We’ve got a 2021 Leaf with a 160-mile range, which we love for daily driving with overnight charging at home. For longer trips, we typically use our 2016 Jeep Cherokee, but we thought we’d give the Leaf a shot on a weekend getaway about 100 miles out. What a nightmare! We ended up scrambling for working chargers, stuck for two hours in the heat with broken chargers and painfully slow charging speeds. Since then, we’ve sworn off using an EV for any road trips.
Living near Portland, Oregon, we’d love to use an EV for the coast and mountain trips we take often. Has anyone else here had experiences like this? Has charging improved at all in our area, especially with Tesla opening up their chargers? I’m interested in getting a Lightning, but convincing my wife after these experiences won’t be easy (even with the cool frunk).
Also, we’ve noticed cold weather really reduces our Leaf’s range, especially with heat and heated seats. We’ll end a summer day with 45% charge, but in winter, it’s more like 25% for the same trips. Is this common for other EVs? Thanks for any insights!
Layne said:
The Leaf’s great for short trips, but definitely not for road trips.
The range limits are clear with the Leaf’s 160 miles, but a 100-mile trip seemed doable with just one stop. I wouldn’t consider it for a longer trip, but it’s great as a daily commuter. Half the cost of a Tesla, and has actual physical controls!
@Ramon
The Leaf’s main road-trip problem is its Chademo charging and slow rate. It caps at 50kW, which is far below what newer EVs, like the Lightning, can handle on CCS and NACS.
Layne said: @Ramon
The Leaf’s main road-trip problem is its Chademo charging and slow rate. It caps at 50kW, which is far below what newer EVs, like the Lightning, can handle on CCS and NACS.
I had a Leaf before my Lightning, and the difference in road trips is huge. The Lightning’s flexibility with CCS and Tesla chargers means I don’t stress about broken stations.
@Ramon
The Lightning’s range does drop at higher speeds. At 70 mph, it’s more like 250 miles than the full 320. For trips under 220 miles round-trip, you won’t need to stop, but anything longer might require a short charge, depending on driving conditions.
New Lightning owner here. I took it on a 3-day, 1100-mile trip, and charging was simple. Stayed at motels with chargers and used Superchargers a few times. Charging worked out fine and didn’t disrupt the trip.
I’ve taken long trips with my Bolt EUV, which charges slowly but still beats the Leaf’s Chademo system.
Try planning with A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and PlugShare—especially for a Lightning, which can use Tesla and CCS chargers. You’ll find planning stops is easier with CCS, and the Lightning will make trips more manageable than a Leaf.
Are you thinking of replacing the Leaf or the Jeep with a Lightning?
EV charging has improved, and the Lightning is much better for trips. Charging speeds are faster, taking around 32-38 minutes for 15%-80%. ABRP can show you trip details with stops, so you know what to expect for your usual routes.
I have a 2023 Lightning Lariat. It’s been great for trips in all weather conditions. The frunk is a big plus, BlueCruise makes long drives relaxing, and charging has been smooth at Electrify America, Circle K, and Tesla stations. Avoid Petro Canada and Shell chargers—they’re often slow or out of service.
@Layla
Thanks for sharing! I’m in Calgary and considering a Lightning. Planning to tow a 3200-lb trailer to Kananaskis. Think it could handle a trip to Vancouver too?
Some of my friends have had charging trouble on long trips with EVs in Texas and Oklahoma, especially with non-Tesla chargers. It’s one of the reasons I went with a hybrid instead.