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All of us love a great journey journey story. Right here’s one a couple of new EV driver making the twenty-five-hundred-mile trek from Portland, OR to Anchorage, AK. He noticed quite a lot of cool sights whereas searching down chargers and dodging forest fires. Consider it as a twenty first century odyssey about resourcefulness and willpower to beat adversity (spoken in that deep film trailer voice).
EV highway tripping is turning into extra widespread and simpler. Many lead to fascinating social media posts. Right here’s an fascinating put up on Reddit by drama_observer with a ton of responses about EV highway tripping.
“Hey everybody. Lately a member of the family was fascinated with getting a brand new EV EV9 however the transport as much as Anchorage was problematic and/or costly. There was some form of accident or fireplace with a container ship which meant that transport up there both wasn’t taking place or was actually dear.
I wanted a break from work and have wished to try this drive for some time, so I agreed to drive it up from the place they bought it in Portland, to Anchorage, by Canada.
We checked out taking the ferry for a part of the way in which – from Bellingham to Haines – but it surely was additionally fairly expensive and so they solely sail as soon as every week as of late so the timing was a bit awkward. I’ve executed that leg in a automobile prior to now (in an ICE automobile) and it is a blast when you do not thoughts sleeping on the deck of the ferry, however as of late I’m not positive my decrease again can be too pleased with that call.
Abstract
Six driving days, starting from 5-10 hours drive time. Longest cost time was 4-5 hours, in a city the place the quick charger was damaged. Usually charged up above 80% given the unpredictability and distances concerned within the extra distant areas. Did not ever get stranded but it surely was a bit dicey in spots. General a lot better charging assist than I anticipated, particularly in BC, the place I really feel just like the infrastructure is to the purpose the place you do not actually should do a lot pre planning. No actual regrets or huge issues I would change.
Automobile
I drove the 2026 Kia EV9 Lengthy Vary. I’m not an EV man so I do not know an excessive amount of about this. I do know I had to make use of a CCS charger adapter at nearly each cease.
I appreciated the automobile so much. It is fairly large for a man like me however for his or her household with children I feel it is smart. It has fairly a little bit of vary, realistically, it is solely in locations like northwestern Canada that you just really feel it. I actually appreciated the driving help options – in my daily I drive a fairly fundamental (however hey, nonetheless nice) Subaru with out quite a lot of the bells and whistles. The Kia Lane Following Help (LFA) was superior. Much less useful on rougher roads in fact however on highways, I may set cruise management and lane help and just about uhhhhhhh let the EV9 drive (undecided if I’m presupposed to say that).
The one draw back is the local weather management cuts into the mileage fairly considerably. Took me a pair days to determine that out.
Route
I took I-5 north by Seattle, then Bellingham to cross the border. From there, I went by Kamloops, Cache Creek, Prince George, Fort Nelson (skipping Dawson), Watson Lake, Whitehorse, Beaver Creek, Tok, Glennallen, and resulted in Anchorage. Stopped extra locations than that clearly however that gives you one thing to place right into a map.
This was pushed by a mix of locations I wished to see, charging locations I knew about, avoiding forest fires, attempting to remain inside some form of vary of providers in case of an issue of some type, and drivable distances.
Lodging
I stayed in a lodge (of various high quality) each evening. If I used to be to do that once more and I had extra flexibility, I feel staying at RV parks and tenting can be a great choice as a result of I feel a great variety of them are beginning to or have chargers that cost moderately in a single day. As a result of I used to be solely driving one-way although, I couldn’t convey all my tenting stuff as a result of I wasn’t going to have the ability to take it on the airplane on the way in which again. I feel you might positively do that a bit cheaper and a bit extra rustic.
For six nights, charging, meals, snacks, espresso, and so forth., my price as 1 individual was about $1,700 USD. Once more tenting would make this so much cheaper, and I wish to strive eating places after I’m in new locations, so you might definitely decrease your meals prices and be extra frugal.
Planning an Electrical Automobile Journey from Oregon to Alaska in an EV
I used A Higher Route Planner (ABRP) which was fairly good. Additional north I relied extra on the official apps from the charging utilities – BC Hydro, and Flo within the Yukon. I additionally began counting on stopping in at each city’s customer heart and speaking to the desk workers – they’re very often conscious of developments within the EV charging space a lot sooner than a number of the different assets. Issues like, “Oh yeah, they simply put in a brand new charger at Johnsons Crossing,” or “I feel that RV park has a quick charger now really.” that possibly weren’t on different assets but.
One problem right here is that the Kia EV9 was not linked up with A Higher Route Planner so ABRP couldn’t entry my real-world driving effectivity information and regulate its predictions and routing recommendation. There have been a pair instances after I enter the times journey into ABRP simply to back-check it, and ABRP assumed I ought to have arrived in a city with 25% battery left and I confirmed up with 6%. For instance. Usually not a difficulty however within the areas with huge stretches between chargers… a bit harrowing.
I additionally used the Milepost, which I received a bodily copy of, and flipped by at charging stops to see if there have been any factors of curiosity developing. I’d advocate doing this as effectively. They’ve fairly good EV charging info in there too since they replace it yearly.
Day 1 – Portland to Kamloops BC
Began off early-ish from Portland, and stopped simply north of Seattle to cost at a Tesla supercharger. It was on the map as being east of the freeway, however all I noticed over there have been common chargers, which don’t work with the Kia regardless of the plug becoming. So I bopped throughout the freeway and with a bit maneuvering discovered a row of superchargers in a parking zone of like a completely nondescript workplace constructing. This was my first time ever quick charging so it was a studying curve. I needed to obtain the Tesla app and make an account, which was annoying. First time additionally utilizing a charging adaptor however as soon as I received the cling of it, it went swimmingly. Charged for about half-hour I feel to get again as much as 80%. Within the meantime I went into the foyer of the workplace constructing to discover a toilet – it was code locked however I simply did the basic wait for somebody to return out and faux you have been nearly to go in transfer and it labored nice.
Crossed the border close to Abbotsford. Some questions concerning the novelty of the car however total effective. One fascinating be aware: the Kia EV9 doesn’t swap its shows to kilometers routinely, however the show does change its velocity restrict steerage to a conversion from KM. A bit funky however for instance, in a 100km/h velocity zone, the show nonetheless exhibits your velocity in Miles per hour, however the little velocity restrict signal on the sprint says Velocity Restrict 62MPH (the conversion from KM). I assume you possibly can change this within the settings however I didn’t need to dick round with it and it labored effectively sufficient. Hung a proper to go for Kamloops, and stopped fairly fast in Chilliwack so as to add some extra juice – this was an “On the Go” charger within the parking zone of a fuel station / comfort retailer. Labored moderately effectively.
I headed for Kamloops as a result of it was the most important metropolis close to ish to my route and I figured had the very best odds of getting a good lodge room out there. I don’t know what’s occurring in that city however boy they positive love lodges there – there are a gazillion. I pulled in late-ish and was in a position to get a room on the Doubletree – there have been two EV charging spots out entrance the place I may have charged in a single day however since I received in late, they have been each taken. Good lodge, good room, the whole lot apart from bars was closed for the night although so I simply went to mattress.
Day 2 – Kamloops to Williams Lake to Prince George
Acquired up early-ish and located a charger on the town to plug the automobile in at whereas I went and had breakfast. Then I moseyed again by city and appeared round, handed by the farmers market, retrieved the automobile, and headed out to Williams Lake, the tough midpoint between Kamloops and Prince George, the objective for the night.
Be aware – at this level I hoped to push a bit previous Prince George, however there was no actual logical subsequent city that made sense. Should you take a look at the overall mileage to Anchorage, you’d wish to divide it up into fairly even chunks however what I discovered was that the inhabitants facilities with quick chargers should not actually unfold out like that. So Day 2 was a shorter day than I may need appreciated – if spacing was a bit higher, or I used to be tenting, I positively may have equalized the times a bit higher with that added flexibility.
Williams Lake was an fascinating little city on the confluence of two rivers. Lovely surroundings on this a part of BC that jogged my memory of jap Oregon and Washington. Dry golden browns, bluffs, water. Sadly they put the chargers within the ass ends of a number of the weirdest parking heaps in BC so my half thought by plan of “Park to cost for a bit and stroll round wanting on the city” didn’t actually work. As an alternative I received a disgusting drink at Tim Hortons and wandered round some First Nations interpretive installations and eavesdropped on everybody in a Tesla charging on the similar financial institution of superchargers. May very well be worse!
Subsequent cease was Prince George for the night. I received a room on the Hyatt Place there, which once more, had a few EV chargers within the lot that have been out there in concept however busy after I received there. Unhealthy luck.
I had fairly a night right here. Acquired to speaking to a different solo traveler on the bar, we had one other drink or 5 and ended up taking part in blackjack on the native on line casino till final name. My new buddy was an actual professional and I feel turned her $100 into $110. Enjoyable evening. Humorous little city.
Day 3 – Prince George to Fort Nelson
Be aware right here: I made a decision to go up 97 as an alternative of the Cassiar for a pair causes. One, there have been some fires brewing on 37 that I didn’t just like the appears of. Two, the chargers have been extra unfold out on the Cassiar, and I used to be nonetheless a bit gun shy about being so removed from cities and providers. 97 is extra populated alongside this stretch though that’s not saying a ton. I imagine the Cassiar is way more scenic, although.
This was to be a long-ass day, with two charging stops deliberate, and a pleasant little hangover besides. Grabbed a plate of eggs on the lodge. Needed to high off within the morning at a BC Hydro charger on the sting of city, in the neighborhood faculty parking zone. Acquired espresso at The Open Door Cafe on the way in which out of city, which was completely satisfactory. Tons of native artwork and crafts on the market there which is cool.
The primary haul was Prince George to Chetwynd, a small little city that’s well-known for its chainsaw carving competitors. Had lunch at A&W right here whereas charging on the guests heart (BC Hydro). Lovely surroundings, you might be form of following a valley alongside this leg with numerous farms and forest and a few nice terrain change that provides some actual sweeping views. Lovely surroundings by by Hudsons Hope although, together with a giant dam mission and a few killer views up and down a river valley. Hopped on the Alaska Freeway (Lastly!) and the following cease was a BC Hydro close to Wonowon.
This stretch is scenic in a completely completely different means – it’s positively beginning to really feel very northern. You possibly can inform the soil shouldn’t be deep – all of the timber cease rising at a really particular peak – and issues really feel muddy, boggy in a means. Thunderstorms. Not a ton of mountainous terrain but. Most of what you see alongside the freeway listed below are motels, deserted motels, turnoffs for pure fuel amenities, and work camps. There are a ton of big pickup vehicles round right here filled with sunburned males and welding gear. Acquired a room on the Woodlands Inn and Suites. No EV plugs on the lodge however a BC Hydro quick charger on the town.
Day 4 – Fort Nelson to Watson Lake
Awoke early once more desperate to hit the highway. This present day was in all probability the spotlight when it comes to issues seen. Charged the automobile up on the BC Hydro quick charger whereas chomping down some McDonalds breakfast and a “Lengthy Espresso” which they gave me in the kind of cute to go espresso cup that might trigger a safety incident if it was ever handed to a median American McDonalds buyer at a median American McDonalds.
Subsequent cost cease was Toad River Lodge, one other one in every of dozens of humorous fuel station / motel combos that exist on this a part of the world. Had some respectable espresso. Wandered round. Moseyed. Took some photos. BC Hydro quick charger once more. The BC Hydro quick chargers are fairly plentiful, even this far north, and most of them promote 150kwh which is sweet and zippy.
This part is crossing into and throughout the Canadian Rockies, so the surroundings begins to get fairly dramatic once more. I did succumb to the temptation to cease and take photos of vistas each 10 minutes. The thrill of highway tripping by your self. You move Muncho Lake for a stretch right here, which has extremely dramatic teal coloured water.
Subsequent cease was in all probability the spotlight of the journey and one more reason I took 97 as an alternative of the Cassiar – Liard Sizzling Springs. A day use space with a cool bathing construction (altering rooms and benches) constructed right into a pure scorching spring. Pungent, however an actual deal with and an actual distinctive space. Tons of oldsters have been congregating right here, together with just a few Quebecois dudes on bikes I had noticed on the A&W in Chetwynd.
Cease for the evening was Watson Lake. I spotted that principally each successive city heading north, pulling into the city I had been like “Wow, this place is basically f’ing tiny” solely to then drastically revise my expectations downwards after I received to the following, even extremely tinier, city. Watson Lake is principally a large spot with just a few motels alongside the freeway. And a guests heart, the place the charger lived. I used to be within the Yukon territory by now – no extra quick BC Hydro, I used to be caught with 50kwh Flo chargers. Fortuitously, the federal government of Yukon made all of the chargers free to make use of. Sadly, they have been fairly gradual.
I left the automobile charging and walked throughout the freeway to the Signal Put up Forest – a grove of timber the place nearly 80 years’ value of vacationers have hung up indicators and license plates, no matter, commemorating their journeys by. Unexpectedly very shifting. I spent an hour simply wandering round right here, studying indicators from individuals who had handed by many years in the past and had greater than seemingly handed on. Carry an indication of your individual and positively plan to cease right here.
I received a room at A Nicer Motel within the strip of motels – so far as I may inform all of them appeared fairly related. Once more a pleasant useful room, nothing flashy. I feel based mostly on studying google opinions of locations lots of people had larger expectations for rooms, and I may envision a world wherein I believed these rooms have been crummy. However on the finish of the day they have been quiet and clear and the plumbing labored.
Had dinner at The Nugget, a Chinese language place. Haven’t had Chinese language meals of that exact form – your basic 90’s American Chinese language meals – since I used to be a child rising up in Anchorage, so it was fairly nostalgic. Up on this space the similarities between Alaska and this a part of Canada have been actually hitting me – bizarre little frontier locations that principally solely exist due to a giant useful resource extraction growth 50-100 years in the past and are in some way nonetheless hanging on.
Day 5 – Watson Lake to Whitehorse
Each evening on the lodge I’d perform a little analysis and fine-tuning on the route forward the following day, largely so I may have probably the most present wildfire info. The evening earlier than is after I had seen ABRP distance tips and route planning have been far more optimistic than distances and cost ranges I used to be hitting in the true world. I began to fret a bit bit – there’s a leg on this journey whenever you hit Alaska the place you actually do not need any intermediate factors and just about should have a 100% cost to make it from Beaver Creek to the following charger. The distances I had been hitting and the automobile was telling me it was able to, I used to be not going to make that leg, even at 100%. Gentle freakout second, however I made a decision to dedicate Day 5 to some critical information checking. By which I imply I busted out a pen and pad, wrote down the precise distance between some stops, wrote down the ABRP prediction, wrote down my automobile’s begin ranges and the automobile’s prediction of miles remaining, after which did all of it once more at each cease and used good quaint arithmetic to see how a lot the automobile was off by.
Topped off once more on the customer’s heart charger within the morning, then hit the highway. The primary cease was Rancheria Falls – no charger right here however a fast 10-minute stroll alongside some very good boardwalks to see a cool sequence of waterfalls within the woods. I’m a bit bit spoiled dwelling in Oregon however these have been fairly good. The mathematics right here stated the automobile was optimistic by about 25%. Not as unhealthy as I believed, and a brief distance, however nonetheless worrying. For the following leg I minimize the Kia EV9’s local weather controls fully to see if that might assist.
Initially my thought was to attempt to make it to Johnsons Crossing in a single leg with out stopping to cost, as a result of the space was fairly akin to the worrisome leg from Beaver Creek to Glennallen. However the charger in Johnson was tremendous gradual – i believe it was a 25 – and because the day wore on and I checked my math with pen and paper at each cease I received much less frightened. I had found out the AC was an enormous affect on effectivity, and with the AC off, I used to be really usually beating the automobile’s estimates. So leaving from Beaver Creek with a 100% cost and no AC utilization would really give me a really comfy buffer to get to the charger in Glennallen.
So I finished at Teslin and used the quick (“quick”) charger on the marina there. Left the automobile charging, crossed the freeway for a fairly satisfactory clubhouse sandwich and fries on the restaurant there. Restaurant was fairly busy!
Left on about an 80% cost for the leg to Whitehorse. Aimed for the Flo quick charger on the Whitehorse Transportation Museum. There have been loads of like, 7kwh chargers that have been nonetheless paid for by the Yukon authorities. So I hooked as much as one and deliberate to spend the evening in Whitehorse.
This city broke the every-town-is-tinier development. Wow, it jogged my memory of Anchorage. Architecturally and vibes smart. They’ve a ravishing river entrance path, it appears to be a jumping-off level for outside actions like searching, mountain biking, and so forth within the space, so it was filled with like, younger journey kind individuals. Bend Oregon vibes. I received a room on the Sternwheeler, after calling round to about 5 different locations that have been already full. Then I went and put my identify in at Collect, had a drink and a few respectable tempura inexperienced beans on the lodge throughout the road whereas I used to be ready, then had some form of scrumptious ahi/guacamole state of affairs with a margarita at Collect, and a pair extra drinks on the Woodcutter’s Blanket up the highway.
Talked to some fascinating people on the bar, together with an older couple from Alberta on their first highway journey in 40 years, and a younger man who had simply gotten laid off from his job in gas cells. At all times sit on the bar and speak to individuals IMO. Automobile was simply reaching 90% ish at this level, 5 hours later. Again to the lodge and conked out.
Day 6 – Whitehorse to Beaver Creek
One other short-ish day due to the timing of charging, so I deliberate to take it straightforward and provides myself loads of stopping time. Good factor too as a result of that is in all probability probably the most or second most scenic leg of the drive. Acquired breakfast at The Open Door, a fascinatingly busy espresso store the place they’ve received an actual streamlined operation taking place. Whitehorse is a really fascinating place, I’d love to return and spend extra time there and work out the vibes. It’s positively a serious regional hub of some form.
Brief, mountainous, lovely leg to Haines Junction. Pulled as much as the quick charger on the guests heart and for the primary time within the journey, needed to wait in line for another person to complete charging.
Very cool guests heart right here. Tons of information on geology of the world, the mountains, icefields, First Nations individuals, the entire deal. Overheard a First Nations fella from the jap aspect of Canada speaking to one of many native First Nations guys concerning the variations in how their treaties have been arrange, how they dealt with sure issues, so on and so forth. Cool second to eavesdrop in on for a white boy like me. After charging as much as 80%, I went and grabbed a espresso and snack on the espresso store / bakery on the town.
Continued on. This phase is unquestionably probably the most bonkers surroundings of the entire drive. Take your time right here if attainable. The highway received fairly unhealthy round Destruction Bay, which I used to be anticipating since I talked to a bunch of the customer heart individuals alongside the way in which. It’s constructed on permafrost so within the spring it heaves like loopy, not a lot they’ll actually do about that. Undoubtedly have to be ready to decelerate, there are some wild dips. Pulled into Beaver Creek round 5pm possibly, hit the charger on the guests heart. One other gradual one so no probability of scooting out early since I just about wanted to be at 100% to be ok with persevering with to Glennallen with out issues. Requested the guests heart attendant about motels, received informed there have been solely three so I used to be in luck in that it will be straightforward to decide on. One was full, one was dis-recommended by the girl I talked to, so I received a bit cabin out again of Buckshot Betty’s. First rate sufficient little spot however god I want they’d put a fan within the room. it was actually stuffy. Had an OK burger on the restaurant, some good fries, sat subsequent to a surprisingly vulgar Canadian fella who appeared to take offense to the truth that I scooted down the bar to offer him and his buddy a bit extra elbow room. No matter.
Returned to the customer’s heart on foot to take a seat within the automobile for one more hour whereas it chugged as much as 100% ever so slowly. By the point I received again to the cabin it was cooling off a bit however nonetheless fairly toasty in there. Took a chilly bathe to chill down and handed out surprisingly simply.
Day 7 – Beaver Creek to Anchorage
Awoke early, received espresso at a spot throughout the road, it was effective, hit the highway. Roads nonetheless fairly unhealthy and lumpy on this space. No actual cell service as soon as you permit city for fairly a methods. Border crossing was very fast and straightforward, and I laughed at how a lot better the highway immediately received. Some development within the space (therefore the great roads I suppose) and needed to watch for pilot vehicles a few instances, however total fairly fast by right here. Fairly lovely once more, this complete day was.
Acquired to Tok midmorning, stopped for espresso and a snack. I had been conserving my eye on a giant fireplace within the space that appeared prefer it was threatening the city and presumably to shut the minimize all the way down to Glennallen, which might have detoured me up round by Delta Junction after which down the Richardson. Not a ton longer however not time I wished to spend. 7 days on the highway is a very long time. Fortuitously, there had been a large downpour within the space the day earlier than and the fireplace was completely out.
Continued on to Glennallen, pulling in round 11:30. No state or federal funding on this nice nation of ours for charging infrastructure – this one was hilariously tucked within the again parking zone of a log cabin Subway, proper subsequent to a dumpster. Positive says one thing about one thing. Temporary second of panic when the CCS charger wouldn’t begin charging, however downloaded one more f’ing charging community app and ultimately received it to start out charging. 50kw once more. Probably not “Quick” however at this level I solely had 180 miles to go to Anchorage. Relatively than eat at Subway I hiked up the highway a bit to the Caribou motel the place there was a restaurant. Had a fairly nice grilled cheese sandwich and a fairly respectable bowl of tomato soup and a fairly bizarre salad. Hit the highway with about 85%.
No extra charging stops til Anchorage. The part of freeway between Glennallen and Palmer is once more a number of the most lovely on the entire journey, regardless of the wet climate.
Arrived in Anchorage on about 17%. Adequate!
That is it! Hope this helps somebody sooner or later. It seems like Canada is basically rolling out some extra EV capabilities as we converse, so the part of the drive within the Yukon needs to be getting much less worrying day by day.”
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Chris Johnston is the creator of SAE’s complete guide on electrical automobiles, “The Arrival of The Electrical Automobile.” His protection on Torque Information focuses on electrical automobiles. Chris has many years of product administration expertise in telematics, cell computing, and wi-fi communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue College and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring basic picket boats, open water swimming, biking and flying (as a non-public pilot). You possibly can join with Chris on LinkedIn and observe his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.
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