⚡Buying an EV Without a Plan: My Honest Experience & What You Should Know

I am no stranger to making impulsive decisions, but buying an electric vehicle was probably the one that required some planning.... 😬

On a Thursday I went to see a Chevrolet Blazer RS EV, loved it. Sporty, fun, signed the deal. Picked it up Friday after an event, parked it in the driveway and immediately went to finish packing because I had a plane to catch! 

Once I got to sit during the flight, a flurry of questions came flooding in, to which I did not have answers. 

Do you need to warm up electric cars in the winter?
How does one go about using public charging stations?
As a road tripper, what level of complexity did I just add to my adventures?
How long will it take to install my at home charging station?

⚡ What I learned in a chaotic 72 hours ⚡

Once I returned home I knew the inevitable was a draining battery for which I was not prepared to handle.

Here is what I learned by jumping right into the fire......

• You can get a panel installed by a pro in a day. Relatively quick and painless, make sure your unit can catch your Wi-Fi signal if you want to be able to use the app to track usage etc. The panel I chose was EVIQO Level 2 EV Charger. Make sure your panel can manage the additional load. So far, so good. 

• Super DC Chargers (150-250kw versus Level 2 at 5-11kw when you're in a crunch for time), Tesla stations will likely become a lifeline at some point. Do yourself a favor and get an adaptor so you can take your non-Tesla to one of these stations and keep that adaptor in your trunk. Here is the one I bought: NACS to CCS1 Adaptor for Tesla Stations

• Next, download the apps for the Level 2 stations and get your accounts setup. Flo, Chargepoint, Shift, Electrify Canada. When you go to these charging stations you will tap your phone to start your sessions and get updates on the status of your charge if you leave your vehicle. Remember, Level 2 are slow so this charge will take quite some time. 
  Order tangible cards from these companies beforehand (they take up to 10 days to arrive) this way if for any reason your phone or app acts up, you can tap the card to get your charge started!

• In the cold, you will want to do what is called "pre-conditioning" which is to warm up the battery versus the engine oil. This helps with energy efficiency and optimization, spend the time to learn how to do this! It also benefits your ability to fast charge!

• Road tripping......this was really one of my major concerns because my household is big on it! So, I mapped out a route for my 2026 pilgrimage to Madison Square Gardens to see Bon Jovi! 🎸 Does the EV add time to the journey? Of course. But knowing there is no shortage of chargers along the way eases my worry about being stranded. Before your trip, map it out and make sure you have the right apps (and physical cards.....Chargepoint and Electrify USA seem to be the ones most available on my route).
  Also, hotels with charging? chef’s kiss 

In summary, so far so good. The dollars make great cents, sustainability impact is amazing, so I feel confident that this was the right choice even though it was a bit of a bumpy start! 

If you are considering or in the market, I hope this helps! ⚡