600+ Mile Road trip in the 2023 VW ID.4! Boomerang Challenge!

[@ArielBatista]

We take a trip every other month from Jacksonville FL to Atlanta Georgia. Actually just north of Atlanta. 370 miles each way. It takes 6 hours 32 including charging to get there in my ID.4 In the Bolt it would take 7 hours and 45 minutes. So yes I am very happy with the ID.4 in how it goes on road trips. Great job sir. Thanks for the information on the trip.

[@bigbad2e]

Yo! I recently picked up the same green silicone ring to wear in place of my wedding band. Crazy to see someone else wearing the exact same thing!

[@theaverageev]

Haha!

[@BensEcoAdvntr]

I’m heading from Ohio to DC in April with our Bolt EUV. I have backup plans for each EA stop and am avoiding some entirely like Bedford, PA. Also hoping for reasonably warm weather, but we’ll see

[@NO_OPEC_NO_PROBLEM]

This is unfortunately typical EA. Although I’d rather have a station kick out limited speed (45kW) vs. being offline. With that said, great video. One more suggestion, your ID.4 will also calculate Wh/100mi (which is what Tesla uses), for comparative purposes you might say this is equivalent to 280 wh/mi for you Tesla owners.

[@tekmantoo]

Glad you called EA on those chargers. The more calls they get maybe it will spur them to get them fixed. Enjoyed this video.

[@theaverageev]

Yes! Did get contact back from EA and they took the two 350kW completely offline! Hopefully someone will report back if they get fixed. I’ll also keep checking the app. They have to get better at preventative maintenance to keep these things up and running!!!

[@tekmantoo]

@@theaverageev I had to call EA last night. Trying to charge and it stopped. I restarted and stopped again. So I switched to a different charge. Left the station, got home and got a text message that I started my 10 minute grace period. Called them and told them I was safely at home not near the charger. She cleared the error and put into their tech dept. about the one that kept stopping. Yes, still a ways to go to get these more reliable.

[@MrVeeBlog]

That was really cool. I'm still answering the question on my first EV, do I go with the ID.4 or something else? This was great. Thanks for the challenge.

[@theaverageev]

Thanks! It is really hard to not buy a Tesla right now. They keep dropping prices and they have the best charging. But the ID.4 is built way better. Go try and test them out! I think that’s the best way to figure out what will work for you!

[@MsKewi-NYC]

LoL! EA based in Reston, Virginia has forgotten about Richmond VA too.😂😂 Funny you went our only 2 in the South central Virginia area we don't have enough EA stations in Virginia. I was surprised Emporia was working if had to bet I would've bet that one not to work. I see a lot of use at that EA in RVA on Brook Road but I wouldn't doubt it not working. My main question is why didn't you just stop in RVA then come down 95S to 85 South and stop in Henderson NC they have good new Signet chargers that doesn't get that much use 350 and 150 I think 8 stalls. Then go into Raleigh NC not unless you just wanted to go to Rocky Mount? Anywho enjoy your work on another great video. 😀👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@theaverageev]

85 is way waster I know! My thought process was to stay on 95 as long as I could, which is why I went to those stations. I thought it would be helpful just in case anyone was taking 95 all the way down south and they could see what those stations are like. Thanks for watching!!! I really appreciate it!

[@MsKewi-NYC]

​@@theaverageev Ok! I do see ID.4s and Rivians R1Ts from time to time from NC traveling North and south on 85. I understand it's your personal preference just didn't know why but I get it. We should be getting some more infrastructure digs happening either spring of this year or some time early next year when the money is allocated. Then hopefully that can cut down the time of your next trip when we get more stations in but of course we've got Tesla superchargers everywhere. LoL Looking forward to your next challenge.

[@realev21]

I am catching up on your back catalog and notice that with your trip planning you sing the accolades of ABRP. It is a great product for sure. But can you touch on the native route planning features of the ID.4? In particular I am interested in the "EV management" part of the planning. Will it allow you to get more or less aggressive with target SoC's at final destination or charge stations etc. Will it reroute you based on charge station occupancy? Great work!

[@theaverageev]

I have a video planned where I will just navigate with built in route planning! The range is solely based on the long term consumption. So it would be interesting to see how that would work on a trip and if it would be better to leave it be or reset it after each leg!

[@realev21]

@@theaverageev Exactly. I think that there is a gap in the robust nav planning that we need as EV early adapters and the NAV/EV route planning software provided right now. I am VERY interested in what your experience and thoughts are with the ID.4 VW provided route planner. TY

[@robh5409]

EA really needs regional site managers with EA loaned ID4's or something with the bluetooth adapter and the car scanner app to verify all the dispensers are operating at optimal capacity. EA is owned by VW Group so they could be doing this. It would help their rep and provide a much better customer experience. Heck not just EA all Charge Point network operators.

[@theaverageev]

Totally agree! I would gladly go do it for them if they paid me for my service!

[@robh5409]

@@theaverageev for sure. I'd send them an email.

[@chriscondon7074]

What OBD app are you using ?

[@theaverageev]

Veepeak OBDCheck BLE

[@johnyabdiasgonzalez6489]

Calling Electrify American and report the issue, do you think that it will help? That’s my fear, being trapped. I felt your pain and disappointment!

[@theaverageev]

I have communicated several ways and used several apps to communicate to EA. The responded from what I can tell. Their “solution” has been to show the severely derated chargers as 50kW instead of fixing them. There are some 150kW chargers close to where I live and they weee derated by 20%. I contacted EA and they are now working at full capacity. Not sure if they resolved it via software or hardware, they didn’t send me any sort of resolution email.

[@evlshep]

How fast were you driving?

[@evlshep]

Sorry saw it at the end. Is that the posted speed limit?

[@theaverageev]

It is the average of the varying speed limits. Mostly 70 mph!

[@allanjdmsissons4237]

Model 3 rwd

[@theaverageev]

I could probably get a hold of one of those!