Couple Takes 1,500-Mile EV Road Trip, But It Wasn't Easy, This 'Occupied Our Minds'

A couple recently took their Hyundai Motor Company GDR HYMTF Kia EV6 electric car on a cross-country trip from Michigan to Florida, riding about 1,500 miles. 

According to a report by Axios, Joann Muller and her husband went on a long road trip to get a sense of the country's mass EV adoption, and what they found most challenging about the trip was the charging infrastructure.

"We were constantly thinking about where to charge next," Muller said. "It occupied our minds more than where to eat or spend the night."

During the trip, they stopped 12 times to recharge their car over 1,500 miles. The charging times were between 20 and 55 minutes.

According to Kia's official website, the Kia EV6 has an estimated battery range of 274 miles. The EV6's 800-volt charging system is among the fastest-charging EVs available today. At a 350 KW DC fast charger, the EV6's battery can go from 10% to 80% in under 18 minutes.

Dealing with the charging requirements was a cumbersome task for the couple. They had to juggle between "route-planning apps and billing accounts with various charging companies, as well as dealing with glitchy chargers." 

In her report, Muller wrote that before heading to Florida, her husband drove the car from Detroit to Washington, DC. 

"When I left Detroit, the temperatures were in the low 30s, and the vehicle said it had a range of 216 miles. A Kia engineer told us that the cold would stress the battery more, draining it faster than normal. So, I used only the heated steering wheel and heated seats while driving — no cabin heat," said Muller's husband. 

Also Read: This EV Charging Stock Has A Better 6-Month Return Than Tesla, Ford, Nvidia And Apple

According to Muller, Americans need to feel more comfortable about charging, especially away from home. She said that a long road trip is possible without fear of getting stranded, as long as you plan.

Last week, in a video post, the tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee said that he believes the hassle of public charging is "ruining electric cars."

With the increase in EV vehicle adaptability, the charging infrastructure remains challenging. However, according to a report, the global electric vehicle charging infrastructure market is estimated to grow by $121.33 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 39.97% during the forecast period. 

President Joe Biden's Administration has rolled out a $5 billion funding plan to improve EV charging infrastructure, reports CNBC. 

Image Sourced from Pixabay