Electric Cars
EV Pre-Trip Checklist: What to Check Before a Road Trip
You plan a long trip but aren't sure your EV is ready - range, tires, charging apps and more.
What causes it
EV road trips fail on planning, not the car. Small checks prevent most surprises.
Before you leave
- Plan chargers - use a route planner, set stops at 10-20% remaining, and note a backup charger at each stop.
- Charge to 100% at home - for the first leg; then stop at 80% on the road.
- Check tire pressure and tread - EV wear accelerates on highway trips.
- Set up charging apps - add your payment and verify at least two networks work.
- Precondition - navigate to the first charger so the battery warms for fast charging.
- Pack the cables - the Type 2 cable and any adapters; not all stations have tethered cables.
During the trip
- Charge 10-60% for the fastest stops.
- Expect winter to reduce range 20-40% and add a stop.
- Trust the navigation estimate, not the dash range, at highway speeds.