Noobie Taycan Owner ...immediate long Road Trip .... Advice sought....

[CaliPorsche]

Hi all - I am a long term Porsche owner (multiple ICE), new to EV, and new to Taycan... I just acquired a 2020 4S with 10k miles after a month long emotional and matrimonial tug-o-war on Taycan v EQS380 v Lucid AGT - anyway Taycan 4S won and I am v excited to start enjoying it ....... and subsequently I expect you will see me posting (and reading) here regularly for a while.

I have spent days reading through this site, the other dedicated Taycan forum and have been a long time Rennlist member .... so I have mined a lot (like a lot!!) of very useful information in threads .... but I am about to embark on a high anxiety trip (to me) and want to leave no stone unturned....

I am picking up the Car in SoCal near our home there and within a couple of days I need to drive 1400 miles to our PNW home - clearly one overnight and possibly two - we have done that journey many times in ICE cars, but the first time in an EV.

I have read many threads on how much mile risk to take between charges, the problems with EA reliability, etc. and I am a little OCD so am trying to climb a steep learning curve before I climb into the drivers seat for 1400 miles - and be prepared.

I have joined Porsche Connect, installed and set up My Porsche, downloaded Plugshare and ABRP, set up CC's etc.

What else should I be thinking about for a Socal to Seattle trip - should I invest in a TeslaTap adapter (and tesla app) or campground adapter just in case - is there another App I should be installing, what are the EA tricks (I hear about 10 ways to get them started when there is an issue but have not found what they are yet).

any advice would be v helpful - feel free to just link me to threads if you prefer.....

 

[Tooney]

Welcome to the forum.
I have provided some links below that mainly are links to forum posts and threads.
A couple of additional suggestions:
--It would be best if you get your Taycan added to your MyPorsche account before you depart. A Porsche dealer should be familiar with how to do this. There can be a delay from the time the dealer notifies Porsche to update its servers with your ownership before the car shows up in your MyPorsche account. You will need this if you want to charge EA fees to your Porsche charging service account. Otherwise you will need to use an EA account or credit card for EA charging. People report issues with using credit cards at EA.
--Practice charging the car at an EA site before you depart on your long trip.
Good luck. Enjoy your Taycan and the trip.

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/first-long-trip.16176/#post-248963

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/first-long-distance-trip-range.15861/#post-243197

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...-first-dos-and-donts.15174/page-2#post-231344

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...aycan-tips-suggestions.4072/page-2#post-56016

 

[4thPcar]

I've driven San Diego to Monterey (along Route 1) and back and relied on A Better Route Planner, Electrify America and Plugshare apps. That was before CarPlay added some route planning features which might be worth using. My biggest takeaways: the car's range was always a bit better than the planners predicted (not a bad thing), the "super" charging 350 kW EA stations performed not much better than the 150kw stations (a topic covered extensively elsewhere), and it definitely pays to find places to stop with multiple (3 or more) stations b/c inevitably they will be occupied or broken.

You'll be fine. Have fun!

 

[CaliPorsche]

Thanks for the replies - is it advisable to set up an EA account and install the app as well as the My Porsche account - or no need?

 

[RBGtaycan]

Thanks for the replies - is it advisable to set up an EA account and install the app as well as the My Porsche account - or no need?

I have an EA account and the app ..but have never used them (in 2 and 1/2 years)....can't hurt but not critical!..enjoy..btw, in case of emergency, Tesla superchargers may be an option..some (few) can charge the Taycan...you WILL need the Tesla app for that (and an account)...search for non-Tesla charging in the app...

 

[Caraholic]

I did the same thing once I picked up mine and was also a newbie. My trip was only 780 miles though. I had a blast on the trip and even though I went straight through and didn’t get home till 3am I was still very comfortable.
Just as you have said I would plan multiple routes on the better route planner and plug share to get an idea of where you’re going to stop. Those are great apps to use to get current reviews of the stations to see what’s working or what’s in an unlit deserted parking lot. Once you start your trip I would put your final destination into Porsche route planner (navigation) and go from there. If you see it stopping at a stop you don’t like you can switch it in the nav to one that’s on your other apps. I would always use the built in navigation so the car preheats the battery before every charge. You can also just pull up Waze on CarPlay to see traffic and cops (don’t put a destination in Waze).

 

[McgR]

I would do that trip in two or three days and book some nice hotels along the way. 450-500 miles per day is enough for me personally.

In the beginning I planned to arrive at chargers with 25% range left to be shure I could reach the next one. Have driven more than a year and knowing the infrastructure in Europe I dare to o lower to 10%. Charging is fastest at lower SoC. But I didn’t do this my self the first weeks. First had to see for myself.

I always plan my stops in ABRP and look for alternative chargers around the ones I need just to be sure there is one within 20 mikes

don’t forget a 11/22 Kw charging cable. Should be provided with the car but would be stupid it you didn’t have it and need it. Can be useful for overnight charging during the 2 or 3 stops.

For longer trips reducing speed en reducing AC use increases range. If you think you are running low. Reduce your speed from 80 to 65 mph and turn the cabin temperature up a 2-3 degrees. Makes a big diffenrce is needed.

if I drive normally a bit above the advised speed on the highway I usually arrive with 5% more battery than pcm showed when starting the trip. It is a bit conservative like mentioned above.



Have fun with your drive !

 

[daveo4EV]

Hi all - I am a long term Porsche owner (multiple ICE), new to EV, and new to Taycan... I just acquired a 2020 4S with 10k miles after a month long emotional and matrimonial tug-o-war on Taycan v EQS380 v Lucid AGT - anyway Taycan 4S won and I am v excited to start enjoying it ....... and subsequently I expect you will see me posting (and reading) here regularly for a while.

I have spent days reading through this site, the other dedicated Taycan forum and have been a long time Rennlist member .... so I have mined a lot (like a lot!!) of very useful information in threads .... but I am about to embark on a high anxiety trip (to me) and want to leave no stone unturned....

I am picking up the Car in SoCal near our home there and within a couple of days I need to drive 1400 miles to our PNW home - clearly one overnight and possibly two - we have done that journey many times in ICE cars, but the first time in an EV.

I have read many threads on how much mile risk to take between charges, the problems with EA reliability, etc. and I am a little OCD so am trying to climb a steep learning curve before I climb into the drivers seat for 1400 miles - and be prepared.

I have joined Porsche Connect, installed and set up My Porsche, downloaded Plugshare and ABRP, set up CC's etc.

What else should I be thinking about for a Socal to Seattle trip - should I invest in a TeslaTap adapter (and tesla app) or campground adapter just in case - is there another App I should be installing, what are the EA tricks (I hear about 10 ways to get them started when there is an issue but have not found what they are yet).

any advice would be v helpful - feel free to just link me to threads if you prefer.....

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...and-useful-road-warrior-ev-charging-kit.6812/

plugshare app - it's yelp for EV chargers - the only problem with road tripping an EV is not knowing if the fast chargers are "working" - planning and reviewing charger availability is key to road tripping happiness - being flexible and having backup charging in mind is essential to road tripping sanity…also look on plugshare for hotels that also have EV chargers so you can charge overnight and start the day out full...

also stopping "sooner" than necessary at a known reliable charger vs. pushing to the end at a charger that may or may not work based on plug share reviews also increases happiness…

a key tool is the built-in navigation which will show you your battery % at destination - this is pretty accurate and can be monitored during driving - if it's going down and it looks like you won't get there lower your speed by 2-4 mph to increase range - if it's going up (you'll have excess) you'll be find at your destination (if you know charging is functional)

hardware to own:
TeslaTap!!! http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

this will allow you to use Tesla L2 chargers installed by businesses/shopping centers and greatly expands the set of available non-Fast charging EVSE's you have access to.

have fun!

apps to have ready and setup
ABRP
Plugshare
EA App
Porsche app
chargepoint app
EVgo app
Blink app

 

[kort]

nobody has offered you advice on driving the car home.

for optimal range and driving at a "normal" highway speeds you should try to stay at a consistent speed, I find that I achieve a good balance of speed and range driving between 70 and 75 mph.

you also need to factor in climatic issues, rain could have an impact on rain and at this time of year it shouldn't be an issue but cold weather will impact your range.
lastly strong headwinds will impact your range.
it is important to factor in the weather on your routing.

lastly topography can have severe impacts on your range, if your route includes mountainous areas you need to factor that into your range estimates.

until you get more familiar with your car I would tend to be very conservative with the range estimates. it is far better to "waste" time charging than it is to spend hours waiting for a tow because you miscalculated your range.

 

[PSPJames]

I live in Palm Springs. Our only EA charger has 4 stalls. I've charged there three times in the past three months. Two of the three times, the unit I parked at wasn't working. However, a call to EA asking them to reboot the machine worked both times. Inconvenient? Of course. However, better to fix it so the next person can charge. I use the EA app to see what is open/working and not.

 

[mcr21]

Hi all - I am a long term Porsche owner (multiple ICE), new to EV, and new to Taycan... I just acquired a 2020 4S with 10k miles after a month long emotional and matrimonial tug-o-war on Taycan v EQS380 v Lucid AGT - anyway Taycan 4S won and I am v excited to start enjoying it ....... and subsequently I expect you will see me posting (and reading) here regularly for a while.

I have spent days reading through this site, the other dedicated Taycan forum and have been a long time Rennlist member .... so I have mined a lot (like a lot!!) of very useful information in threads .... but I am about to embark on a high anxiety trip (to me) and want to leave no stone unturned....

I am picking up the Car in SoCal near our home there and within a couple of days I need to drive 1400 miles to our PNW home - clearly one overnight and possibly two - we have done that journey many times in ICE cars, but the first time in an EV.

I have read many threads on how much mile risk to take between charges, the problems with EA reliability, etc. and I am a little OCD so am trying to climb a steep learning curve before I climb into the drivers seat for 1400 miles - and be prepared.

I have joined Porsche Connect, installed and set up My Porsche, downloaded Plugshare and ABRP, set up CC's etc.

What else should I be thinking about for a Socal to Seattle trip - should I invest in a TeslaTap adapter (and tesla app) or campground adapter just in case - is there another App I should be installing, what are the EA tricks (I hear about 10 ways to get them started when there is an issue but have not found what they are yet).

any advice would be v helpful - feel free to just link me to threads if you prefer.....

haven’t tried Lucid and seems like a fantastic car, but you definitely made the right choice over EQS!

 

[CaliPorsche]

Thanks to all of you for all the responses, from what I can glean from this and many other threads,
The OCD 10 step program for a noobie long road trip:-
1- Get a Tesla tap, set up the Tesla app for non Tesla.
2- Download My Porche and register, EA app, PlugShare, ABRP with a premium sub.
3- Use ABRP with personal preference “risk filters” to find best route and suggested charge stops (including any hotel stops).
4- Plot the journey
5- Use PlugShare to validate the availability and condition of chargers in the ABRP suggested charge location.
6- Additionally use the EA app if you care about the 30 minutes.
7- load destination charger between each stage/stop in pcm for precondition.
8- drive smartly and monitor SoC.
9- check target charger on PlugShare when getting close to destination and change target if needed.
10- relax and have fun……(yes I know I know, I will eventually relax …..)….

dave C

 

[CaliPorsche]

haven’t tried Lucid and seems like a fantastic car, but you definitely made the right choice over EQS!

The Lucid was winning until I started to think about the “Startup” risks and the buggy software …. I made my living in tech and lost my fair share of bets on startups…..
But why not the EQS …. I have Had numerous MB and still own an AMG … I really liked the EQS …… but am still holding onto the bit of youth left in me …..??

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks to all of you for all the responses, from what I can glean from this and many other threads,
The OCD 10 step program for a noobie long road trip:-
1- Get a Tesla tap, set up the Tesla app for non Tesla.
2- Download My Porche and register, EA app, PlugShare, ABRP with a premium sub.
3- Use ABRP with personal preference “risk filters” to find best route and suggested charge stops (including any hotel stops).
4- Plot the journey
5- Use PlugShare to validate the availability and condition of chargers in the ABRP suggested charge location.
6- Additionally use the EA app if you care about the 30 minutes.
7- load destination charger between each stage/stop in pcm for precondition.
8- drive smartly and monitor SoC.
9- check target charger on PlugShare when getting close to destination and change target if needed.
10- relax and have fun……(yes I know I know, I will eventually relax …..)….

dave C

tesla tap requires _NO_ app - it only works at non-superchargers - and those type (non-supercharger) chargers do not require any "activation" or biling…you might however need "permission" of the business owner who is hosting the charger

Example: the 'oaks' hotel in Paso Robles has EV chargers - both J-1772 (standard) and Tesla (non-standard) - however to prevent people just pulling up and using them who are not hotel guests - they have them on a circuit-breaker behind a lock box - so they are "unpowered" until hotel staff turn them on - staff will happily turn on the chargers if you are a hotel guest - otherwise they are off by default. With the TeslaTap you would have the option of using either the J-1772 chargers or the Tesla chargers and simply request the staff to turn on the one you want to use.

Example #2: many wineries in the Napa area have install Tesla chargers over the years in the parking lots - but they so far have not installed normal J-1772 EV chargers - if you have a TeslaTap you can charge your Taycan while visiting said wineries in the Napa/sonoma area - they are just in the parking lot in certain stalls.

you can download and use the Tesla app at the "magicDock" tesla stations - but there are only 12 of those so far in North america (2 in california , 10 in new york)

Tesla app is not required/useful "yet"

other than that the list is good…Tesla Tap lets you use Tesla's non-fast chargers at hotels, golf courses, businesses, retail malls - these "destination" chargers are not part of any network/billing and just "passive" EV chargers - they activate when you plug-in (like your home EV charger)

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks to all of you for all the responses, from what I can glean from this and many other threads,
The OCD 10 step program for a noobie long road trip:-
1- Get a Tesla tap, set up the Tesla app for non Tesla.
2- Download My Porche and register, EA app, PlugShare, ABRP with a premium sub.
3- Use ABRP with personal preference “risk filters” to find best route and suggested charge stops (including any hotel stops).
4- Plot the journey
5- Use PlugShare to validate the availability and condition of chargers in the ABRP suggested charge location.
6- Additionally use the EA app if you care about the 30 minutes.
7- load destination charger between each stage/stop in pcm for precondition.
8- drive smartly and monitor SoC.
9- check target charger on PlugShare when getting close to destination and change target if needed.
10- relax and have fun……(yes I know I know, I will eventually relax …..)….

dave C

plug share can "filter" charger to show which chargers have plugs compatible with your vehicle - I have screen shot of the filters you can use with your Taycan (if you have a TeslaTap)

setting these filters will show you charger locations that match those types of plugs - green map pins are "slow chargers" - 7-15% charge per-hour (give or take) - orange map pins are "fast" chargers 10-60 min for a "full" 95% charge (normally 30 min or less).

NOTE: the 14-50 "plug-type" assumes you are traveling with your own EVSE (the PMC+/PMCC that came with your taycan). It's an entirely separate conversation as to if traveling with a PMC+/PMCC is still useful these days with more and more public/commercial/business chargers popping up. For maximum security/piece of mind yes travel with it - but you'd only use it at a 14-50 plug - the rest of the plug types listed will not involve your PMC+/PMCC - so it might simply be dead weight in the car if all you use are exclusively using the other types of chargers.