Planning 1st Long-Distance EQS Drive — Advice from Experienced Road-Trippers Needed
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 762
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From: Oregon USA
2023 Mercedes EQS 580 SUV, 2023 Bentley Bentayga, 2023 Genesis GV60
Funny related story: I flew down to Salt Lake City to pick up my brand new Bentley Bentayga, and I got a rock chip the very first day driving it through Idaho. It was in the corner, so every day I look at it and remember that fateful decision not to have it shipped.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 111
Likes: 67
2023 EQS 580 SUV, 2024 EQE 500 SUV, 2024 F150 King Ranch PowerBoost, 1997 BMW M3 Sedan
I’ve been experimenting with the Mercedes me app and stumbled on one little “trick” (though I’m sure there are plenty more out there). Here was my goal:
Since I’m new to the EQS and to charging in general, I wanted to test my ability to a) locate charging stations and b) actually go use one. So, I entered Vail, CO as my destination and built a route. The app gave me a clean route with no charging stops, which (eventually) made sense given my current charge. I thought, “Well, I don’t want to drive all the way to Vail right now—I just want to find a charger 20 miles away and practice!”
Eventually, I discovered that if I went into Electric Intelligence Route and manually slid the “Current Charge Level” to off and manually set the charge to 10% (even though my real SOC was 64%), the app was forced to plot in a charging stop. That worked!
Here’s my next challenge perhaps you can help me with: the app will choose one charging station, but what if I want to see all of the charging options along the way to Vail so I can pick the one I want? How might I do that?
Since I’m new to the EQS and to charging in general, I wanted to test my ability to a) locate charging stations and b) actually go use one. So, I entered Vail, CO as my destination and built a route. The app gave me a clean route with no charging stops, which (eventually) made sense given my current charge. I thought, “Well, I don’t want to drive all the way to Vail right now—I just want to find a charger 20 miles away and practice!”
Eventually, I discovered that if I went into Electric Intelligence Route and manually slid the “Current Charge Level” to off and manually set the charge to 10% (even though my real SOC was 64%), the app was forced to plot in a charging stop. That worked!
Here’s my next challenge perhaps you can help me with: the app will choose one charging station, but what if I want to see all of the charging options along the way to Vail so I can pick the one I want? How might I do that?
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 223
Likes: 73
From: Alabama
2023 X296 EQS 580 SUV / 2018 991.2 Cabriolet
I’ve been experimenting with the Mercedes me app and stumbled on one little “trick” (though I’m sure there are plenty more out there). Here was my goal:
Since I’m new to the EQS and to charging in general, I wanted to test my ability to a) locate charging stations and b) actually go use one. So, I entered Vail, CO as my destination and built a route. The app gave me a clean route with no charging stops, which (eventually) made sense given my current charge. I thought, “Well, I don’t want to drive all the way to Vail right now—I just want to find a charger 20 miles away and practice!”
Eventually, I discovered that if I went into Electric Intelligence Route and manually slid the “Current Charge Level” to off and manually set the charge to 10% (even though my real SOC was 64%), the app was forced to plot in a charging stop. That worked!
Here’s my next challenge perhaps you can help me with: the app will choose one charging station, but what if I want to see all of the charging options along the way to Vail so I can pick the one I want? How might I do that?
Since I’m new to the EQS and to charging in general, I wanted to test my ability to a) locate charging stations and b) actually go use one. So, I entered Vail, CO as my destination and built a route. The app gave me a clean route with no charging stops, which (eventually) made sense given my current charge. I thought, “Well, I don’t want to drive all the way to Vail right now—I just want to find a charger 20 miles away and practice!”
Eventually, I discovered that if I went into Electric Intelligence Route and manually slid the “Current Charge Level” to off and manually set the charge to 10% (even though my real SOC was 64%), the app was forced to plot in a charging stop. That worked!
Here’s my next challenge perhaps you can help me with: the app will choose one charging station, but what if I want to see all of the charging options along the way to Vail so I can pick the one I want? How might I do that?
Also, in the mobile app, when you are looking at the steps in your planned route, you can click on a charging step to bring up a map of where the station is. I believe you can also see other stations around it. Unfortunately, you have to zoom in fairly closely to see the icons for chargers. Here's an example:
Already fairly zoomed in, no sign of the Tesla charging station:
Zoom in just a little more and THERE SHE IS!!
Last edited by runbuh; Oct 3, 2025 at 02:10 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 7
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EQS 580 SUV
Congrats. The best charging option is the one that is closest to where you need it to be, and that is most frequently Tesla. Among the others, depends where you find yourself. In my experience, EA are better machines than EVgo and Chargepoint, You can always set up a new account while you are at the charger, if you do not want to set up in advance, I hate to say this, but we have found the need to use Tesla, EA, EVgo, AmpUp, and Chargepoint, and both PlugShare and Flo to locate chargers.
We have found Tesla to be ubiquitous in most areas, and best-maintained chargers. You should be OK on I-80 if you plan a little. Regretfully, I have never used ABRP. Have used Roadtrippers and Inroute and AllStays but have used them when traveling in the motorhome, which is diesel, not the EQS. Among them, like with the charge station locators, sometimes your go to will fail you and need a backup, and sometimes a backup to the backup.
Charging, of course, is the worst part of owning an electric car - in fact, in my opinion, the only drawback... but it can be serious at times. It is for this reason only that my wife got a new hybrid instead of EV. I say, when in doubt, charge it.
Hope this is helpful
We have found Tesla to be ubiquitous in most areas, and best-maintained chargers. You should be OK on I-80 if you plan a little. Regretfully, I have never used ABRP. Have used Roadtrippers and Inroute and AllStays but have used them when traveling in the motorhome, which is diesel, not the EQS. Among them, like with the charge station locators, sometimes your go to will fail you and need a backup, and sometimes a backup to the backup.
Charging, of course, is the worst part of owning an electric car - in fact, in my opinion, the only drawback... but it can be serious at times. It is for this reason only that my wife got a new hybrid instead of EV. I say, when in doubt, charge it.
Hope this is helpful
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 111
Likes: 67
2023 EQS 580 SUV, 2024 EQE 500 SUV, 2024 F150 King Ranch PowerBoost, 1997 BMW M3 Sedan
Congrats. The best charging option is the one that is closest to where you need it to be, and that is most frequently Tesla. Among the others, depends where you find yourself. In my experience, EA are better machines than EVgo and Chargepoint, You can always set up a new account while you are at the charger, if you do not want to set up in advance, I hate to say this, but we have found the need to use Tesla, EA, EVgo, AmpUp, and Chargepoint, and both PlugShare and Flo to locate chargers.
We have found Tesla to be ubiquitous in most areas, and best-maintained chargers. You should be OK on I-80 if you plan a little. Regretfully, I have never used ABRP. Have used Roadtrippers and Inroute and AllStays but have used them when traveling in the motorhome, which is diesel, not the EQS. Among them, like with the charge station locators, sometimes your go to will fail you and need a backup, and sometimes a backup to the backup.
Charging, of course, is the worst part of owning an electric car - in fact, in my opinion, the only drawback... but it can be serious at times. It is for this reason only that my wife got a new hybrid instead of EV. I say, when in doubt, charge it.
Hope this is helpful
We have found Tesla to be ubiquitous in most areas, and best-maintained chargers. You should be OK on I-80 if you plan a little. Regretfully, I have never used ABRP. Have used Roadtrippers and Inroute and AllStays but have used them when traveling in the motorhome, which is diesel, not the EQS. Among them, like with the charge station locators, sometimes your go to will fail you and need a backup, and sometimes a backup to the backup.
Charging, of course, is the worst part of owning an electric car - in fact, in my opinion, the only drawback... but it can be serious at times. It is for this reason only that my wife got a new hybrid instead of EV. I say, when in doubt, charge it.
Hope this is helpful
What PHEV did your wife get? We went from a wonderful '22 Volvo XC60 Recharge to the EQS 580 SUV, we shall see how it goes over time!
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Super Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 762
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From: Oregon USA
2023 Mercedes EQS 580 SUV, 2023 Bentley Bentayga, 2023 Genesis GV60
A few other tidbits for long-distance travel:
The Chargeway app is great for easily seeing every charger around you and what type of adapter it has and its speed.
If you happen across a GM Energy charger, use it. It's the best implementation of a public charger I've seen in my hundreds of stops.
The Chargepoint fob works at most chargers except EA and Tesla.
The Chargeway app is great for easily seeing every charger around you and what type of adapter it has and its speed.
If you happen across a GM Energy charger, use it. It's the best implementation of a public charger I've seen in my hundreds of stops.
The Chargepoint fob works at most chargers except EA and Tesla.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Phoenix AZ & Cayucos CA
’27 AMG SL55(ordered), ‘23 EQS 580 SUV, ‘19 AMG E53 Cpe, ‘48 Willys Jeepster
