On the final morning of our trip, we headed to Edwardsville, Illinois, planning to visit the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center along the way. But here we met our first EV hurdle – our car’s screen showed several petrol stations but no EV charging points for almost 60 miles (97km) in between.

So far, searching for EV charging locations had been simple, even fun. On our second day, we found ourselves on a detour that led to joining an entire town for an outdoor concert.

This was the first time we felt uncertain since leaving Chicago.

The PlugShare phone app showed a charge point at a Walmart Supercentre – 20 miles (32km) out of our way. With dwindling battery power, the warnings we’d heard came flooding back to us. Those stories ended with helpful strangers bringing petrol in a can. Our anxiety was high as we made the detour to Walmart – and made it just in time.  

The obstacles are different on an electric road trip – running too low on battery power, not being able to complete the journey in time. But just like our plucky, petrol-powered predecessors, we powered through. Literally.