Tag Archives: All-Wheel Drive

Feature: The 3 Best EVs for Road Tripping


Three Places To Cruise the Country on Electrons

There are a variety of benefits to swapping your gas guzzler for an electric vehicle. In addition to being eco-friendly, EVs save drivers on gas, provide more trunk space and can even earn you a spot in the HOV lane.

Sure, you’ll have to plug in and recharge eventually, but with a median range of more than 250 miles per charge, you won’t have to worry about refueling for a while in a modern EV. Plus, charging stations are becoming more prevalent, so you’ll have little trouble finding somewhere to charge.

Are you ready to take an EV on a road trip? Rent, lease or buy one of the following models. 

1. Tesla Model 3

If you’re looking for a car that’ll go further and faster, the Tesla Model 3 should be your top choice. Drive more than 350 miles on a single charge (Long Range model) and go from zero-to-60 mph in about three seconds (Performance model).

Use Tesla’s Supercharger network (25,000+ chargers worldwide) to juice up your ride and add 175 miles worth of power in just 15 minutes. An autopilot adaptive cruise control feature and 15 cubic feet of storage space also lend themselves well to road-tripping.

2. Audi E-Tron 

Audi e-tron
The Audi E-Tron offers SUV room and electric drive

Are you in need of more storage space? The Audi E-Tron fits up to five passengers (with 28.5 cubic feet for cargo) or features more than 55 cubic feet of cargo room with two passengers. This luxury SUV EV will quickly charge to 80% in 30 minutes and drive 222 miles on a full battery. New E-Trons come with 1000 kilowatt-hours of free charging at Electrify America fast-charging stations.

Just don’t leave it plugged in overnight or you’ll lower the battery capacity and have to recharge more frequently. If you run out of power, Audi roadside assistance will dispatch a tow truck to take you to the nearest charging station.

3. Polestar 2

Enjoy the view and the drive in a Polestar 2. This Chinese-Swedish five-seater hatchback features a panoramic glass roof, vegan upholstery and a 33-minute fast charge time. Opt for the dual-motor model to go nearly 250 miles on a single charge and zero-to-60 in 4.5 seconds (the single motor version will take you 265 miles on a single charge, but takes seven seconds to reach 60 mph).

If you need help getting around, the Polestar 2 has Google built in, including the Google Assistant, which can understand user commands in various languages, Google Maps and Google Play Store for entertainment along the way.

Top Three EV Road-Trip Destinations

You’ve picked your EV. Now, where should you go? Choose one of the following destinations for scenic views, a smooth drive and plenty of charging stations.

Maine lighthouse
Maine offers views and lobster, among other treats

1. Maine

Take a trip up the East Coast to breathtaking Maine. This state is home to 65 historic lighthouses and plenty of delicious seafood, including fresh lobster. Remember to visit Acadia National Park for picturesque views of mountains, lakes and the rugged coastline.

2. Michigan

Michigan retailer Meijer has teamed up with Electrify America to offer EV charging stations across the state, so you can travel anywhere you please without running out of juice. Head to Traverse City for wine tasting or drive over Mackinac Bridge and explore the upper peninsula.

3. California

If you’re still concerned about finding places to recharge, head to the West Coast. California has more than 14,000 charging stations—more than any other state in the country. The Golden State is also home to scenic State Highway 1, a coastal route that stretches from the rustic north through San Francisco down past Big Sur on the way to LA and San Diego.

CA Highway 1
Hard to beat Highway 1 down the California coast

Planning Your Trip

Planning an EV road trip requires a little more time and effort than if you were to take a gas-powered car. Use A Better Routeplanner, an EV-specific navigation app that provides information regarding intended speed, energy consumption and where to find charging stations along your route.

ABRP also tells you the charging time needed at each one so you can plan the fastest trip possible, minimize mishaps and simply enjoy the ride.

Road Trips We’ve Taken So Far:

Road Trip: 2021 Polestar 2

Road Trip: 2021 Volkswagen ID4

Road Trip: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Road Trip: 2020 Nissan Leaf

News: Ford Pumps Up the Electric Volume on its Crown Jewel


2021 F-150 Adds Hybrid, Confirms Full Electric Version

It’s only been five years since the last major redesign of the Ford F-150, not a long time historically in the truck world, but with competition heating up both in the traditional competitors and newcomers, Ford is pushing forward with the introduction of the all-new 2021 F-150, a remake of its best-selling and most lucrative model.

2021 Ford F-150, Ford, news, full-size pickup, electric pickup, hybrid pickup, electrification

A new look for the F-150 (1 of 11)

The goal of the introduction this week, hosted by Ford spokesperson Dennis Leary and featuring a variety of Ford employees and F-150 customers, was to show that Ford is well-aware that its industry-leading position (best-selling truck for the past 43 years) is not something assumed, but an achievement to be re-earned every year. The 2021 Ford F-150 has a very simple goal—maintain and expand that market lead for another year or two.

Highlights of the introduction (some detail below) included the presentation of a new full hybrid model and confirmation that a full-electric version is coming. The other big takeaway is that electrification in a pickup take a significantly different form that in a sedan. In a truck application, the emphasis of a large battery is less on propulsion and zero emission miles than on providing a mobile power source for tools and toys.

Next year’s F-150, which will go on sale this fall, follows the typical pickup mold of offering a dizzying number of options in an attempt to provide a potential pickup for every possible buyer. The completely redesigned truck (every one of the aluminum exterior panel is new) will offer six engines, 13 different wheels and 11 grille options in a half-dozen trim levels.

Fuel Economy Focus

2021 Ford F-150

Aerodynamics & tough pickups don’t always go together

Although no official fuel economy numbers are available, Ford pointed out that it was the most aerodynamic pickup the company has ever designed, employing grille shutters, a new automatically deploying air dam and new cab and tailgate geometry to reduce drag and reduce fuel consumption on all models.

The new hybrid F-150 will use an all-new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, augmented by a 35-kW/47-horsepower electric motor. A 10-speed transmission and 1.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery (mounted between the frame rails so it doesn’t take up any passenger or cargo space) complete the powertrain.

The all-electric F-150 will come in 2022, according to Ford COO Jim Farley. When it arrives, it will likely face several competitors, including the Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer, Tesla Cybertruck, Lordstown Endeavor and Nikola Badger.    

Electrification on the Job

Back to the present, Ford sees electric power as another tool for the job. The 2021 F-150 will come up with up to 7.2 kilowatts (kW) of exportable power, enough to run a generator and a variety of power tools through 120-volt and/or 240-volt outlets.

2021 Ford F-150

Plugs for all your jobs

Inside Ford has added a variety of high-tech features that point out how mainstream the modern pickup has become. One clever addition is that, with a few quick shifts of hardware, the center console can become a desk big enough to hold a laptop. Above that center console half of the F-150 lineup will have 12.0-inch touchscreen displays, matching what’s becoming the standard for the segment. The display will come equipped with Sync4, the latest version of Ford’s infotainment system. Ten new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are going to be available.

Recognizing the variety of uses a truck might undergo, Ford has designed the front seats to recline 180 degrees, so not only is the pickup and office, but also a bedroom. Under the backseat is a lockable storage unit for stashing away valuables or expensive tools.

The Most List

What a pickup needs is a most list and Ford has drawn up a long one. The stated goal of the 2021 F-150 is to be able to tow the biggest load in its class, carry the heaviest payload, have the most horsepower and torque and also have the longest range.

2021 Ford F-150

More tech than seen in a pickup before

Don’t expect the competition to take this lying down, but Ford also had other news last week that went well beyond the news about the redesign of its best-selling product. The company laid out a goal of becoming of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 with three areas of focus that account for  95 peercent of the companies CO2 emissions:

  • Vehicle use
  • Supply base
  • Facilities

On the vehicle side, it’s putting $11.5 billion through 2022 into the Mustang Mach-E, Transit Commercial and fully electric F-150. It expects all of its manufacturing plants to use 100 percent locally sourced renewable energy by 2035.

Story by Michael Coates

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