise/be productive and relish not using gas. I regularly do 240 mi in Northeast conditions trip at 73mph and stop once for 20 min top off. No worries!

ICE not ACI

 

[hturnerfamily]

my own '22 PRO SR, with over 41,000 miles since August '22, and over 1/2 of those mile while towing, most of the retoric about 'these trucks won't work, and you can't go anywhere in them' is simply adolescent jargon... these non-ev owners have no clue, and just don't want to 'believe' it...

I've never looked back when I received mine. I hooked up our camper and immediately dispelled any negative feedback by making my inaugural 800 mile trip, over several days, and several campgrounds, and several charging stops, of course... it was very enjoyable, comfortable, and the truck hardly knew it was even 'towing'...

 

[OtterJohn]

This gives me hope. My wife and I usually road-trip from the mid-Willamette Valley in Oregon to Yellowstone at least once a year (sometimes twice). With the Tesla network opening, it will make our lives much easier (ABRP already has all the good stops plotted!). Haven't driven the Lightning further than 200 miles at ago (Lariat ER), and while I'm nervous about a 2000 mile road trip, I'm sure it'll be fine (especially after we get our adapter).

Thanks for sharing this sort of trip; helps my charging (not range!) anxiety quite a bit.

 

[PreservedSwine]

my own '22 PRO SR, with over 41,000 miles since August '22, and over 1/2 of those mile while towing, most of the retoric about 'these trucks won't work, and you can't go anywhere in them' is simply adolescent jargon... these non-ev owners have no clue, and just don't want to 'believe' it...

I've never looked back when I received mine. I hooked up our camper and immediately dispelled any negative feedback by making my inaugural 800 mile trip, over several days, and several campgrounds, and several charging stops, of course... it was very enjoyable, comfortable, and the truck hardly knew it was even 'towing'...

I really appreciate your forum input, but something about this post really rubs me the wrong way.
I also took a road trip in my Ford lightning. It was a freaking nightmare.
Not every trip is a journey.
I’m very glad that you enjoy road tripping in your lightning. But if I had read your post before I took my road trip, I’d be a little upset.
It most certainly isn’t for everyone.

Not all interstate trips are journeys. Sometimes you’re just trying to get from point A to point B.
Do you want to turn that mind numbing 6 Hour Interstate drive into a 9 Hour time suck to see the inlaws? Take your standard range truck. By all means, knock yourself out.
But insulting those that would rather not by name-calling, is pretty juvenile in itself. It was an extra three hours each way, an extra six hours total over a weekend of nothing but interstate driving. Never again

Keep posting, I really do enjoy your posts, but that’s uncalled for.

 

[IdeaOfTheDayCom]

There are so many variables in the never ending debate about whether EVs are good for longer trips. Clearly, ICE is still easier by a VERY wide margin.

When I travel to the Adirondacks in upstate NY, it's virtually impossible to find fast chargers at all, especially near some of the towns where I camp. Those towns don't even have cell phone towers and you need to drive 20 miles just to purchase food or even gas, so EV chargers are even harder to find.

Range anxiety is real, but anxiety will shrink as the number of fast chargers eventually grows. People who are lucky enough to travel along roads with a lot of fast chargers will have a better experience than those who travel along roads with fewer charging options.

I'm happy to see new charger locations popping up and now I'm thankful that I no longer care whether they're Tesla SuperChargers. It was super frustrating to pass all those SuperChargers while I was looking for a WORKING DC charger on those longer trips. Now, I'm thankful there are so many SuperCharger sites. At least I know they're working.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I really appreciate your forum input, but something about this post really rubs me the wrong way.
I also took a road trip in my Ford lightning. It was a freaking nightmare.
Not every trip is a journey.
I’m very glad that you enjoy road tripping in your lightning. But if I had read your post before I took my road trip, I’d be a little upset.
It most certainly isn’t for everyone.

Not all interstate trips are journeys. Sometimes you’re just trying to get from point A to point B.
Do you want to turn that mind numbing 6 Hour Interstate drive into a 9 Hour time suck to see the inlaws? Take your standard range truck. By all means, knock yourself out.
But insulting those that would rather not by name-calling, is pretty juvenile in itself. It was an extra three hours each way, an extra six hours total over a weekend of nothing but interstate driving. Never again

Keep posting, I really do enjoy your posts, but that’s uncalled for.

while I was referring to 'NON EV OWNERS', I'll still stand by my words. The word 'PRO' or 'StandardRange' seems to get some folks sideways - and I don't understand it. Your assumption that somehow an 'extended range' battery would magically be your 'saviour' is also a wrong assumption.

My point is that there will always be 'naysayers' when it comes to EVs, period, regardless of battery size. There will also be those same sentiments when it comes to 'comparing' battery pack sizes, as though a 'lowly PRO can't go where I go'... ridiculous. Any of these trucks can go ANYWHERE you wish to take them. If you are so pent up on 'why' it takes so long, then that is just poor planning. I'm not in a rush, nor should you be, but, if you must, you'll have the same aggravation in ANY type of vehicle.

Those of us who own, drive, and enjoy the experience, whether a SR or an ER, don't take things the way you do. Any 'limitation' you project on my truck, or any PRO or SR doesn't make sense. If Ford ONLY had a SR battery pack for all trim levels, there would be no conversation here. Having a 'choice' does not make one 'less than' or 'incapable'... it's just a different choice, and a WHOLE LOT less money, too. That's life.

 

[PreservedSwine]

while I was referring to 'NON EV OWNERS', I'll still stand by my words. The word 'PRO' or 'StandardRange' seems to get some folks sideways - and I don't understand it. Your assumption that somehow an 'extended range' battery would magically be your 'saviour' is also a wrong assumption.

My point is that there will always be 'naysayers' when it comes to EVs, period, regardless of battery size. There will also be those same sentiments when it comes to 'comparing' battery pack sizes, as though a 'lowly PRO can't go where I go'... ridiculous. Any of these trucks can go ANYWHERE you wish to take them. If you are so pent up on 'why' it takes so long, then that is just poor planning. I'm not in a rush, nor should you be, but, if you must, you'll have the same aggravation in ANY type of vehicle.

Those of us who own, drive, and enjoy the experience, whether a SR or an ER, don't take things the way you do. Any 'limitation' you project on my truck, or any PRO or SR doesn't make sense. If Ford ONLY had a SR battery pack for all trim levels, there would be no conversation here. Having a 'choice' does not make one 'less than' or 'incapable'... it's just a different choice, and a WHOLE LOT less money, too. That's life.

I’m not projecting anything to you. I’m simply asking you not to project onto others… as you somehow thought I was somehow referring to an ER in anything mentioned? Im happy you enjoy road tripping in your SR
But it’s not a personality defect to have an opinion that differs 180 degrees from your own.
You couldn’t pay me to commute across the state in my lightning when I have a gas vehicle that could do the same in 50% less time.

Does that mean I’m trying to convince you that you shouldn’t enjoy road tripping in your Lighting? I sincerely hope not. Keep at it if it’s brings you joy.
But that should go both ways.

 

[Helium]

Love the tent