My first, absolutely freezing, road trip

[dgkhn]

I live in NH. Comparing two trips, one done about a month ago, when ambient temps were in the 60s F, average speed 51 mph (including extensive 70-73 mph driving): 29.1 kWh/100 miles. Today, with ambient around freezing, average speed 46 mph (again including a fair amount of 70-73 mph driving): 35.7 kWh/100 miles.

I would say high-latitude winter road-tripping is not the ideal use case for Macan's (and most likely any EV). So far, I've only truly needed to DC-charge once (and did it twice more just for practice.) So, as long as you can limit yourself to 200 or so miles daily and have daily access to an AC charger, you're good.

 

[Duke95]

Update, first stop home, EA 350...as Yves said...takes time to precondition! Car was at 45 degrees and about 20-25 from the station it took itself to about 75 degrees. Got here, plugged in, 265 kw within a minute, off and on the road again! Nice. So lesson learned...give the car PLENTY of time to precondition in the cold!

 

[PanameraFrank]

I've done a number of ski road trips in the Taycan and i4. EVs work AWESOME for winter road trips. Tons of grip for bad conditions, high level of comfort, remote heating, etc.

It takes some getting used to the range loss and planning out charging w preconditioning but once you get used to it it's really not a problem. Destination charging, even if slow, is always a huge help. A lot of smaller towns have free slow chargers near city center. Plugshare!!

 

[Fun TC Driving]

Shell Recharge will treat you fairly when you talk with them on Monday. I had a similar experience with them initially, but in the end as a result of our conversing, similarly a few days later, they treated me fairly.

 

[Rocket Roger]

As I've learned while driving EVs since 2011, driving fast on long trips does not save time and costs more due to more frequent charging events.

 

[Duke95]

Back in Chicago! Funny thing, at the first charging stop I met a guy who rolled up next to me in an Ice Gray Taycan Sport Turismo...so we had matching Ice Grays next to each other. Quite a sight! We were both slightly envious of the other's car! And then at the charging next stop, he rolled in a minute after me and we did it all over again. I am sure that happens all the time, but a first for me, and funny we had sister cars down to the color.

2nd stop more of the same as the first I reported earlier: rolled in preconditioned, it ran up to 270 kw pretty much right off the bat. Sweet.

Notably, after that stop I averaged 2.4 miles/kw at an average speed of 79 (started the trip computer once I got up to speed from the charging stop, in 27 degree weather and 4 people heating their seats. I am pretty happy with that. Car said it would get home at 17%, got home at 24%, and again did not exactly drive slow.

So: My first winter, freezing, Macan EV (and in general, EV at all) road trip: Lessons learned and questions I need people to answer!

1. Not sure why the two different EA stations in the West Des Moines area never got over 100kw. Sure I started cold but why not when the battery was at ~50% charge and in the 70 degree range? I guess some chargers just don't live up to their advertised capability...

2. Cold weather recommendations: Preconditioning is just absolutely key...as is, if possible, getting the cabin up to temp while plugged in. Unfortunately, my hotel did not have charging. As well, stayed at a friends but did not bring my L1 charger...they are just sooooo slow. BUT...could have used it I suppose to at least to precondition for each trip? With the car and battery warm and happy, a solid 2.3 miles/kw travelling 83 mph at 27 degrees and 4 heated seats. I assume that should translate into a very nice miles/kw in the summer and at something more like 75 mph.

3. So, the big question here...I wake up at my hotel, it is 14 degrees outside, I have a 10 minute drive to the charger: it was only long enough to get the battery to about 30 degrees. Is there no way to precondition an unplugged car? Or, perhaps I should have woken up 30 minutes earlier and turned the pre-climate on?

4. A PS on my InnoDrive commentary. Note that, a little fishtailing aside, it did great and I used it +95% of the time.

5. Porsche nav consistently does not know when a charger is out of order. 3 times, I would show, for example, 2 of 4 available, when the truth was 2 out of 3. Twice this meant I thought there was a space and when I got there there wasn't....EXCEPT that I used PlugShare and EA apps as well, and those were accurate.

6. Has been said elsewhere...I expect Porsche nav to often not show me the best way, often would switch between Waze and Porsche for best directions and then range status. Fine, I expect that to be true...Porsche is not attempting to be Waze. But...could the nav say things like "take a right on 123rd street" instead of just "take a right"?? Thank you.

If any of my commentary on any posting sound negative...nope. Love the car. Don't expect perfection. Don't expect range-amazingness in any car until solid state batteries start rolling out in 2029 give or take.

Many on this forum and Porsche veterans and/or EV veterans. I am neither and many others are like me...I hope this is helpful for those as inexperienced as me.

Now...tomorrow I might just post a post about whether to drive fast or charge more...I have thoughts and spreadsheets!! But I am sure it has been discussed elsewhere, probably a lot. And I am sure the answer is, it depends on how many stops, the weather, charging speed, etc. So by all means point me to such posts!

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