3 EV FRIENDLY ROAD TRIPS

3 EV Friendly Roadtrips

Environmental impacts, incentives and realities of owning an electric vehicle.

By Kristen Jones Neff / Illustration by Patrick Nelson

ANYONE ELSE HAVE GAS STATION ANXIETY? THESE DAYS IT can cost over a hundred dollars to fill up your car. With gas prices near $6 a gallon in California, Steve Moazed of Mill Valley, California, who owns a fully electric Chevy Bolt, is grateful for his at-home charge station every time he sees gas prices listed at his local station. “It’s those high gasoline prices, combined with the annual wildfires here in Northern California that remind us all about the reality of climate change due to fossil fuel emissions,” he says. “An electric vehicle just makes sense.”

It was not so long ago that kids kept their eyes peeled for a Tesla and shouted out excitedly if they saw one, as if they’d seen a zebra running down the freeway. Today, Eclectic Vehicles (EVs) have entered mainstream consumer consciousness. Teslas are a dime a dozen in the metropolises and suburbs of California and Car and Driver magazine recently declared, “Electric cars are the future.” Based on the number of people buying electric vehicles in California, the future is here. According to statistics compiled by the EV advocacy nonprofit veloz. org, in 2021 California became the first state in the nation in which sales of plug-in electric vehicles exceeded one million. Most major players in the car industry have entered the electric vehicle game to rival Tesla. Big names like Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, Volvo, and GM have joined newcomers such as Polestar, Lucid, Byton, Canoo and Rivian. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, today, there are 23 plug-in electric car models available with many more in development — from tiny Smart cars to SUVs and trucks, including the soon-to-be-released $40,000 electric Ford F-150 Lightning, with a pre-purchase reservation list of 200,000 buyers.

While electric vehicles have only recently entered mainstream consciousness, they have been around for a surprisingly long time. The first EV in the United States was invented in 1890 by a chemist named William Morrison who built a buggy-like vehicle that hit a whopping 14 mph. In the years that followed, technology improved and access to electricity grew, and by the early 1900s, a full one-third of U.S. vehicles were electric. During this time, inventor Thomas Edison and carmakers such as Ferdinand Porsche were working to improve the electric car battery. But in 1908 Henry Ford introduced the affordable and widely available Model T, featuring an internal combustion engine, and from that moment on electric vehicles have taken a back seat to gasoline-powered cars.

Investment in EV technology then languished for decades, with a slight uptick during the oil crisis of the 1970s when gas prices skyrocketed. Over the past two decades, as the connection between fossil fuel usage and climate change has become more clear, and environmental disasters began to impact our everyday lives, consumer interest in EVs, and private and governmental investment in EV technology, increased. The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment and the 1992 Energy Policy Act, along with emissions regulations issued by the California Air Resources Board, further boosted consumer interest in electric vehicles. In September of 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035. These state and national policy mandates are based on research confirming the long-term environmental benefits of a transition to electric vehicles. A 2019 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative study compared EVs to gas-powered vehicles and found that while the manufacturing of an EV can produce 30-40% more CO2 emissions than manufacturing a traditional gas-powered auto, over time those emissions are offset by the fuel efficiency (zero to low emissions) of an EV car. The extent to which a state’s power grid is fueled by renewable energy affects the lifetime emission total of an EV. Additionally, the ongoing “decarbonization” of the EV manufacturing industry and the fact that gas-powered vehicles are locked into using fossil fuel means that the delta between electric and gas vehicles in terms of overall emissions will expand.

State-of-the-art EVs are quiet, luxurious, handle well and can get you a ride in the HOV lane. Yet, for all the EV market momentum, four things have held some consumers back: price of purchase, charge range, time it takes to charge and a dearth of charging stations, especially in rural areas. According to the Kelly Blue Book, the current average price of an EV is almost $60,000 which is more than $10,000 higher than the average price of $47,077 for all types of car sales. That differential is expected to diminish as the cost of battery production goes down in the coming decade, and the price difference is offset over time by the estimated reduction in fuel costs for EV owners. The savings will vary depending on the local price of gas and electricity rates, but in 2020 Consumer Reports estimated an average of 60% savings for EV owners. Federal and state incentive programs can also help offset the price of an EV. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased new in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500, according to the US Department of Energy, which calculates the tax credit based on income tax and the size of the electric battery in the vehicle you own. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom committed $10 billion to expand implementation of “targeted policies to help more middle- and low-income consumers buy these ultra-clean vehicles.” The driveclean.ca.gov website offers a detailed list of rebates and incentives available to those who invest in a low or zero-emission car, some up to $7,000, and a database to help buyers find a new or pre-owned electric vehicle. The California Clean Fuel Reward program allows buyers to save up to $750 when purchasing or leasing a new electric vehicle.

As with all things EV-related, the landscape around battery range is evolving. Currently, the average EV vehicle will travel 250 miles between charges, although outliers such as the brand new Lucid Air can go as far as 500 miles. Tesla has invested in widespread charging station infrastructure (called Supercharger stations) for their vehicles, but the configuration of the charge connectors for the Tesla is different from that of all other autos. Steve Moazed, who recently drove from the Bay Area to Oregon, described his “range anxiety,” a term used to describe the worry about whether you will find a charge station. “We passed dozens of Tesla charge stations along the route, but they didn’t help us at all,” he says. “There was some serious nail-biting until we finally arrived at a charge station that worked for my Bolt.”

The great news? Charge stations should multiply in the coming years with the passage of a bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Biden signed into law last November. The bill provides $7.5 billion to states to establish EV infrastructure, requiring states to provide charging stations of at least four DC charging plugs (20-30 minutes for full charge) no more than 50 miles apart on highways. The goal is to have 500,000 public EV chargers by the year 2030 — approximately 400,000 more than exist today. Additionally, last July, Elon Musk announced that he will open up Tesla charging stations to other makes of EV cars, and Tesla has established a pilot program in the Netherlands.

The recent state and federal laws funding the transition from gas to electricity mean the EV options and infrastructure will expand rapidly in the coming years, making road trip concerns like that of Steve Moazed just a memory in the rearview mirror. “Transportation is the largest contributor of climate pollution in the United States. I could no longer stand the idea that I was contributing to climate change every time I drove my car,” says Moazed. “I try to ride my bicycle as much as possible at home, but for road trips, my Bolt has changed everything.”

3 California EV Road Trips

Are you ready for a road trip in your EV, but experiencing “charge anxiety” about where and when you’ll find charging stations? Year by year, month by month, it is getting easier to explore California by EV. Already, California has more EV chargers than any other state — and it’s no contest. Of the 113,600 chargers currently in the United States, 41,300 (over one-third) are in California. And travelers will find several useful apps to help plan a trip: PlugShare, ChargeHub and Chargemap all allow roadtrippers to find the location of public and private charge stations along a given route. Importantly, these apps also signify which type of plug-in you will find at a charge station: level 1, 2 or 3. Level 1 is the slowest type of charge port, taking up to 24 hours for a full charge (these outlets are best in a home garage). Level 2, common at public charge stations, is faster, but only provides 10-20 miles per hour of charging and can take up to 8 hours for a full charge. Level 3 (otherwise known as DC fast chargers) are the golden ticket as they give you 80 percent charge in 20-30 minutes, perfect for a stretch, bathroom break, a little shopping or a quick bite to eat. These DC fast chargers are popping up everywhere, and a significant portion of the $56 million coming to California for EV development from President Biden’s infrastructure bill will fund Level 3 chargers along all major roadways.

Here are three EV-friendly road trips in favorite California destinations where regional governments and businesses recognize that EVs are the way of the future and are investing to make sure you are able to “re-charge” (in every sense of the word).

1 WINE COUNTRY

Imagine sitting, overlooking the waves of green and gold vineyards, worry-free as your EV charges. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Napa County is home to 355 ports at 150 charging stations, and that number is growing as the California Energy Commission aims to triple the amount by 2025. Beyond the 16 free public chargers in downtown Napa, several hotels, wineries and even the Napa Outlets have all added charge stations in recent years.

At the Carneros Resort and Spa, you can plug in and enjoy an afternoon of treatments on-site. Or make your way up to Yountville for a stay at the Napa Valley Lodge; you could even charge your car while you lunch at the world-renowned French Laundry or Bistro Jeanty (reservations needed). Head even further north up Highway 128 or the Silverado Trail along a corridor of wineries with charging station options. Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford offers charging options while you dine or stay the night, and Indian Hot Springs is a perfect landing pad if you want to explore the many wineries in St. Helena and Calistoga.

Nearby Sonoma County wineries and businesses have been equally proactive in building charging infrastructure. Ram's Gate Winery offers sprawling vistas and lovely wines as you charge. On Highway 12, the Sonoma Mission Inn north of the town of Sonoma and Olea Hotel in Glen Ellen both have charge stations, as does Benziger Family Winery outside of Glen Ellen.

2 LAKE TAHOE

Famous for cobalt blue waters surrounded by snowcapped mountain peaks, California’s Lake Tahoe beckons travelers year round. From Palisades Ski Resort, just northwest of the lake, to Heavenly Mountain Resort to the south, charging stations are appearing around the lake at an exponential rate, making Tahoe an ideal EV road trip destination. California’s Drive the Arc program — offering a corridor of electric chargers from Monterey to both North and South Lake Tahoe — means that EV drivers from coastal California can easily locate charging stations along the route to the mountains. Additionally, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has teamed up with the California Electric Commission (or CEC) to provide increased access to free charging stations for both locals and visitors.

If you prefer the North Shore, Resort at Squaw Creek and Palisades Ski Resort both offer plug-in stations. The Village at Northstar is a great place to eat, hike and bike in the summer while you charge. Closer to the lake, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village offers charge stations for guests at the hotel, spa, restaurants or casino. On the South Shore, you can shop and dine while you charge at shopping centers such as The Crossing and South Y Center. Heavenly Village at Heavenly Mountain Resort has chargers, as do many of the casino resorts along the stateline, including Harrah’s, Harveys and MontBleu Resort.

3 MONTEREY AND CARMEL

Highway 1 winds its way along California’s coastline, threading itself between wild beaches, open stretches of farmland and wildflower-dotted coastal ranges, making the drive itself a main attraction. The cities of Monterey and Carmel are picturesque and well-equipped for visitors who need an EV charge.

The Hyatt Regency Monterey as well as several hotels along Cannery Row near the Monterey Bay Aquarium have charge stations, among them The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa, the Victorian Inn and the InterContinental Clement Monterey. Travelers with children can charge while enjoying the Monterey Zoo in nearby Salinas and, in the opposite direction, toward Pebble Beach Golf Course, The Inn at Spanish Bay offers charge stations for guests. In Carmel-by-the-Sea, Hyatt Carmel Highlands near Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and Carmel Mission Inn have EV charging stations on the property. Inland, in the majestic Carmel Valley, known for fine wineries, golf courses, dining and boutique shopping, travelers will find charge options at Carmel Valley Ranch, Quail Lodge, and Bernardus Lodge & Spa.