"The Charging Process" EV RV Road Trip Pt. 2

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) while towing presented a unique basket of challenges, particularly when it comes to cord lengths, pedestal placements, and charging speeds. Access to Tesla Superchargers was a big factor for me deciding to go on this trip. Only a few weeks prior, the NACS-based Superchargers were opened up to 福特 drivers.

Discover the realities of charging a Ford F-150 Lightning while towing, including the impact of cord lengths, pedestal placements, and charging speeds.

• Overview of the charging networks used during the trip.
• Insights into the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different charging options.
• Challenges of charging an EV while towing, including cord lengths and pedestal placements.

This is possible by using a compatible Supercharger (the newer versions 3 and 4) and an authorized charging adapter. We were provided the Ford official Fast Charging Adapter as well as a third-party one from A2Z.

In this article, I’ll share our experiences and insights gained from using various charging networks during our 10-day, 2,000-mile EV RV road trip.

“Don’t RV in a hurry” is the mantra I learned

This article is part two of the EV RV Road Trip mini-series. Join us as we dive into the realities of charging a Ford F-150 Lightning while towing an Airstream RV. Don't miss the other articles in the series, which explore the towing adventure and how smart route planning influenced our journey.

Overview of Charging Networks

We used several charging networks during our trip, each with its own advantages and challenges. Here’s a summary of our experiences.

Summary of Charging Data

Here is a summary of our charging experiences, showcasing the differences in cost and speed across various networks:

Detailed Charging Sessions

Our detailed charging sessions, including costs and speeds, provided insights into the real-world performance of each network:

Charging Speed versus Cost

The cheapest rates came from Tesla Superchargers, which also came in second place for average charging speeds, giving me the impression of the best value. Close behind them were a new entrant: the new ChargePoint units, with Mercedes-Benz branding, operated by and at Buc’ees stations. They tied with Tesla for lowest costs and acceptable charging speeds, plus physical advantages.

Cord Length and Pedestal Placement

Considering just speed and cost, the winner would seem to be Tesla Superchargers… but not when towing. That’s because of the typical placement of the charging units and their short cord lengths. The longest cables were attached to the Electrify America (EA) stations, long enough to reach over the hood of the truck so we could charge from either side, but I’m not sure that’s enough to overcome them being simultaneously the most expensive and generally slower.

Overall, the rest of the brands had sufficiently long charging cords. While none we experienced had any pull-through or trailer-optimized configurations, the best site setups came from our Buc’ees visits. These had large, well-organized areas that made charging easier and more convenient, even with the trailer in tow.

Performance of Each Charging Network

Tesla Superchargers

Generally the most reliable and cost-effective. Despite short cord lengths and non-optimal pedestal placements for towing, they provided a dependable charging solution. The Ford official Fast Charging Adapter and third-party adapters from A2Z allowed us to use these chargers.

Electrify America (EA)

Electrify America stations had the longest charging cables, which were helpful for towing. However, they were the most expensive and often had slower charging speeds compared to other networks.

EVgo and Autel

EVgo provided the fastest charging speeds, averaging above 150 kW. The higher cost per kWh and occasional availability issues made them my secondary choice.

Autel Energy stations had acceptable speeds and costs.

Buc'ees ChargePoints

The new Mercedes-Benz USA ChargePoints at Buc'ees stations were a pleasant surprise. They offered a good balance of cost, speed, and user-friendly placement of pedestals, generally accommodating larger vehicle setups.

Buc’ees stations also feature outstanding amenities. Knowing they now have fast, reliable, and affordably priced EV charging next to excellent facilities makes Buc’ees my top choice for an EV road trip.

Practical Tips for Managing Charging and Range

Be Flexible and Patient

“Don’t RV in a hurry” is the mantra I learned to follow. Flexibility in my plans reduced our sense of urgency and anxiety, helping us be open-minded and find the best charging options.

Physical Interface Considerations

There are two types of fast chargers: those for Teslas (with a connector type called NACS) and those for other EVs (with a connector type called CCS). Non-Tesla vehicles, like our Ford F150 Lightning, need a charging adapter to use a Tesla Supercharging station. To use a Tesla Supercharger with other EVs, you need 1) a compatible vehicle (currently, only Ford and Rivian EVs can use an adapter), 2) at a compatible Supercharging station (an issue at my first attempt), and 3) an adapter. Understand the physical layout of charging stations, as some may not be well-suited for vehicles towing trailers.

Overnight Charging with L2 Chargers

One of the most effective ways to manage charging while towing was to use Level 2 (L2) chargers overnight at campsites, taking advantage of the 50A connections. These chargers typically have generous cord lengths, making it easy to charge the vehicle without needing to move the trailer. Charging overnight ensured we woke up with a full battery, which was both convenient and cost-effective.

Total Range While Towing

The total range while towing settled around 144 miles on a full charge. We generally charged up to around 90% and aimed to keep the battery above 10%. Working with 80% of the battery gave us a practical range of about 115 miles between fast-charging stops. This range estimate was better than anticipated, thanks in part to the aerodynamic efficiency of the Airstream trailer. However, I do want to point out the onboard trip computer consistently overestimated the range, suggesting about 160 miles on a full charge, and was generally about 20 miles overoptimistic.

Optimizing Charging an EV Towing an RV

We didn't preplan our charging stops. We used many of the different popular charging networks to learn how they performed in the real-world. Going into it, I expected Tesla Superchargers would win all categories. While they maintained a gold-standard for reliability and were cost-effective, they weren't always the most convenient for towing. Buc'ees ChargePoints gave the best balance of cost, speed, and driver-friendly placements and quickly become our favorite for towing.