EV Towing Across the Country

Over the weekend of June 19th-22nd I embarked on an EV towing road trip from Orlando to St. Louis to pick up my wife’s newly inherited 1929 Ford Model A. While not the intention of purchasing my 2024 F150 Lightning Flash to be towing with it. This scenario shows that yes you can occasionally tow long distances when the occasion comes up that you need to. Yes, it took hours longer, yes it was more expensive than towing with a gas/diesel truck (barely). But purchasing this truck was decided upon all due to all the incentives that Ford is running on these vehicles, as well as how much money and time I save daily not having to fuel up at gas stations. I can charge at home every night for pennies compared to the hundreds of dollars I was spending on gas.

Below is a summary of my stops, how much they cost, and my charging levels

On this trip from FL to MO. Trailer was an empty 20ft 9k lbs. dove tail trailer, 3 adults in the truck loaded up with luggage and items going back to St. Louis. My intention was to stop at most locations I would need to stop on the way back home to scope out how trailer friendly these charging locations are. Also, to gauge on what price I’d be paying at these charging stations. Places like Jackson, GA, while very towing friendly, were way too expensive to stop on the way home. We charged 100% before leaving DeLand, FL.

• Lake City, FL (Tesla) $10.87 11min 47%>70% .34/kwh

• Valdosta, GA (IONNA) $12.98 12min 30%>57% .39/kwh

• Cordele, GA (EA) $27.59 31min 17%>65% .42/kwh

• Jackson, GA (EVgo) $30.80 23min 15%>57% .55/kwh

• Kennesaw, GA (Tesla) $32.57 53min 22%>90% .35/kwh

• Chattanooga, TN (EPB) $5.50 10min 51%>59% .50/kwh

• Monteagle, TN (Tesla) $10.33 11min 31%>54% .34/kwh

• Nashville, TN (Tesla) $27.53 40min 7%>66% .35/kwh

• Kuttawa, KY (Tesla) $25.45 34min 12%>70% .33/kwh

• Cape Girardeau, MO (Tesla) $11.62 13min 22%>50% .32/kwh

Overall Cost = $ 195.24

Time spent charging = 3hrs 45min

On the trip home we charged to 100% before leaving Festus, MO. Trailer was loaded with the car, numerous spare parts (engines, transmissions etc.) and with 3 adults. The truck was filled with parts & luggage on top of what was in the trailer. This time around I prioritized the cost of charging sessions over most other things. With needing to charge deep into the battery pack. I knew most sessions would drastically be affected by overpriced chargers. For instance, Warner Robbins, GA. If I’d have went to the Mercades chargers at the same Buccee’s I would have spent a whopping .51c/kwh totaling to $47.43 instead of the $30.70 spent at the Tesla chargers.

• Cape Girardeau, MO (Tesla) $20.92 30min 35%>82% .32/kwh

• Kuttawa, KY (Tesla) $29.71 42min 14%>80% .33/kwh

• Clarksville, TN (EA) $18.41 18min 36%>69% .36/kwh

• Nashville, TN (Tesla) $21.12 31min 33%>80% .33/kwh

• Monteagle, TN (Tesla) $28.30 40min 18%>80% .34/kwh

• Adairsville, GA (Tesla) $26.80 40min 16%>78% .32/kwh

• McDonough, GA (Tru HOTEL) $0 8hrs 14%>67%

• Warner Robbins, GA (Tesla) $30.70 50min 20%>89% .33/kwh

• Valdosta, GA (IONNA) $14.60 13min 0%>25% .39/kwh

• Valdosta, GA (IONNA $39.99 47min 18%>87% .39/kwh

• Gainesville, FL (Tesla) $31.28 41min 10%>75% .39/kwh

Overall Cost = $ 261.83

Time spent charging = 5hrs 50min

I have attached some pictures of my trip as well as the route plan. I utilized A Better Route Planner (ABRP) and PlugShare to find the ideal charging stops. I’d love to talk with anyone about how this trip went. I learned a lot about my truck. And although it was long and not the most ideal. I’d still do it again.

For perspective, a gas equivalent @1,000 miles @ 12 miles/gallon @ $3.00 = 213. While it seems longer, if this trip were broken into two days, you could take off lunch and dinner x 2, and overnight charge, you would eliminate 3-5.