Couple Drives 5,200 Miles in EV, Spends Half Gas Car Cost

When a North Carolina couple set out for a 5,212-mile journey from the southern Appalachians to Newfoundland, they packed camping gear, clothes, and a big question: could an electric vehicle really handle one of North America's longest road trips?

Turns out, it absolutely could. The six-week adventure required 46 charging stops across highways, national parks, and remote towns, but the journey proved two game-changing truths about electric vehicles.

First, electricity is everywhere. From their driveway to Newfoundland's most isolated corners, power lines followed every road they traveled. The hard part of building a nationwide electrical grid? That's already done.

Second, EVs cost way less to drive. The couple used 1,345 kilowatt-hours and spent just $451 on charging for the entire trip. An equivalent gas SUV would have cost around $975 at the pump.

Sometimes they paid premium prices at highway fast chargers for convenience. But unlike gas stations, EV charging was often free at slower chargers in parks and towns. They even trickle-charged overnight at inns and campgrounds using standard outlets.

The journey delivered unexpected perks too. Their mid-size electric SUV's frunk and hidden trunk compartments held an entire tent camping setup that wouldn't have fit in a gas vehicle. Tents, inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, a picnic shelter, stove, camp chairs, and all their regular luggage packed in with room to spare.

The Bright Side

The trip wasn't always seamless. At one New Brunswick inn, their charging outlet doubled as the septic pump's power source. In Nova Scotia, one driver had to sprint 100 meters back to a charger after activating it remotely, racing a 75-second timer.

But these hiccups became part of the adventure. When gas cars turned around at Cape Breton's Cabot Trail after seeing "no gas ahead" signs, the couple cruised right through thanks to Level 2 chargers installed at park visitor centers and trailheads.

The couple saves $1,500 yearly by charging at home with special overnight electricity rates. Now they know those savings hold true even on epic cross-continental adventures where electricity follows you everywhere you go.