Automotive: Tree-hugging couple learns hard lessons of EV driving

A couple took their electric vehicle on a road trip from Michigan to Florida and said they experienced “range anxiety” the entire way.

Bill and Joann Muller drove 1,500 miles from Michigan to Florida in a Kia EV6.

“We were constantly thinking about where to charge next,” Joann Muller explained for Axios. “It occupied our minds more than where to eat or spend the night.”

Muller said they stopped 12 times to charge, with each time lasting between 20 minutes and 55 minutes and ultimately adding anywhere from four to 11 hours to their trip.

The couple also avoided using in-cabin heat, despite winter temperatures outside, to help preserve the EV’s battery.

“A Kia engineer told us that the cold would put extra stress on the battery, draining it faster than normal,” Muller’s husband Bill said. “So I used only the heated steering wheel and heated seats while driving — no cabin heat.”

In reflecting on the trip, the couple said they learned one major lesson: “Know where your next charging stop is before you leave, and make sure to have extra range upon arrival in case that charger is inoperable.”

A recent study revealed that drops in the price of gasoline have given drivers of gas-powered cars a cost advantage over EV owners.