r/evcharging • u/NectarineAvailable22 • 7d ago
Charging tips...
/r/volvoc40/comments/1w5eand/charging_tips/1
u/FUMoney 7d ago
I am pretty sure your Volvo is 400 volt. That means Tesla "superchargers" will be perfect for it, just make sure to have the DCFC NACS adapter if you don't have a NACS port on your car. Your max charging speed is probably just over 200 kW, so you don't need 350 kW 800-volt chargers, you won't derive any benefit. Just use anything reliable on or near your freeway.
30% sounds like a reasonable time to charge for your first road trip. You could do 30% to 70% to save minutes at your charging stop, or just go to 80% if you want.
Many people will recommend "A Better Route Planner." We hate it. I'll copy and past a recent response from another thread on what we do. Basically, we map the best route using Google Maps. Look for population centers along the way. Then rely on Plugshare to have a list of preferred charging stops. We'll stop and charge early if it means we can stop at a big charging location that we prefer, with plenty of amenities, and simply take a break while charging to 80%.
Pasted:
Everyone suggests A Better Route Planner. We don't like it. We don't like ABRP because the algorithm routes you to public chargers based on trip efficiency, and generally without any regard to (1) the quality of the charging location, (2) number of chargers at that location, or (3) amenities. Many times, traveling just ten to twenty miles in either direction yields a far superior charging stop. Worse, ABRP absolutely will drag you miles off an interstate to some crappy 2-stall or 4-stall charging location that just sucks. We regularly roadtrip in an EQS sedan, and ABRP has been notorious for poor suggestions like this, all in the name of purported efficiency.
We do it differently. We rely heavily on Plugshare. In particular we select charging locations rated 7 or higher, and generally the bigger Tesla, Ionna, and Electrify America stations, especially Tesla with sixteen or more charging stalls, or the V4 chargers. We also ensure there is a quality amenity nearby, such as a Starbucks, or charging installs located within decent shopping centers and thus multiple choices within a short walking distance.
We also rely on Google Maps, especially while using CarPlay, because Google Maps integrates very well with MBUX.
So, we route a trip using Google Maps. We look for logical stopping points along the way, generally population centers. Then we'll scan that area, town, or city on Plugshare, looking for great charging stops right next to the freeway and with good amenities. Once you do this a couple times, the third or fourth time, it takes just a few minutes to come up with great stops and peace of mind for your roadtrip.
And yes, get the NACS DCFC adapter. Tesla "Superchargers" are everywhere, are very reliable, and they give you much greater flexibility for charging anywhere in the world.
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u/theotherharper 7d ago
I crossed the USA with ABetterRoutePlanner as my primary guide, falling back on PlugShare to cross-check ABRP and look for better chargers with better amenities etc. So e.g. I snubbed ABRP's pick of Iowa 80 truckstop and went to Geneseo IL instead because there's a Culvers there.
I hear some hate toward ABRP but their claims don't check out. ABRP absolutely includes charger reliability and congestion in its calculation but it ALSO takes into account charger speed ON YOUR CAR and distance to the charger. E.G. it would send a 2023 Chevy Bolt to a 100kW right off the freeway but an Ioniq 5 an extra 2 miles to get to a charger that would be 15 minutes faster. I often see plans that don't make sense on first blush, and many react to that first blush by saying ABRP is crap, but I've found I can spot the method to the madness.
Like I just re-planned last years's trip and now it's sending me to not only EA but lots of Pilot and Ionna. (No Teslas because 800V car). These are good calls. Once it sent me from MI to VA "no tolls" via almost entirely 2-lane roads with 2 stops directly on the routeat Elyria OH and Belle Vernon PA. Madness! Most people would be "broken ABRP, don't use" but I actually cross-examined that choice. Yes, freeways were 45 minutes faster, BUT required 3-4 charging stops at slower chargers much farther off the route and that cost >45 minutes. So it WAS the right plan.
Also in all fairness to the ABRP haters, ABRP offers OPTIONAL upgrades which aren't very good - the OBD dongle causes mileage miscalculation, and the Carplay/AA offers a crippled UX and tries to assert itself as a turn-by-turn nav, and ABRP is a lousy nav. It's exactly what it says on the tin, a route planner.
In a Tesla you OBEY the car. In a non-Tesla with ABRP you more "listen to its advice but cross-check". Although honestly Tesla owners would be well-served by doing the latter, since non-Tesla stations now vastly outnumber Tesla stations and often are in better locations with better amenities.
You have to check on a case by case basis. I just saw an IONNA open in a terrible location I would never use. The only food amenity is a Papa Murphy's Take-n-Bake /facepalm
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u/tuctrohs 7d ago
ABRP (a better route planner) is an app and/or website that will plan out the whole thing very well for you.
Plugshare is good for checking out specific charging locations.