Thanksgiving can be a sensitive time for those of us that work in the EV charging industry. There’s of course the trope of the EV skeptic uncle who might be particularly energized this year. There’s also the more mundane prospect of having to explain yet again that your trip was fine and as always charging was not an issue. For those of us on the infrastructure side, there’s the very real concern that perhaps the promise of seamless charging won’t pan out for some. Ghosts of thanksgiving’s past like the very viral and perennially exaggerated video from Thanksgiving 2019 at the San Luis Obispo Supercharger still haunt our industry this time of year. And while it’s true that charging infrastructure has come a far way in the last five years, this is still the time of year that puts our still nascent industry to the test.

So, what can we do to do besides fret and look forward to some tryptophan fueled stress relief? At Stable, whenever we find ourselves facing a fog of uncertainty and anecdotes we’ve found that data offers the best sunlight. This case is no different. If you find yourself trying to plug in this Thanksgiving, here’s what we’ve found:

Is congestion a problem?

As with any major travel weekend, there’s the potential for congestion but at this point it’s less of a particular concern for charging than it is dealing with traffic more broadly. Looking at the daily trends, expect some charging congestion in the same places you’d expect traffic more broadly:

  • Pretty much any highway remotely close to LA
  • The northeastern corridor running from Phildadelphia to Boston
  • Getting in and out of most major metros especially Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Miami

Areas With Gongestion by Hour Over Thanksgiving Week

Congestion was intermittent and concentrated around peak travel times, mostly concentrated in the afternoon and evening and typically outside a handful of peak hours was relatively manageable.

What’s the best way to beat the traffic?

Unlike a normal week when weekend afternoons see the greatest congestion, around Thanksgiving the two worst times to plug in are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday afternoon. Saturday afternoon in particular is a time of peak congestion nationwide. Our advice - get some extra time with your friends and family, travel on Sunday if you can.

Average Nationwide Utilization by Hour Over Thanksgiving Week

Last years most congested corridors and times:

  1. I-96 (west from Detroit) 5pm on Friday
  2. I-290 (Chicago area) 8pm on Tuesday
  3. CA-60 (LA area) 11am on Saturday
  4. CA-14 (north from LA) 1pm on Saturday
  5. I-5 north of LA 12pm on Friday
  6. CA-73 south of LA 3pm on Friday
  7. US-101 in OR 3pm on Saturday
  8. I-215 (east of LA) 9pm on Saturday
  9. I-69 in MI 3pm on Wednesday
  10. I-680 in CA (east of SF) 3pm on Saturday