A Chilly Journey: Navigating Winter with an EV

Kansas City to Oklahoma City in a 2023 Mustang Mach-E

Setting off on an early Friday morning from Kansas City to Oklahoma City in my 2023 Mustang Mach-E, I had one goal in mind: to visit a very sick relative. This was not a trip I could easily postpone, so I was determined to make the most of my EV, despite the challenges of winter travel.

Upon the advice of a longtime EV owning colleague, I relied heavily on the ABRP (A Better Routeplanner) app to scout out chargers and plan stops along the way, ensuring I could locate the most efficient and reliable options for my route.

However, good planning can’t change the temperature. With the mercury in the teens, it was a stark reminder that cold weather and EV batteries don’t mix well. Despite taking precautions like plugging the car in overnight in my garage and pre-conditioning the battery, I quickly realized just how much the frigid conditions could impact range. Within the first leg of my journey, I had already lost approximately 25% of my available mileage.

This marked the beginning of a trip that was both eye-opening and frustrating. On paper, the Mach-E’s range is ideal for a road trip like this, but winter weather and inconsistent charging infrastructure turned a routine journey into a strategic game of planning, patience, and persistence.

I’m no stranger to long-haul EV driving. I commute 160 miles round-trip to work in my Mach-E four days a week. This car has proven itself reliable for regular, predictable travel, and I’ve become quite adept at managing range and charging needs. I save approximately $60-$85 a week on my work commute with my EV over my ICE vehicle thanks to the convenience and lower cost of mostly charging at home.

However, road trips like this one introduce an entirely different set of challenges. The inconsistencies in charging networks, chargers that randomly shut off or are out of service, and the added stress of winter weather made this trip far more complicated than my typical commutes.

Cold Weather Impact on EV Batteries

Cold weather can significantly impact an EV’s battery performance and driving range. This happens because the drop in temperature slows the chemical reactions within the battery, reducing its efficiency and capacity. Using the vehicle’s heating system to warm the cabin further drains the battery, compounding the reduction in range. Studies have shown that EVs can lose up to 35% of their range in freezing conditions, a significant consideration for winter driving.

To mitigate these effects, pre-conditioning the battery while the vehicle is still plugged in can help. This process warms the battery to its optimal operating temperature, improving its performance and reducing range loss.

Charging Challenges

Over the course of the trip from Kansas City to Oklahoma City, I had to stop for charging five times—though one stop turned out to be a frustrating waste of time as I discovered the charger wasn’t activated. Each experience varied widely, influenced by the quality of the charging stations and the infrastructure in place.

The Electrify America chargers were consistently reliable and part of the Ford network of chargers. This integration made them incredibly easy to use—no need to input payment information or scan apps. I simply plugged in and the charging started automatically. This seamless experience was a welcome relief compared to the other networks I encountered.

Unfortunately, that level of simplicity was the exception, not the rule.

The Francis Energy chargers I used were particularly frustrating. It seemed that every time I parked to use one, I picked the wrong charger. I’d plug in and use the app—but it would just cycle endlessly, displaying "connecting" without ever actually starting to charge. I would then unplug, move to the next charger, and start the process over. Even when the charger did connect, it took two to three minutes to activate—tedious and chilly minutes as the wind swept down the plain.

My relief after connecting was often short-lived. I’d head inside the warm rest stop to thaw out, only to return and find the Francis Energy charger had shut off after just 20 minutes into a 45-minute session of charging for no apparent reason. This added an extra layer of frustration as I had to decide whether to try again with the faulty unit or move on to another location—with barely enough miles banked to make it.

One more thing: to leaven my range anxiety, I often implemented battery-saving measures, including turning off the heat in the car until I was safely near my destination. Not fun!

Adding to the frustration, I arrived at an Electrify America turnpike location only to find that the chargers simply weren’t turned on. There they stood, gleaming amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy rest stop, silently mocking me with their complete uselessness. It was both baffling and deeply disappointing to see these pristine, potentially lifesaving chargers sitting idle—especially at a moment when I needed them most.

I’ll add that ChargePoint chargers were generally reliable and easy to use, although encountering one that was out of order was not uncommon.

Maddeningly, every charger I used is equipped with a credit card reader, but none of them accepted the credit cards. Drivers either had to be pre-registered with the charging network or download and use their clunky app. This was both frustrating and unnecessary, especially for travelers who may not be part of a particular network or who are visiting an area for the first time. A universally accepted payment system—or simply ensuring credit card readers work—would go a long way toward making EV travel less stressful.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take advantage of Tesla’s vaunted Superchargers on this trip, but Ford is sending me a free adapter (which is currently on a long backorder…) that will allow me to use them in the future—an invaluable tool for long journeys, especially since Tesla chargers greatly outnumber the others along this route.

Some ICE Not So Nice

One additional issue added to my stress: the prevalence of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles parked in charging stalls. This was most common at Kansas turnpike rest stops, where drivers seemed oblivious to the inconvenience they caused. Many apparently wanted to park close to the grassy area to walk their dog and had no qualms about occupying EV charging spots while leisurely strolling around.

This left me wondering: would these same drivers feel comfortable parking at a gas pump and leaving their car there while they wandered off? Likely not. Yet, the relative novelty of EVs and a lack of enforcement allow this behavior to persist.

A Welcome Haven

When I arrived in Oklahoma City, frustrated that a typically five-hour trip had stretched into nearly ten (with one of those extra hours lost to Oklahoma City’s ridiculously Byzantine and snarled rush hour traffic—don’t get me started on that), my brother and sister-in-law kindly let me charge the Mach-E in their garage overnight using my portable Ford-supplied charger on household current. While it provided just enough range to reach the next charging station, their hospitality, along with pre-conditioning the car, made the situation far more manageable.

What made the experience especially rewarding was the opportunity to share information about EVs with my brother, who works in a field that trains first responders to handle accidents involving EVs, particularly dealing with ruptured batteries. His professional knowledge gave us plenty to discuss—and I suspect he might even get an EV himself someday.

As we talked about the challenges of my trip, he remarked with a grin, 'You’re having quite the adventure.' And he wasn’t wrong. Others shared similar sentiments, noting that while the trip had its hair-raising moments, it was undoubtedly a valuable learning experience. I have to agree—facing the challenges of winter driving and sparse infrastructure gave me a deeper understanding of my vehicle’s limitations and the complexities of navigating a charging network.

A Smoother Return

The return trip to Kansas City was notably less stressful. Significantly warmer temperatures helped mitigate the battery drain and my experience from the drive down gave me a good sense of where the best chargers were located. The Electrify America stations remained my top choice for fast and reliable charging, and having a clear plan in place helped alleviate the anxiety I’d felt on the first leg of the trip.

That said, the challenges I faced left a lasting impression.

As much as I love the Mustang Mach-E, I won’t attempt this trip again unless I see significant updates to charging infrastructure in the Oklahoma City area. Even then, I’d probably only consider making the journey during warmer months, when battery efficiency isn’t as severely impacted. The stress of navigating sparse and often broken chargers and the annoyance of app-based payment systems simply isn’t worth it.

The Road Ahead

Despite the frustrations, I plan to keep my Mach-E for several more years. It’s a fun car with great features—and it looks cool. With updates to charging networks and advancements in battery technology on the horizon, I’m optimistic about what the EV market will offer in the near future. Current trends suggest that doubling the battery life of today’s EVs could become a reality within just a few years.

My Mach-E averages a range of 225 to 245 miles, depending on conditions—a respectable range for now. However, I’ve already set my sights on my next EV, though I won’t upgrade until I can get a vehicle with at least 400 miles of range on a single charge. That will make long-distance road trips far more feasible, even in areas like Oklahoma, where EV infrastructure still lags behind.

Driving from Kansas City to Oklahoma City in my Mustang Mach-E was a true test of patience and a valuable lesson in the realities of EV travel. Winter conditions, range anxiety and inconsistent charging networks highlighted the critical need for improved battery capability and infrastructure—not just for early adopters but for the wider adoption of sustainable transportation.