EV Road Trip 2025 – More Chargers Than Before, But Still Challenges

Summer is the time for my guy and me to escape the humidity of Florida and tour around New England. As reverse snowbirds who drive a 2022 Tesla Model Y for the majority of the year, we approach each northern EV road trip with a slight bit of trepidation.

You see, the Tesla Supercharger network is thick across Florida’s I-95, so we program our destinations into the Tesla navigation and follow its suggestions for optimal charging. In the north, however, we drive a used 2017 Chevy Bolt that I purchased after an upgraded battery had been installed.

Each EV road trip we had taken over previous summers in the Bolt had its share of good vibes, but was also mixed with some stress-inducing moments. Would summer of 2025 be different?

First Charging Attempts On An EV Road Trip

An early summer EV road trip to Bedford, NH, to visit with old college chums yielded an initial successful EV charging stop. After two hours of driving across five highways (I-84, Mass Pike, I-290, I-495 N, and Route 3), the Bolt was hungry; it eats miles at higher highway speeds. At the Nouria station, there was one EV charging station. As we were out of practice with checking for fast chargers and their availability, we were lucky that the single charging outlet wasn’t being used. The Nouria site had clean restrooms, Dunkin coffee and croissants, and an outside dining table area with umbrellas. After just over one-half hour, we were up to 80% charge at a cost of $0.44/kWh. Ah, if only every charging experience were to be so easy.

Charging wasn’t as smooth on our return trip.

We had purchased a NACS adapter to use with the Bolt so we could stop at the oh-so-very reliable Tesla Supercharger network during our travels. With the press of fast-moving traffic surging west on a late Sunday afternoon, we were swept at higher-than-preferable speeds toward Sturbridge, MA. Sturbridge marks a major confluence of highways, with lots of stop-and-go traffic movements heading to the exit.

I had no fear as our range dropped precipitously; I knew from my research that the Charlton, MA, rest area had a bank of Tesla Superchargers. We would use our new adapter and feel like kindred EV spirits with the Tesla drivers.

I was behind the wheel, and my guy was navigating. Using the Tesla app with the “Charge Your Other EV” action engaged, he started giving me directions that were not anywhere near the Charlton exit. Trying to keep the family peace, I pointed out the Charlton Superchargers as we whisked by them.

The problem, we soon realized, is that non-Tesla EVs can only charge at the newer V3 250kW or V4 chargers.

This means that non-Tesla EVs still don’t enjoy worry-free charging on all major superhighway trips, including the easy-to-access Charlton rest areas. Older Superchargers will not charge a whole lot of non-Tesla EVs. That’s a fine point that wasn’t well publicized when NACS got so much press a year or so ago. We left the highway, chose a scenic slow road, and arrived with the dash lights glowing with a range limit warning.

Not All Chargers Are Equal

Our next EV road trip had the destination of Cape Cod, MA. With quaint towns, rose-covered fences, marshes with undulating grasses, and white-capped surf, it’s a very special place.

Our first stop would be a couple of overnights with longtime friends in Falmouth. Trying not to overstay our welcome, we found a nearby ChargePoint station with two charging cables. The first didn’t want to connect, but the second attempt was successful. The charging was located in the back parking lot of Estia Restaurant, and we relaxed on a shady outside patio, drank Arnold Palmers, and were rewarded by a very friendly server with free homemade bread and olive oil for dunking. It seemed quite decadent. After nearly an hour, we paid and headed back to the Bolt. What we didn’t quite absorb in choosing the station was its 19 kW charging capacity; we didn’t get many electrons at all.

So, as they say, there’s no place like home. Our friends graciously plugged us into their garage household outlet, and we were fully charged when it was time for us to depart to our next destination. It’s hard to argue: while on an EV road trip, overnight charging is so lovely.

Surprise! EV Fast Chargers On Main Street

Our next EV road trip stop was in Chatham. The lovely upscale community hosts a Cape Cod Baseball League team called the Chatham Anglers and a Shakespeare in the Park production. We attended both, and as our Airbnb space was within walking distance of town, we had ample strolling opportunities to check out the businesses and landscape along Main Street.

As we rambled by Cape Associates Builders, we were taken aback to see two fast chargers in the parking lot. Surprise! We were nearly at full charge then, but we made a mental note to return to Chatham and grab some electrons after our next leg east up to Eastham and another friend’s home.

Don’t you know it? More Cape Associates Builders fast charging stations were located near our host on Massasoit Road in Eastham. My guy brought his book and plugged in, getting us back to 80% charge. We had no need to return to Chatham after all.

After a couple of days, we meandered home along picturesque Route 6A, breathing in the atmosphere of whaling captains’ homes, tidal rivers, cafes, and galleries. About three hours later, we were home again, home again, ziggidy zig. We plugged in at our regular household plug on the side of the shed with 82 miles remaining. The Bolt loved the slow roads we chose for two-thirds of that trek back to our summer home by the brook in the woods.

Final Thoughts On An EV Road Trip

Assuming there are good charging options along the route, our editor Zachary Shahan reminds us, most of us turn to the same basic point. Charging stops involve a period of time that is likely identical to any other rest stop along a long trip. You “go to the bathroom, grab a coffee, grab a bite to eat, let the dog pee on something, and stretch.” One stop can typically be combined with other charging stops, so that there’s not much difference to overall travel time.

Of course, any EV charging away from home does depend on charging station availability and decent EV range at the time of departure. “That said,” Zachary smiles, “there’s an actual benefit to taking it a little slower on a road trip anyway!”