Wednesday (April 9) – It’s gonna get hot. Highs in the 90s. I was heading to Alpine, TX, the closest town of any size to Big Ben National Park. Everything so far was a piece of cake, but for the first time I was going to through a long stretch of arid landscape in conditions that would actually make getting stuck beside the road somewhat dangerous.

Nell was charged up and raring to go. She practically nickered as I pressed start. I called Willie Nelson’s “Red Headed Stranger” up on iTunes and as Willie strummed a cantering guitar rhythm, we headed into the West.

Our first stop was 143 miles away in Junction, Texas. Electrify America has chargers every 80 miles or so (if you are not trying to use only Electrify America Chargers, they are much more often along the major interstates). It seems to be working out that Nell has about 200 miles of range at normal highway speeds. So you still have 20% of your battery if you show up at a charger and have to deal with anything unexpected.

This also allows you to stop at every other charger, stretch, take a bathroom break, pick up whatever snacks or drinks you need and be on your way having spent little more time than you would in a gasoline vehicle.

The EA charger in Junction was the first time that I had to deal with any significant annoyance. Someone thought it would be a good idea to locate it several miles outside of town in the parking lot of a derelict Econo-Lodge. I pulled in next to a Porsche Taycan with plates that read RCKTLST. Rocketlist? Ok. The driver was wearing a Porsche branded polo shirt (Porsche drivers are like that I guess).

Anyway, I plugged in Nell and strolled off to use the facilities. The doors were locked. There was no one home and from the looks of things no one had been home for quite a few years. The dust, the scrub brush, the harsh sunlight, it felt like someone could have come around the corner in a hockey mask and a chain saw at any time. My bladder was NOT happy.

Fortunately, this particular derelict Econo-Lodge was equipped with a derelict 4X4 pickup truck slumped into the pavement on flat tires. At the intersection of the fence and the pickup truck was a creosote bush that seemed unusually green compared to the other vegetation in this area. Relief! I made my contribution, zipped up, and headed back to Nell. I met the Porsche guy heading to the Econo-Lodge with a hurried, pinched walk. I told him, “It’s locked.” And pointed to the creosote bush. He winced and hurried off.

Hyundai smartly built their cars with 800 volt charging architecture to take advantage of the 800 volt chargers that Electrify America was building. Tesla’s charging architecture is only 400 volts on both their cars and their chargers so on a road trip Tesla drivers are going to be spending significantly more time charging. The Tesla CEO has promised that the chargers will soon be upgraded to 800 volts along with new Tesla cars, but he’s a guy who’s been known to miss a few deadlines so we’ll see.

Nell was soon ready to go. The Taycan was still charging. His rocket hadn’t yet launched. I slapped Nell’s rump and we cantered off. My cost for “gas” was 35 cents. Hyundai chipped in another $17.40 so the total cost to a retail customer would have been $17.75 or $13.31 with an EA Plus membership.

As we rolled along, I passed a few derelict “nodding donkey” oil wells that had stopped pumping long ago. On the ridge above them, was modern equipment producing energy from a source that will be never be exhausted. Here’s a photo I shot one-handed out the car window.

This next stretch was where my waltzing got a little tricky. Because of the deserted charging location in Junction. I had missed lunch. I didn’t want to make a stop to eat while not charging. So, hungry as a bear, I forged ahead to the next EA charger 93 miles away in Ozuna. I went through the Subway and headed over to the EA charger in the Hampton Inn parking lot to enjoy my sandwich and top up Nell. With luck, I could skip charging in Fort Stockton and drive directly to Alpine.

I didn’t quite get the charger shut off at 30 minutes Ozuna so I had to pay 6 cents. Hyundai chipped in $32.12. So a retail customer would have paid $32.18 or $24.14 with an EA Plus Membership.

It was 109 miles to Fort Stockton and then another 65 miles on two-lane highway to my Airbnb in Alpine. 174 miles total. It should be easily doable as long as I didn’t let my lead foot get the best of me. It was pretty hot and I had the air conditioning going.

I kept an eye on the range estimate and we drove toward Fort Stockton. I was kind of betwixt and between. Yes, I should easily have enough range, but, no, if I didn’t recharge, I was not going to arrive with my 20 percent battery/40 mile margin of safety that I like to maintain. As you can see from the photo above, by this time we really were into the Chihuahuan desert and highways through the desert are . . . well . . . deserted.

I decided to stop. The charger was in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I just spent 15 minutes topping up so it was free. Hyundai chipped in $23.61. A customer with an EA Plus membership would have paid $17.71.

A short while later I rolled into Alpine as the sun was setting. My traveling nephew, T, had recommended the Spicewood restaurant on the west edge of town. It was a good recommendation. I had the bison strip steak. I like bison. It’s tends to be leaner than beef (which some people do not like) and it has a little extra flavor which I enjoy, but is not to everyone’s taste. This was perhaps the best steak that I’ve ever had. The perfect sear, but red and juicy in the middle. If you are ever in Alpine, Texas, don’t miss it.

It was dark by the time I rolled up to my Airbnb. There was no charger.

Well, shit.

I double-checked the listing. It clearly said that the unit had an EV charger.

I texted the owner.

She said that there was a charger a quarter-mile down a hill at a commercial business. The road down there was steep and unlit and then crossed a vacant lot filled with construction debris. I did not fancy climbing that rutted dirt road in the dark, but I had to have a full charge the next morning if I was going to explore Big Bend. I had smoke coming out of my ears.

Just then the neighbor pulled into her drive and as her lights swept her house, I noticed an EV charger attached to the side of her house. I gingerly approached her car and asked if I could use her charger. She said, “Sure. No problem.” EV solidarity for the win!

That night I slept well.

Day 1: 688 miles traveled. $12.01 Spent on “gas.” $51.08 in “gas” money contributed by Hyundai. Cost of “gas” with an Electrify America membership: $47.32.

Day 2: 377 miles traveled. $9.82 spent on “gas.” $90.82 in “gas” money contributed by Hyundai. Cost of “gas” with an Electrify America membership: $75.48.

Days 3 and 4: All over Austin. Not a penny spent on “gas.”

Day 5: 410 miles traveled. 41 cents spent on “gas.” $73.13 in “gas” money contributed by Hyundai. Cost of “gas” with an Electrify American membership: $55.16.

Trip Total: 1475 miles traveled and all over Austin. $22.24 spent on “gas”. $163.95 in “gas” contributed by Hyundai. Cost of “gas” for a retail customer with an Electrify America membership: $139.64.