Can You Take an EV on a Road Trip?
Yes, you can! To demonstrate this, I traveled to Alberta last summer and rented a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Performance through Turo with my wife, kids, and all our stuff.
In this video, we review the Tesla Model 3, highlighting its great features (performance, practicality, supercharging) as well as its not-so-great ones (broken Autopilot, range anxiety), all from a parental perspective.
At The Bad Ideas Garage, we love all types of vehicles—ICE, EV, and diesel alike. If it’s fun and engaging, we appreciate it. We’ve owned all three fuel types, though never any hybrids!
Do You Really Need a 300 Mile Battery?
The National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) says the average daily driving distance in the U.S. is about 29 miles per day. However, many argue that the lack of charging infrastructure, slower charging times (compared to filling up with gas), and range limitations make EVs less appealing for road trips. Interestingly, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reports that 80–90% of EV owners primarily charge at home.
When we decided to head to Calgary, rental cars at the airport were prohibitively expensive. We rented this Tesla for about half the cost of a traditional rental, and arguably, it was twice the fun! It came from a Turo host who regularly rents out their vehicles so it had some imperfections and some of Tesla’s questionable build quality, but the driving and performance were fantastic. We rented this even though we had plans for our small road trip from Calgary into the Canadian Rockies.
Fitting a Family in a Tesla Model 3
I wasn’t sure we could fit our family and all our gear into a Model 3. I considered renting a Model Y but ultimately wanted to experience the PERFORMANCE trim, with its 0–60 mph time of just 3.1 seconds. Spoiler alert: it worked! The Model 3 is surprisingly practical, even for families.
Charging Wasn’t a Problem (Mostly)
Charging was a breeze, thanks to Tesla and Parks Canada combined robust charging infrastructure. We mostly used Tesla “destination chargers” that ranged from 20–40 amps. These allowed us to skip the supercharger up in the mountains and easily make it back home. Even better, these chargers were free and included complimentary parking, which we enjoyed while exploring Banff, home to Canada’s first national park.
We only planned the trip because we knew a Tesla supercharger was available as a backup. The supercharging network is fantastic and highly reliable compared to other EV charging networks.
However, range anxiety lingered in the back of my mind. Despite the strong charging network and the Model 3’s capabilities, I still felt constrained in where we could go.
Driving Experience and Autopilot Issues
The Tesla was a joy to drive on the open road. The performance trim truly lives up to its name, delivering stunning acceleration and handling.
However, the biggest drawback—beyond build quality and range anxiety—was the broken Autopilot. The Turo listing advertised the Full Self-Driving (FSD) package, Tesla’s advanced Level 2 driving suite, but it didn’t work. That meant that there were zero cruise-control functions during the entire trip.
The system required a software update. With the host’s permission, I tried connecting to Wi-Fi to install the update, but Tesla doesn’t support networks with authentication pages (e.g., most hotel Wi-Fi). After multiple attempts, it became clear there was likely a hardware issue causing the failure.
Autopilot, when it works, is the best I’ve used. Hyundai’s system is also excellent, but Tesla’s is next-level. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to experience FSD due to the technical issues.
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy an EV?
Overall, this trip sparked discussions in my household about whether we should add an EV to our garage. I previously owned a 2015 Chevy Spark EV up until COVID and we knew we had a baby on the way. While fun, it had limited range (82 miles in ideal conditions) and felt like a tin can. This Tesla was a completely different experience as an intentionally build EV from the ground-up.
Tesla shifted the narrative about EVs—they build cars that happen to be electric, rather than EVs that happen to work for some people. Now, I’m considering used Tesla Model Y’s, Mustang Mach-Es, and other options. Maybe Christmas will come early at The Bad Ideas Garage!
Key Takeaways
- EV road trips are possible thanks to a growing availability reliable charging networks and stations.
- The Tesla Model 3 is surprisingly family-friendly, though range anxiety and build quality may concern some.
- Autopilot and other technical issues can detract from the overall experience.
- For families, Tesla’s practicality and performance make it a strong contender.
