We currently have a 2021 Leaf with 160 miles of range that we love for daily use and charge at home overnight. We also have a 2016 Jeep Cherokee as a second car for longer trips (I work from home). About two years ago, we tried taking the Leaf on a 100-mile trip, thinking a single charge stop would be enough. But both trips turned into nightmares with broken chargers and long waits, making us hunt for working stations. It was a hot day, and with the family stuck waiting, we decided we’d never try road-tripping with an EV again.
We’re in Portland, Oregon, and we often go to the coast or mountains. Have others had similar issues, especially around here? Have things improved, especially with Tesla opening up its chargers? I’ve wanted a Lightning, but my wife is against it after our experience with the Leaf. Any tips on how to convince her? (Besides showing off the frunk!)
Also, we’ve noticed the cold really impacts our Leaf’s range, dropping a lot when we use heat or heated seats. It ends up around 25% by the end of the day in winter, compared to 45% in the summer. Anyone else noticed this in other EVs?
Jai said:
The Leaf isn’t really a great option for road trips in the U.S.
True, but the BMW i3 without the range extender is probably worse.
At least the i3 has CCS and can maintain max charge rate longer than the Leaf. And it doesn’t throttle from heat. I’d pick an i3 over a Leaf for a road trip any day.
Jai said:
The Leaf isn’t really a great option for road trips in the U.S.
Yeah, the Leaf has its limits, especially with 160 miles of range, but we only needed one charge stop for our 100-mile trip. For a 300-mile trip, it would’ve been similar to taking a Lightning and making one charging stop.
But as a daily commuter, the Leaf has been perfect and costs half as much as a Tesla, with actual buttons on the console!
Jai said: @Lior
It’s mostly the Chademo charging that makes the Leaf rough for road trips. That standard is dying, plus it charges really slowly.
A Lightning uses CCS and NACS now, so it’s a lot more flexible.
Yep. I used to have a Leaf and recently upgraded to a Lightning. On road trips, it’s a night-and-day difference for charging options and speeds. I’ve run into slow chargers before, but with the Lightning, I just drive to the next one and usually get full speed.
@Lior
Just keep in mind that the Lightning is less efficient on highways. You’ll only get its EPA range (320 miles) at around 55 mph. At 70 mph, you’re looking at around 250 miles.
That said, any trip within about 110 miles one way is doable on one charge round-trip. For trips in the 220-300 mile range, plan on a quick charge unless you find an AC charger at your destination.
Many hotels have charging stations now, so if it’s an overnight trip, you’re set to drive home without needing more stops.
@Lior
It’s not just the range—it’s the slow charging and outdated Chademo standard.
Chademo has been on the decline for years, and even if you do find a Chademo charger, the Leaf is capped at 50kW due to its passive cooling system. The Lightning, while not the fastest either, can charge at 180kW. Even then, the Lightning still doesn’t match the new Silverado, which can handle up to 350kW. But with its size and comfort, the Lightning is still a better road trip option than the Leaf.
New Lightning owner here—just took it on an 1100-mile trip over three days. I charged overnight at motels and stopped at Superchargers three times. It was surprisingly easy. The whole trip was smooth and charging didn’t get in the way.
I’ve taken my Bolt EUV on long trips, but I wouldn’t do it with a Leaf. The Leaf’s Chademo plug is a huge limitation since most stations only have one, and it’s often broken or unavailable.
If you’re interested in a Lightning, try using A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and PlugShare to see what your trips would look like. The Lightning, with access to CCS and Tesla Superchargers, is far more reliable. You can plan out a trip ahead of time, and it’ll give you charging times and stops. It’s a whole different experience.
Are you planning to replace the Leaf or the Jeep with the Lightning?
Charging has definitely improved over the last couple of years. Plus, the Lightning is a major upgrade over the Leaf for road trips. It charges faster than the Leaf (about 32 minutes to go from 15% to 80% on the standard range), so your stops will be shorter.
You might find road trips about 25% longer than in a gas vehicle, but ABRP is a great tool to see what trips will look like in the Lightning. Give it a try to see how your typical trips would go.
I have a 2023 Lightning Lariat and have taken it on trips through snowy roads and even towing a camper. It’s an incredible road-trip vehicle. The frunk is spacious, the ride is smooth and quiet, and with BlueCruise, long drives feel much easier.
Avoid Petro Canada and Shell chargers (they’re often unreliable), but Electrify America, Circle K, and Tesla chargers have been consistently good for me. I haven’t had trouble finding an available working charger yet. It’s a whole different experience from what you described with your Leaf.
@Toryn
Thanks for this! I’m in Calgary too and considering a Lightning. I want to tow a 3200-lb trailer to Kananaskis and back. How would it handle a trip to Vancouver, though?