Title: Pancakes Are Great, But Can You Really Trust Them?
Haha, diner pancakes as a backup plan... tempting, but risky. But seriously, is mapping out every stop really necessary? I've winged it plenty of times without issues—maybe it's just luck or location? Curious if others have had similar experiences.
"Haha, diner pancakes as a backup plan... tempting, but risky."
Risky indeed—especially if you're counting on them to ease the pain of a dead battery. I've winged it too, but honestly, location matters a ton. Ever tried finding a charger in rural areas at midnight? Not fun... trust me.
Had a similar experience last summer—battery died halfway between towns, middle of nowhere, pitch dark. Pancakes weren't even an option, sadly. Ended up waiting over two hours for roadside assistance to show up. Definitely made me rethink my planning habits... now I always double-check charging station locations along my route, especially if I'm headed somewhere remote or unfamiliar. Better safe than sorry, right?
"Definitely made me rethink my planning habits... now I always double-check charging station locations along my route"
Totally agree with this—planning ahead is key. Another quick tip I'd add is to keep a small emergency kit in your car. Doesn't have to be fancy: flashlight, blanket, bottled water, maybe some snacks (granola bars are my go-to). You'd be surprised how much more comfortable it makes waiting for assistance if things go sideways. Learned that one the hard way myself after a chilly night stranded roadside...
I get the appeal of having an emergency kit handy, but honestly, if you're already double-checking charging stations and planning your route carefully, isn't that enough? I've been driving my EV for almost two years now, and I've never once needed an emergency blanket or snacks. Seems like extra clutter to me, especially if you're budget-conscious and trying to keep things simple.
Instead of packing extra stuff, I'd recommend investing a bit more time into familiarizing yourself with your car's real-world range. The displayed mileage can be pretty optimistic sometimes, especially in colder weather or hilly areas. I learned early on to mentally subtract about 15-20% from whatever my car tells me. It's not perfect science, but it keeps me from cutting it too close.
Also, if you're really worried about getting stranded, maybe consider joining one of those roadside assistance programs. I know it sounds like an unnecessary expense at first, but some insurance companies offer it super cheap as an add-on. Mine costs less than a couple cups of coffee per month, and it covers towing and charging assistance. To me, that's way more practical than lugging around blankets and granola bars that I'll probably never use.
Just my two cents though... everyone's comfort level is different.
