Had a similar experience myself a few months back:
- Planned a weekend trip meticulously—checked multiple apps, battery fully charged, even had a backup charging station mapped out.
- Halfway there, first station was occupied with a long wait, second one was offline (no warning from the app, of course).
- Ended up spending an hour at a random coffee shop waiting for someone to finish charging. Not exactly the relaxing start I'd hoped for...
Portable charger sounds like a smart move, though I haven't gone that route yet. Curious—how much extra range do those portable chargers realistically give you? I've heard mixed things about their effectiveness, especially in colder weather.
Also, granola bars are solid, but personally, I keep a stash of trail mix and beef jerky in the glove compartment. Learned the hard way that hunger makes waiting for a charger feel twice as long.
One thing I've wondered about: has anyone tried calling ahead to confirm charger availability? Seems old-school, but maybe more reliable than apps sometimes...
Calling ahead actually saved me once—charger showed available on the app, but when I called, the attendant said it'd been down all day. Apps are handy, but sometimes old-school methods still win out...especially on longer trips.
Good call on double-checking. I've learned the hard way never to fully trust apps—had a similar thing happen last summer. App said charger was good to go, but when I arrived, it was blocked off for maintenance. Now I always have a backup plan, even if it's just knowing another charger 10 miles away. Might seem overly cautious, but better safe than sorry, especially on those longer drives...
Yeah, apps can definitely be misleading sometimes. I haven't had a charger blocked off yet, but I've had a few close calls where the app showed availability, and when I got there, all spots were taken. Now I always factor in some extra buffer miles just in case. Curious—do you guys think it's worth investing in one of those portable emergency chargers, or is that overkill? Seems handy, but they're pricey and bulky...
"Curious—do you guys think it's worth investing in one of those portable emergency chargers, or is that overkill?"
Honestly, they're bulky and pretty pricey for what you get. Better off planning a bit more conservatively with your range and having a reliable roadside assistance membership as backup. Saved me once already...
