Readers challenged our columnist to take an affordable electric car on a route with less-than-ideal charging options. Here’s what happened.
The journey took America’s cheapest EV through the Deep South, a region widely described as a charging desert where public fast-charging stations are sparse. The columnist set out to test whether an affordable electric vehicle could realistically complete a long-distance trip without reliable charging infrastructure.
Along the route, the driver encountered long detours, broken chargers, and hours of waiting. The experience highlighted the stark gap between EV adoption in coastal cities and the limited options available to drivers in rural Southern states.
Despite the obstacles, the trip was completed, proving that even the most affordable EVs can handle long distances—if drivers are willing to plan carefully and tolerate significant inconvenience.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing