The end of July brings some of the best weather and is an awesome time to visit the lakes region in New Hampshire. But getting there in an electric vehicle has its challenges.

We methodically planned the trip in our Mustang Mach-e which has a range of 300 miles. We had plenty of juice to get us there, but would need to stop in Seabrook, NH on the trip back. Fast charging was allegedly available near the Walmart at 700 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, NH.

We pulled into the lot and located the charging stations. Three of the four stations were occupied so we pulled into the one open slot. Unfortunately, the charger was not working. However, we noticed that one of the vehicles had completed its charge and was pulling away. So we hopped back into the car and began to move towards that open slot. But someone else came zipping around the corner and slipped into the space and it was no longer available. Rather than risk a battle, we decided to venture further and stop on Route 1 in Saugus at the Square 1 Mall.

We pulled into the mall and located the two charging stations. They were both in use. And there was a gentlemen waiting to use one. In speaking with him, we learned that one of the vehicles at the station had completed its charge, but the operator was no where to be found. The driver that lacks charging etiquette just furthers the anxiety.

Understanding that there were more chargers on the northbound side of Route 1, we ventured over to the Walmart parking lot in search of more juice. We were hoping that it would be more than the juice we would find in the grocery aisle in Walmart. Arriving there, we found two of the four stations out of order, but one available. So into the spot we pulled, and we plugged the vehicle in. With 45 minutes to spare, we ventured into the Walmart to do some shopping.

After being in the store for 15 minutes, I looked at my Ford app to check the status of the charge, only to learn that it had stopped charging. I ran out of the store only to find that there was a charging error and it needed to be restarted. I dutifully went through the process to plug in again, process the payment through my iphone, and get the charge underway.

When I got out of the car, a gentleman approached me and warned that the charger I was using was notorious for failing. I cautiously re-entered the store and kept the app running to make sure I was getting the juice into my car. After 20 minutes of more anxiety, we finished shopping and went out to find that I had received about 65% of charge and that was enough to get me home, so we left unsatisfied and exhausted.

These journeys and missteps added an extra 90 minutes onto the ride home from New Hampshire. That’s not a good statement in support of EV’s and left me determined that we have to do better.