Undoubtedly, AI holds immense potential across various applications. Curious about its practicality, I wondered: could Chat GPT plan an EV road trip? Intrigued, I set out on a journey to put it to the test. Here’s how it went.
Key Takeaways from Using Chat GPT to Plan an EV Road Trip
- AI Potential: AI, including Chat GPT, has great potential in travel planning, but current limitations exist.
- Route Issues: The initial plan included incorrect routing and non-existent charging stops, revealing data gaps.
- Real-World Challenges: Inaccurate charging stops and optimistic travel times highlighted the need for human oversight.
- Detailed Adjustments: Despite more specific requests, the plan still had inaccuracies in drive times and charging needs.
- Future Potential: With improved data accuracy, AI like Chat GPT could become a valuable travel planning tool. Until then, human experience is essential.
Why I Used Chat GPT to Plan an EV Road Trip
My summer plans to drive to Alaska and the Yukon are very likley put off for a year. I was swamped the last few months thanks to a series of random trips (one saw me go around-the-world in 10 days!) and planning out my northern road trip slipped. As such, the ferry between Bellingham and Skagway booked up and my desired dates. Disappointed, I looked for another trip to take.
On short notice, I decided to drive to Edmonton to visit a friend in the hospital there and wanted to make a bit of a trip out of the journey. I have done this route a few times and was looking for something different. I didn’t have much time to deep dive it like my Quebec Nord and other road trips so I turned to AI and asked Chat GPT to plan an EV road trip for me.
My Chat GPT Road Trip Plan
I started out my Chat GPT road trip plan with very broad parameters. Specifically,
“Make me an EV road trip plan for a Tesla Model Y long-range traveling from Vancouver to Edmonton, leaving on a Wednesday at noon and arriving Friday night. I would like to camp along the way at a national park that has gravel bike trails and golf somewhere in a small town along the way if there is time.
This resulted in the following basic plan:
Chat GPT Road Trip Plan – Vancouver to Edmonton
**Day 1: Wednesday**
– **12:00 PM:** Depart Vancouver
– **2:00 PM:** Stop in Hope, BC for charging (30 minutes)
– **5:30 PM:** Arrive in Kamloops, BC
– **Activity Options:** Explore Riverside Park or visit local attractions
**Day 2: Thursday**
– **8:00 AM:** Depart Kamloops
– **9:00 AM:** Stop in Merritt, BC for charging (30 minutes)
– **12:00 PM:** Stop in Clearwater, BC for charging if needed (30 minutes)
– **2:00 PM:** Arrive in Jasper National Park
– **Check-in:** Whistlers Campground
– **Afternoon Activity:** Bike on the gravel trails in Jasper
– **6:00 PM:** Set up camp and enjoy the evening
**Day 3: Friday**
– **8:00 AM:** Morning biking or hiking in Jasper National Park
– **11:00 AM:** Depart Jasper
– **12:00 PM:** Arrive in Hinton, AB
– **Lunch and Golfing:** Hinton Golf Club
– **4:00 PM:** Depart Hinton
– **5:00 PM:** Stop in Edson, AB for charging (30 minutes)
– **9:00 PM:** Arrive in Edmonton
### Notes:
– **Charging:** Ensure to check the availability of Superchargers and plan for potential wait times.
– **Camping:** Reserve your campsite at Whistlers Campground in advance.
– **Golfing:** Book a tee time at Hinton Golf Club ahead of time.
Enjoy your road trip!
Chat GPT Road Trip Issues
Now, if you aren’t familiar with British Columbia, Merritt is on the way to Kamloops and both locations have plenty of charging options, including Tesla Superchargers. So why, oh why, does Chat GPT have me going to Kamloops and then an hour backtracking to charge in Merritt? Clearly, Chat GPT does not have awareness or accurate charger location details. Clearly, this is a problem.
Additional Parameters
To address the odd routing as well as wanting more trip details, I asked Chat GPT to add driving and charging times and to include activities and places to eat/sights to see while charging. I also asked to get further than Kamloops on the first day, as that is only a four-hour drive from Vancouver. Things got weirder.
The plan had me staying a couple hours further in Salmon Arm on the first night which was great, however, instead of backtracking to charge in Merritt, this time it had me backtracking to charge in Kamloops. Why wouldn’t it have had me charge in Kamloops on the initial plan?
Next, the drive times were off by an hour which was confusing.
Last, the new route had me going up the Ice fields Parkway, a drive I have done before and loved. That said, knowing from experience, charging options are limited and the plan had no mention of charging past Golden, BC. This would not be enough to get me there so I asked to add a charging stop so I could make it to my destination in Jasper.
Chat GPT Road Trip – Final Plan
I also asked to Chat GPT to adjust the drive times accordingly and advised not to back track on changing. For my final plan, I decided on staying in Revelstoke the first night and golfing there in the AM and asked to change golfing last day location closer to Edmonton so I could meet a friend.
In the end, here is the plan it spit out:
Chat GPT Road Trip Plan – Vancouver to Edmonton
**Day 1: Wednesday**
– **12:00 PM:** Depart Vancouver
– **2:00 PM:** Stop in Hope, BC for charging (30 minutes)
– **Distance:** ~150 km
– **Cost:** ~$15 CAD
– **Sightseeing:** Take a short walk around Memorial Park or visit the Hope Arts Gallery.
– **Dining:** Grab a coffee or a quick bite at Blue Moose Coffee House.
– **2:30 PM:** Depart Hope
– **4:00 PM:** Stop in Merritt, BC for charging (30 minutes)
– **Distance:** ~125 km
– **Cost:** ~$15 CAD
– **Sightseeing:** Check out the historic Baillie House or walk along the Coldwater River Trail.
– **Dining:** Enjoy a meal at Brambles Bakery & Cafe or Nicola Sushi.
– **4:30 PM:** Depart Merritt
– **7:00 PM:** Arrive in Revelstoke, BC
– **Distance:** ~175 km
– **Sightseeing:** Visit the Revelstoke Railway Museum or the Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre.
– **Dining:** Have dinner at Main Street Cafe or La Baguette.
– **Evening Activity:** Explore the town, dine locally, and relax.
**Day 2: Thursday**
– **8:00 AM:** Morning golfing in Revelstoke
– **Activity:** Play a round of golf at Revelstoke Golf Club.
– **11:00 AM:** Depart Revelstoke
– **1:30 PM:** Stop in Golden, BC for charging (30 minutes)
– **Distance:** ~150 km
– **Cost:** ~$15 CAD
– **Sightseeing:** Visit the Golden Skybridge or the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge.
– **Dining:** Enjoy a meal at The Whitetooth Mountain Bistro or Eleven22 Restaurant.
– **2:00 PM:** Depart Golden
– **5:30 PM:** Stop in Lake Louise, AB for charging (45 minutes)
– **Distance:** ~130 km
– **Cost:** ~$20 CAD
– **Sightseeing:** Visit Lake Louise itself or take a short hike around the area.
– **Dining:** Grab a snack or meal at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar.
– **6:15 PM:** Depart Lake Louise
– **8:00 PM:** Arrive in Jasper National Park
– **Distance:** ~230 km
– **Check-in:** Whistlers Campground
– **Evening Activity:** Set up camp and enjoy the evening with a campfire and stargazing.
**Day 3: Friday**
– **8:00 AM:** Morning biking or hiking in Jasper National Park
– **11:00 AM:** Depart Jasper
– **12:00 PM:** Stop in Hinton, AB
– **Distance:** ~80 km
– **Dining:** Have lunch at Rojo Marron Mexican Restaurant or Mountain Donair.
– **1:00 PM:** Depart Hinton
– **3:00 PM:** Stop in Edson, AB for charging (30 minutes)
– **Distance:** ~150 km
– **Cost:** ~$15 CAD
– **Sightseeing:** Visit the Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre.
– **Dining:** Enjoy a meal at Mountain Pizza & Steakhouse or The Funky Fork.
– **3:30 PM:** Depart Edson
– **5:30 PM:** Arrive at Cougar Creek Golf Resort
– **Distance:** ~130 km
– **Activity:** Play a round of golf at Cougar Creek Golf Resort.
– **8:00 PM:** Depart Cougar Creek
– **8:45 PM:** Arrive in Edmonton
– **Distance:** ~50 km
### Notes:
– **Charging:** Ensure to check the availability of Superchargers and plan for potential wait times.
– **Camping:** Reserve your campsite at Whistlers Campground in advance.
– **Golfing:** Book a tee time at Revelstoke Golf Club and Cougar Creek Golf Resort ahead of time.
**Estimated Total Charging Cost:** ~$80 CAD
Enjoy your road trip!
Despite my adjustments, significant issues remain. The most notable is the lack of a charging stop between Merritt, BC, and Revelstoke. While the 300 km distance is technically within range, the mountainous drive presents real-world challenges. Additionally, a 2.5-hour round of golf at the end of the trip is optimistic, shaving two hours off the itinerary. Perhaps it assumes I’d only manage to fit in nine holes?
To be safe, I ended up taking the bones of this Chat GPT road trip and plugged it into ABRP to get a more reliable plan in place. By using ABRP I was able to find a CCS fast charger in Field, BC which removed the need to slow charge in Lake Louise before continuing on the Jasper.
So, can You Use Chat GPT to Plan an EV Road Trip?
Although using Chat GPT to plan an EV road trip provides a solid framework, the details require refinement. Issues like non-existent charging stops, backtracking to chargers when there is no need, and inaccurate travel times can pose significant risks if followed blindly.
That said, as AI continues to advance and gather more accurate data (ie. scapes/steals from sites like this) it could become a valuable tool. In the meantime, check out my EV road trips for a reliable, human perspective!
