Day 2 with Polestar 2 EV

polestar-day2.txt

TL;DR - America lacks the infrastructure for road trips in EVs...
except it doesn't.

We flew into Newark Liberty airport yesterday with the intention
of picking up a Polestar 2 (lease) and driving it back to Chicago.
Why Newark? Because Polestar is a new brand and they have three
dealerships.  One in Manhattan, the other two in California.
The dealer in NYC volunteered to bring the car to EWR to save us
having to deal with NYC traffic. Yay!

Except not yay.  They got a flat on the way, and had the car towed
back to Manhattan, so we took a Lyft and spent a couple hours we
didn't plan on spending.  Whatever, hap shittens.

We eventually make it out and get to Bloomsburg, PA where we stay
for the night, getting a free charge to full thanks to the hotel. Yay!

Next day, plan a trip to Pittsburg stopping in Du Bois for a fast
charge at the Walmart.  Uh oh. Problem.  The charger here is
incompatible with our car due to a known software bug on Polestar's
side (fix pending). Nearest charger is in a small town right at the
limit of our remaining charge.  Like... estimated charge at
destination 2% kind of limit.  And even that one is a slow (6.6kW)
charger so we'll be there for hours.

If we get there.  As we attempt to get back on the interstate,
we discover that the onramp is closed.  It will be a couple
twisty miles on side roads getting to the next one.
Range anxiety levels: Maximum.

Welp... suck it up buttercup.  We turn off all unnecessary
power sinks, grab the slow lane, and draft some big rigs.
Make it with 10% battery to spare, and play some card games
riverside while chowing on some mexican food.  Kinda nice tbqh.

What's the name of our township rescuer? You'll love this.
Our EV was saved by.... wait for it... Oil City, PA.

You can't make that shit up.

We're currently stopped in Cambridge Springs, PA after being
directed down remote dirt roads with no cell coverage by Google Maps,
and grabbing a few more kWh before finishing up the day in
Erie to charge overnight and hopefully have no more issues.

Update: While writing this, Angela has discovered a worrying
lack of vacancy in the hotel with the charger in Erie.
Wish us luck.

Update 2: No vacancies within 50 miles of Erie.
Plan G has us in Mentor, OH by 22:00 to stay somewhere without
a charger, but have a chance to use the fast charger at
Harley Davidson in the morning.  ((HD has been fuckin' aces
for charging btw.  Wish I rode motorbikes, I'd buy one today.))