2,000 Miles In A VW ID.4 – Our EV Road Trip From Seattle To Santa Cruz

Long-distance EV travel has come a long way — and this trip proves it. In an episode of the VWIDTalk Podcast, Jan breaks down a 2,000-mile round trip from Seattle to Santa Cruz in an 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, covering everything from route planning to charging curves to a few small gotchas along the way. Taking three days in each direction, the route followed Highway 101 through the winding Oregon and California coastline and the beautiful, towering redwoods, offering both scenic views and EV-specific lessons.

Jan used A Better Routeplanner (ABRP) connected to an OBD dongle to dynamically adjust charging stops based on real-time data like state of charge. With seven DC fast-charging sessions on the way down, averaging around 100 kWh and 1 hour 20 minutes per day for charging and food stops, the drive was fun. Charging speeds starting at 120 kW below 20% state of charge, and a Premium Electrify America plan helped bring the cost down by 25% compared to regular pricing.

The episode also shares several practical tips: how to monitor station availability while on the road, why tapping the wrong card reader can cause issues starting a charge session, and how the built-in navigation in the ID.4 has become a surprisingly capable fallback if your app isn’t working. For anyone planning a multi-day trip in an EV—this is a refreshingly honest look at what to expect.

If you’ve ever chased down a rare part number, dreamed about building your perfect GTI or just love a good car story, this one’s for you. Get the full story on the VWIDTalk Podcast on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts ( Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, Overdrive and more).

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.