Chicago-Phoenix Road Trip #3 (this time without EA chargers!)

[chris]

So I've done this round trip twice! 1st time in December 2023 and 2nd time in December 2025-- both times were exclusively using Electrify America chargers due to the Free 3 year charging perk that came with my 2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD.

I'm in the early planning stages of trip #3 for this December 2026 and this time is almost no Electrify America! (I Only have ONE EA charger in Winslow AZ at this time).

I'm excited at the prospect of NOT constantly stopping at Walmart parking lots and seeing the same 'people of Walmart' and associated bathrooms! haha

I've also read great things about IONNA chargers so I have several of them planned!

Due to the crazy possible weather (below zero, snow, winds, etc.) we can and sometimes do receive in December, I've gone with an ultra conservative 2.5 miles per kilowatt for my calculations here on this grid I'm attaching! Anyone else also done this trip a few times?

 

[knewman]

Wow that's some solid planning - I guess it's warranted with that kind of mileage. Can't say I've done a Chicago-Phoenix trip but it sounds like a great route.

Don't discount Rivian's "adventure network." I've had great experiences at every one of their open chargers that I've tried. A bit pricey but it's still nothing like a gas pump.

 

[Lycra]

So I've done this round trip twice! 1st time in December 2023 and 2nd time in December 2025-- both times were exclusively using Electrify America chargers due to the Free 3 year charging perk that came with my 2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD.

I'm in the early planning stages of trip #3 for this December 2026 and this time is almost no Electrify America! (I Only have ONE EA charger in Winslow AZ at this time).

I'm excited at the prospect of NOT constantly stopping at Walmart parking lots and seeing the same 'people of Walmart' and associated bathrooms! haha

I've also read great things about IONNA chargers so I have several of them planned!

Due to the crazy possible weather (below zero, snow, winds, etc.) we can and sometimes do receive in December, I've gone with an ultra conservative 2.5 miles per kilowatt for my calculations here on this grid I'm attaching! Anyone else also done this trip a few times?

Just saying doing that all manually by hand ist a lot of work.
You can do that for example with ABRP. If you add your cards of the charging networks it calculcates for yourself

 

[chris]

Don't discount Rivian's "adventure network." I've had great experiences at every one of their open chargers that I've tried. A bit pricey but it's still nothing like a gas pump.

Thanks for the insight! While I did notice the Rivian Adventure network along the route a few times (mainly I saw one in Normal, IL and another in Holbrook, AZ), I also noticed their pricing is higher than anyone else around. I'm already planning a Pontiac, IL IONNA stop so Normal, IL is not needed and paying $0.67 per kilowatt when I am set up to pay $0.39 per kilowatt at IONNA makes way more sense to me. Now in Holbrook, AZ if we are fighting with massive winds/weather problems, I certainly will stop to 'top off' there before we reach Winslow! It's good to hear they are reliable and good as well. I was also trying to avoid yet another app for charging on my phone TBH.

 

[chris]

Just saying doing that all manually by hand ist a lot of work.
You can do that for example with ABRP. If you add your cards of the charging networks it calculcates for yourself

Ironic I'm now really disappointed by ABRP. Back in the day when it first came out I enjoyed using it (back in 2019 when I had a different EV), but then they decided to become 'too corporate' and got bought out and became a complete disappointment to me. I just don't feel like paying for ABRP now when I know how nicely it used to work back in 2019 and 2020.

As far as the car routing is concerned, I did use what Lucid (the car) provided as a reference point for creating my own chart. Despite the somewhat improved routing guesstimate from whatever OTA update a while ago, it's still not accurate enough for my comfort zone. I've never had the 'tow of shame' in any EV I've owned and really don't want to start now. I noticed the car app would leave me with 7 to 9% charge remaining in several spots and this makes me extremely uncomfortable. I prefer to leave myself much closer to 20% cushion and avoid all the 'low battery-charge immediately' warning messages that I've experienced in the past. This resulted in stress on if I'd make it to the cars planned charger! I had (back in July 2024) let the car do the planning and it said I would have 19% charge remaining when reaching the Rockford, IL EA charger (I was returning from a trip to Iowa at the time). By the time I pulled up to the charger, I had a mere 6% charge remaining and I was extremely stressed out from that situation. From that moment on, I knew the car calculation could not be trusted since it clearly did not recalculate well enough based on weather and changing active kilowatt per hour range (that day was extremely windy and hot btw).

A 3rd problem I have with either the car or ABRP is neither of the routers care what the pricing or actual functionality is at stops. Why should I bypass a $0.39 per kilowatt IONNA charger to pay $0.60 at chosen EVGO 22 miles down the road for example? Especially when Plugshare feedback of said EVGO is iffy at best with complaints about slow charging speeds while IONNA is nothing but praise for how well it worked to just swipe a credit card, no additional app needed and power was evenly properly provided with their apparently state of the art 400kW chargers!

 

[Lycra]

Ironic I'm now really disappointed by ABRP. Back in the day when it first came out I enjoyed using it (back in 2019 when I had a different EV), but then they decided to become 'too corporate' and got bought out and became a complete disappointment to me. I just don't feel like paying for ABRP now when I know how nicely it used to work back in 2019 and 2020.

When you drive EVs since 2019 then you must be experienced already I would say.
We as well drive since 2019 our EVs, Audi etrons, however the Audi navigation with SoC is spot on. I drive on long rides down to 0-4% to get max range out of the car and then best charging curver. And that without any stress or so. Ok it might be because in Germany the chargers are mostly 100% reliable and I did not have any issues since 2019 with those.

I cannot compare that of course with your experience in the US. And if the Lucid Navigation with SoC is not that spot on, I understand that you would rather go with higher percentage of SoC to the chargers.
While I was doing the demo drive 3 weeks ago with a gravity the SoC from the nav was great. I was driving it down to 10% for the first charge since I did notknow how reliable it is. The next charge and the way back I went also down to below 10% SoC.

A 3rd problem I have with either the car or ABRP is neither of the routers care what the pricing or actual functionality is at stops. Why should I bypass a $0.39 per kilowatt IONNA charger to pay $0.60 at chosen EVGO 22 miles down the road for example? Especially when Plugshare feedback of said EVGO is iffy at best with complaints about slow charging speeds while IONNA is nothing but praise for how well it worked to just swipe a credit card, no additional app needed and power was evenly properly provided with their apparently state of the art 400kW chargers!

And to reply to that, that is what you can ABRP use for. Just put your preferred chargers with your subscriptions or so in it.
For Germany for example I only use Ionity on most trips with my subscription and I do have then 0,39 € /kwh. So it does exactly what you are looking for.

 

[chris]

And to reply to that, that is what you can ABRP use for. Just put your preferred chargers with your subscriptions or so in it.
For Germany for example I only use Ionity on most trips with my subscription and I do have then 0,39 € /kwh. So it does exactly what you are looking for.

Ah but the difference here is I am covering over 1800 miles (around 2900 kilometers) 1-way and it is not feasible to use only 1 charger brand (unless I wanted to continue to use Electrify America exclusively like I did in the past). While I have my 1st 3 chargers as IONNA, another IONNA isn't even available again until Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and then not again until Tucumcari, NM and final one being Gallup, NM. There aren't enough of them being a newer company still that I could feasibly do the whole route with anyone except EA (which is what I did in the past). I'm not sure if you've visited in the USA and experienced Walmart shopping (worse than anything I've ever experienced in Germany btw) but gets old pretty fast!

 

[Northpointe]

Ah but the difference here is I am covering over 1800 miles (around 2900 kilometers) 1-way and it is not feasible to use only 1 charger brand (unless I wanted to continue to use Electrify America exclusively like I did in the past). While I have my 1st 3 chargers as IONNA, another IONNA isn't even available again until Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and then not again until Tucumcari, NM and final one being Gallup, NM. There aren't enough of them being a newer company still that I could feasibly do the whole route with anyone except EA (which is what I did in the past). I'm not sure if you've visited in the USA and experienced Walmart shopping (worse than anything I've ever experienced in Germany btw) but gets old pretty fast!

I was surprised to see that you didn’t plan any destination/level 2 charging stops into the trip. The challenge with DC fast charging is the limitation on charging levels (80-85%) and/or the time involved in charging to 100%. I regularly drive between Phoenix and LA and the EA network won’t allow a charge beyond 80% and even if it did would take a considerable amount of time. I find it easier to use destination chargers over night to get to my maximum range. I don’t charge to 100% regularly, but find it a necessity to get my full range on road trips. And if I plan correctly I can usually find a hotel with complimentary level 2 charging.

 

[chris]

I was surprised to see that you didn’t plan any destination/level 2 charging stops into the trip. The challenge with DC fast charging is the limitation on charging levels (80-85%) and/or the time involved in charging to 100%. I regularly drive between Phoenix and LA and the EA network won’t allow a charge beyond 80% and even if it did would take a considerable amount of time. I find it easier to use destination chargers over night to get to my maximum range. I don’t charge to 100% regularly, but find it a necessity to get my full range on road trips. And if I plan correctly I can usually find a hotel with complimentary level 2 charging.

My entire route I have yet to run into an 80% or 85% limitation (but only done EA so far)

Our 1st night hotel DOES have free level 2 charging (planned that way on purpose) BUT it is never guaranteed to be available or working (or ICED) so I cannot properly plan to have it. If it is available, I can easily eliminate one of my fast charges BUT so far it was only available the 1st time back in December 2023 and already all parked in with others charging overnight the 2nd time in 2025 we stayed there. ..just how it is.

 

[Northpointe]

My entire route I have yet to run into an 80% or 85% limitation (but only done EA so far)

Our 1st night hotel DOES have free level 2 charging (planned that way on purpose) BUT it is never guaranteed to be available or working (or ICED) so I cannot properly plan to have it. If it is available, I can easily eliminate one of my fast charges BUT so far it was only available the 1st time back in December 2023 and already all parked in with others charging overnight the 2nd time in 2025 we stayed there. ..just how it is.

The charging limitation is definitely an EA thing in SOCAL. Wasn’t sure if it was brand or state specific. it’s done to minimize congestion at stations. And along the I-10 corridor that’s a real issue. It’s not uncommon to wait 45-60 minutes for a station. And performance drops like a rock past 50% SOC. I was getting 25kW once I hit 70% on a trip last week. And a lot of impatient drivers waiting for my stall. And planning software is agnostic when it comes to our time. Lucid will route me to charge for 5 minutes in Quartzite AZ with no regard to the fact that wait times are typically over 30 minutes. But it’s the last stop until you hit the Phoenix metro area.

 

[socktucker]

My man how you gonna make fun of Walmart shoppers then post a spreadsheet of your estimated pennies per kilowatt for an entire trip

 

[knewman]

I was also trying to avoid yet another app for charging on my phone TBH.

One of the reasons I like them - no silly app needed, just tap your card on the stall. But totally hear you on the price.

 

[chris]

The charging limitation is definitely an EA thing in SOCAL. Wasn’t sure if it was brand or state specific. it’s done to minimize congestion at stations. And along the I-10 corridor that’s a real issue. It’s not uncommon to wait 45-60 minutes for a station. And performance drops like a rock past 50% SOC. I was getting 25kW once I hit 70% on a trip last week. And a lot of impatient drivers waiting for my stall. And planning software is agnostic when it comes to our time. Lucid will route me to charge for 5 minutes in Quartzite AZ with no regard to the fact that wait times are typically over 30 minutes. But it’s the last stop until you hit the Phoenix metro area.

So we certainly do have some EA chargers locally in the Chicago area that have an 85% limit BUT I've never sat around and waited to charge and often am there with no one else (just it's always limited to 85%-- which never bothered me for local use when I was just getting my free charge while doing some shopping anyway. I just never experienced it along my route to Phoenix (not even at the busy EA Flagstaff location)

My man how you gonna make fun of Walmart shoppers then post a spreadsheet of your estimated pennies per kilowatt for an entire trip

I was curious to see how it added up compared to if we used our conventional fuel gasoline vehicle instead and it was easy enough to plug into an excel spreadsheet and have it do the calculation for me. Once we do the actual trip, I'll hold onto the actual receipts and compare to our quick trip we'll be doing the month before (taking a Grand Caravan down during thanksgiving week due to needing to move stuff down and back up that won't fit in the Lucid) so I'll have a direct comparison on cost from 1 month to the next (also will be faster/easier to do it in 2 days in November vs. 3 days in December) Since my calculation is pretty conservative with 2.5 miles per kilowatt, It'll be interesting to see how close I get to that $300 estimated calculation since my calculation won't account for local taxes much less what our actual miles per kilowatt will be (our average if all is ideal is around 3.5 miles per kilowatt for reference). Granted it'll be more expensive in the Lucid regardless because of 2 night hotel stays in each direction instead of 1 night, the idea is it's more relaxed and pleasurable of a trip!

 

[chris]

One of the reasons I like them - no silly app needed, just tap your card on the stall. But totally hear you on the price.

Ah yes, well this is why I like my planned $0.39 per Kilowatt IONNA station stops where its just like a 'pay at the pump' with a credit card and no additional app required! Every review on Plugshare I read says its seamless (how it should have been from the start! AND consistent with fast charging speed and the machines working (not down or speed limited often like EA seems to experience frequently).

Oddly enough, I've had EVGO, Chargepoint, Francis Energy and a few other apps for years already since having other EVs before my Lucid (since 2019) I'd just rather NOT add even more if I can help it! The Flying J/Pilot locations I have chosen will utilize my existing EVGO app though. ...and obviously my 2 EA stops will simply be plug in and go like always (just this time I'll have my credit card charged for it is all).

 

[Macrocosmcwh]

So I've done this round trip twice! 1st time in December 2023 and 2nd time in December 2025-- both times were exclusively using Electrify America chargers due to the Free 3 year charging perk that came with my 2023 Lucid Air Pure AWD.

I'm in the early planning stages of trip #3 for this December 2026 and this time is almost no Electrify America! (I Only have ONE EA charger in Winslow AZ at this time).

I'm excited at the prospect of NOT constantly stopping at Walmart parking lots and seeing the same 'people of Walmart' and associated bathrooms! haha

I've also read great things about IONNA chargers so I have several of them planned!

Due to the crazy possible weather (below zero, snow, winds, etc.) we can and sometimes do receive in December, I've gone with an ultra conservative 2.5 miles per kilowatt for my calculations here on this grid I'm attaching! Anyone else also done this trip a few times?

when you get to AZ... drop me a note... I am in Phoenix....

 

[Lycra]

Ah but the difference here is I am covering over 1800 miles (around 2900 kilometers) 1-way and it is not feasible to use only 1 charger brand (unless I wanted to continue to use Electrify America exclusively like I did in the past). While I have my 1st 3 chargers as IONNA, another IONNA isn't even available again until Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and then not again until Tucumcari, NM and final one being Gallup, NM. There aren't enough of them being a newer company still that I could feasibly do the whole route with anyone except EA (which is what I did in the past). I'm not sure if you've visited in the USA and experienced Walmart shopping (worse than anything I've ever experienced in Germany btw) but gets old pretty fast!

yeah this was just an example.
With ABRP you can select the networks you have subscriptions with and see the price and calculate with it.
then simply add 2-3 charger netwroks and you should be fine.
Yes I have been in the states, however this was during my studies abroad at UCSB, no electric cars back in 2012 for me

 

[chris]

yeah this was just an example.
With ABRP you can select the networks you have subscriptions with and see the price and calculate with it.
then simply add 2-3 charger netwroks and you should be fine.
Yes I have been in the states, however this was during my studies abroad at UCSB, no electric cars back in 2012 for me

Do you happen to know if ABRP also allows an input for miles per kilowatt (or kilometers per kilowatt in your case)? I ask because if it simply uses the USA EPA rating, this will be wildly inaccurate and not a proper cost estimation.

 

[Lycra]

You can put your own reference in the field. And on edit settings you can even chance the configuration as you can see.

 

[doubletwist]

I was surprised to see that you didn’t plan any destination/level 2 charging stops into the trip. The challenge with DC fast charging is the limitation on charging levels (80-85%) and/or the time involved in charging to 100%. I regularly drive between Phoenix and LA and the EA network won’t allow a charge beyond 80% and even if it did would take a considerable amount of time. I find it easier to use destination chargers over night to get to my maximum range. I don’t charge to 100% regularly, but find it a necessity to get my full range on road trips. And if I plan correctly I can usually find a hotel with complimentary level 2 charging.

The problem with level 2 chargers is that there aren't really that many of them. I'm in the middle of my 2nd road trip in 2 months, with a total of almost 5500 miles, and maybe 1 in 30 hotels even claims to have level 2 at or nearby, and then when you get there it is either used, or broken, or has been removed entirely. Or the one hotel that does have it is $100/night more expensive than other hotels nearby, and I'm not willing to spend $100 just to save 20 minutes at a DC Fast charger in the morning.

Out of 7 nights at hotels this month so far, I've only managed to do an overnight Level 2 charge 1 time.

 

[chris]

Out of 7 nights at hotels this month so far, I've only managed to do an overnight Level 2 charge 1 time.

This really doesn't surprise me at all! The 1st time we were trying to determine if we should stop at the fast charger available 18 miles BEFORE the hotel OR risk having to backtrack 18 miles in the morning because we weren't going to make it to the next charger along our route (this was back in 2023 before more fast chargers were available on our route).

I literally remember calling the hotel as we had to make the decision about stopping or risking the 18 mile backtrack and being told yes, 2 were still open and available and functional-- fortunately we got one of 3 working when we arrived that night but the 2nd time we stayed at that same hotel they were already all being used but thankfully we had enough juice to get to the next spot (a newer location) in 2025 to not have to be upset or concerned about it.

I also refuse to book a hotel if its that much more expensive than others around without any level 2 options.