The Journey of Stealth 2.0

[daveo4EV]

Now I am one week from Delivery, a little nervous and mostly excited.
I am set to get a GYEON ceramic coat and XPEL XR+ tint on 4 side windows and hatch. Worked out to pick up my car from PECLA two days before we were flying to the east coast and the detailer will take care of it while we’re away and have it ready when we return. I’ll be sure to post pictures and give contact information once things are completed if others are in the Los Angeles area. I must say that I reached out to three different detailers and all of them were very professional.

say hi to charles for me - the unnecessary cayenne is the delivery he handled for us in april of 2021

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[ron_b]

Received my car on the 10th as planned after a 1/2 day of Los Angeles Porsche Experience Center (which I wholeheartedly recommend).
They treated my 2 boys 26 & 21 and my wife very well. While I was out on track with a Macan EV. Boys had a go in a 911 and some others things. Excellent opportunity to try out an equivalent car and have a spectacular family event.

Only one photo of the car as others are on a memory stick from PECLA awaiting my return home to a laptop.

Car is left with a detailer for ceramic and window tint while we fly to DC.

 

[ron_b]

Well, my large journey starts tomorrow morning, but I did want to share my one charging session with preconditioning when I came home from Los Angeles. I didn’t need much only about 10% added to the battery. I stopped in Los Alamos at the EA, it’s actually a favorite charger of mine because so a few people know about it. Thanks to @daveo4EV for pointing it out and the Bobs Well Bread Bakery across the street.

Anyway, the vehicle actually did pick this Charger after initially picking Pismo Beach, which had no availability. Arrived at Los Alamos and I saw the car was heating the battery slightly as we were coming past the lake. The car was claiming 270 kW as I approached. Plugged in and plug in charge worked flawlessly and within seconds I was at 274 kW on the charger. Completed my charge less than 3 minutes and we were on our way. While there I was able to talk to a lady who had recently gotten a Taycan Turbo. She was enjoying her vehicle.

What surprised me about my charge was getting that Peake charging rate even starting the charge at 30% SOC. I could never accomplish that with my 2020 Taycan.

Session stats:

• Location: EA Los Alamos 514 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
• Duration: 02:53
• Delivery 12.3566 kWh
• Cost: $7.68 USD (no pass+ yet)
• SoC change 30-41%
• Odometer: 24
• Avg speed: 257kW

 

[daveo4EV]

Well, my large journey starts tomorrow morning, but I did want to share my one charging session with preconditioning when I came home from Los Angeles. I didn’t need much only about 10% added to the battery. I stopped in Los Alamos at the EA, it’s actually a favorite charger of mine because so a few people know about it. Thanks to @daveo4EV for pointing it out and the Bobs Well Bread Bakery across the street.

Anyway, the vehicle actually did pick this Charger after initially picking Pismo Beach, which had no availability. Arrived at Los Alamos and I saw the car was heating the battery slightly as we were coming past the lake. The car was claiming 270 kW as I approached. Plugged in and plug in charge worked flawlessly and within seconds I was at 274 kW on the charger. Completed my charge less than 3 minutes and we were on our way. While there I was able to talk to a lady who had recently gotten a Taycan Turbo. She was enjoying her vehicle.

What surprised me about my charge was getting that Peake charging rate even starting the charge at 30% SOC. I could never accomplish that with my 2020 Taycan.

Session stats:

• Location: EA Los Alamos 514 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
• Duration: 02:53
• Delivery 12.3566 kWh
• Cost: $7.68 USD (no pass+ yet)
• SoC change 30-41%
• Odometer: 24
• Avg speed: 257kW

Bob's well bread is almost worth a trip alone just to experience their high quality baked goods…

https://www.bobswellbread.com/

 

[ron_b]

I am back from a 5000 mile roadtrip, sadly only 1/2 in the Macan EV but that’s another story that I don’t wish to talk about at this time. I will say it was not directly due to a vehicle failure.

Here I will speak of my charging experiences. Spoilers, the car charges like a monster, never had thermal issues and drove up to 10 hours in a day. Super road tripper….

I really believe that EA has been getting too much bad press and their new hardware is much improved and they have put more focus on reliability. I recently took my 2026 Macan EV on a Roadtrip from California to The Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee). Started my EA Pass+ plan on the start of my Journey May 1st.

Note that the Macan is an 800v vehicle with 270kW charging if preconditioned as it was for all of the following charging sessions discussed in this post.

In summary with Electrify America, I had 5 charging stops and 7 charging sessions:
2 great sessions initially (Williams & Amarillo)
1 great after moving (Hope)
1 so-so in Barstow.
I also skipped a planned EA in Kingman Arizona because it’s only a four stall and it was full. I was able to go to a Ford dealership which had two stalls and no one there.

5/1/26 10:33 AM EA Barstow Walmart 301 Montana Rd, Barstow CA 92311
Session: 0:31:45 79.2313kWh Unit 02
10-86% peak 180kW derated assumed too busy with near 100% occupancy

5/1/26 6:06 PM EA Williams 1100 W Cataract Lake Rd, Williams AZ 86046
Session: 0:32:44 73.8313kWh Unit 02
21-90% peak 284kW GREAT

5/2/26 7:09 PM EA Albuquerque 2701 Carlisle Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Session: 0:02:03 1.824kWh Unit 09
5-06% peak 55kW derated claimed 350kW unit - Moved

5/2/26 7:14 PM EA Albuquerque 2701 Carlisle Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87107
Session: 0:25:26 71.712kWh Unit 10
6-70% peak 174kW on 150kW Great for a 150kW
(Other 350kW was in use)

5/3/26 1:02 AM EA Amarillo 8952 Westgate Pkwy, Amarillo, TX 79124
Session: 0:32:55 84.976 kWh Unit 03
9-89% peak 285kW GREAT

5/5/26 10:03 AM EA Hope 2400 N Hervey St, Hope, AK 71801
Session: 0:00:59 1.7782kWh Unit 01-Right
25-26% peak 124kW derated - Moved

5/5/26 10:16 AM EA Hope 2400 N Hervey St, Hope, AK 71801
Session: 0:14:53 51.474kWh Unit 03
25-60% peak 276kW GREAT

In summary with other networks, 8 charging stops and never had to change stalls.
6 great sessions (IONNA and MBHPC 100%)
1 so-so with EV Connect at a dealership (always a risk)
1 poor with ZEF (on Kempower which I had high hopes for, probably no service contract)

Details:
Ford Anderson. 3601 Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman AZ 86409
Session: 0:21:36 68.392kWh Unit Ohm-A
3-71% Avg 190kW GREAT

IONNA Galup 1300 W Maloney Ave, Gallup, NM 87301
Session: 0:14:00 48.258kWh Unit 4B
24-70% peak 276kW GREAT

IONNA Tucumcari 1202 U.S. Rte 66, Tucumcari, NM 88401
Session: 0:10:00 36.539kWh Unit 4A
15-50% peak 282kW GREAT

EC Henrietta Chevrolet 262 Hwy 287, Henrietta, TX 76365
Session: 0:17:00 37.839kWh Unit Left
8-48% avg 134kW So-So

MBHPC Fort Worth Buccees 2800 S I-35 E, Denton, TX 76210
Session: 0:08:50 41.9085kWh Unit 7A
14-55% peak 283kW GREAT

IONNA Little Rock 8101 Stagecoach Rd, Little Rock, TN 72210
Session: 0:14:00 46.8133kWh Unit 1A
30-74% peak 274kW GREAT

Tesla Nashville 3454 Percy Priest Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
Session: 0:31:00 74.1443kWh
24-89% peak 278kW GREAT
(note this is one of the only about 10 true V4 stations in the country at time of usage)

ZEF Seymour 11503 Chapman Hwy, Seymour, TN 37865, USA
Session: 0:30:30 58.61kWh Unit 4
30-86% peak 135kW charger limited 400v it seemed, POOR
This site had Kempower, but one of the chargers was knocked over by a vehicle, and the site seems to be in disrepair. Reported to ZEF.


I did call in to report several of these problems.
I have Electrify America in my speed, dial list, I previously had a 2020 Taycan and have used their chargers for nearly 600 sessions over 5 years.

In full disclosure, omitted only 2 DCFC sessions from May 1st to May 6th. One on Rivian Adventure Network outside the Petrified Forest National Park because it was 55% and only 8min to test network, averaged 116kW not good, but too high SoC to definitively comment. One in morning after a night at hotel so not preconditioned and high SoC.

Some great graphs from Alpitronic chargers:

#ElectrifyAmerica #ChargeOn #IONNA #MBHPC #EVConnect #ZEFEnergy

 

[jkjjpc]

Thanks for the detailed information about your ordering and delivery journey followed by your road trips. Very helpful as I am contemplating replacing my 2021 Taycan 4S with an EV SUV. Macan EV is high on my list but also interested in seeing/driving the new iX3, R2, EX60, etc.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks for the detailed information about your ordering and delivery journey followed by your road trips. Very helpful as I am contemplating replacing my 2021 Taycan 4S with an EV SUV. Macan EV is high on my list but also interested in seeing/driving the new iX3, R2, EX60, etc.

I too am an refugee from Taycan

the move is easy and familiar you'll have zero issues…the Macan is the best choice…in my world the following things rule out the 3 alternatives you list…

• BMW iX3 - best of the 3 choices you mention - but not gonna do it because
  • no air suspension choice (yet)
  • no rear wheel steering as far as I know
  • HUD quality is TBD
  • massage seats are not as good based on prior BMW massage seat comparision vs. Porsche
    • NOTE: Lucid has the best massage seat I've ever encountered
  • acceleration is anemic vs. choices in Macan EV trim levels
  • I prefer the styling of the Macan vs. BMW for now - this is always a moving target
• Rivian R2
  • Rivian's ride and drive like a truck and compromise their design on road to be excellent off road - if you like maneuvering a "box" then Rivian is your vehicle
    • this is like comparing the ICE Bronco Sport to the ICE Macan - similar cars on paper but the ICE Macan is no Bronco Sport and vice versa…
  • no carplay/android auto
  • still has a "whiff" of EV vendor that may go out of business
  • definitively do not drive like a Porsche - and that is a "feature" of this automobile - no shame it - but they are targeting different design goals (brutal high capability off road monsters)
    • if I lived in the woods or more rugged locations I'd be all over a Rivian…
• EX60
  • numerous software problems and a general lack of repsonsiveness to resolving them
  • numb steering
  • harsh ride quality
  • this would be my 2nd choice vs. the excellent BMW iX3

this is my $0.02 - YMMV - but nothing drive's like a Porsche - and that's especially true when comparing a Macan EV to your suggested alternatives…

I'm 100% positive that I and the foum in general would love to hear your thoughts when/after you get your test drives…but in my case I can easily rule out the 3 choices on some glaring short falls and lack of driving dynamics…

 

[jkjjpc]

daveo4EV

Thanks for your detailed reply. I agree with many of your points on the competitors, and also agree that the BMW is the most compelling of the bunch. Of course, the Macan EV has pros and cons as well. You mentioned some of the pros, some of the cons include price and the various software/battery bugs reported on many of the threads.

A max spec BWW is less than $80K, a comparable spec Macan 4 or 4S is $110+. I can afford either, and would likely go with the Macan if I knew I would get one that worked as designed. At this point we don’t know how the BMW will fare in real world testing. I agree the R2 is designed for a different mission, and I don‘t consider myself to be a ”Volvo person.”

I plan to test drive the R2 and iX3 when they come available this summer. I am in no rush. My main reasons for wanting to move from the Taycan are easier access and more practicality. The Taycan is fun to drive and I have been lucky not to experience many of the issues other Taycan owners have faced.

 

[daveo4EV]

daveo4EV

Thanks for your detailed reply. I agree with many of your points on the competitors, and also agree that the BMW is the most compelling of the bunch. Of course, the Macan EV has pros and cons as well. You mentioned some of the pros, some of the cons include price and the various software/battery bugs reported on many of the threads.

A max spec BWW is less than $80K, a comparable spec Macan 4 or 4S is $110+. I can afford either, and would likely go with the Macan if I knew I would get one that worked as designed. At this point we don’t know how the BMW will fare in real world testing. I agree the R2 is designed for a different mission, and I don‘t consider myself to be a ”Volvo person.”

I plan to test drive the R2 and iX3 when they come available this summer. I am in no rush. My main reasons for wanting to move from the Taycan are easier access and more practicality. The Taycan is fun to drive and I have been lucky not to experience many of the issues other Taycan owners have faced.

the only thing wrong with Porsche's these days are the prices…you sound like a well informed buyer - I'll leave you to it - LOL!

 

[Awaz]

I would be surprised a Taycan 4S driver would want to drive anything other than a Porsche EV.
I come from BMWs too, but the Porsche Macan is a level higher. Mine has been practically trouble-free.

 

[jkjjpc]

I did not include the Mercedes GLC EQ on my list. Here is an interesting comparison. Bottom line was that iX3 won on range and sportiness but GLC won on ride quality, noise isolation, and comfort. They chose GLC over iC3 mainly based on ride quality and noise. Note the iX3 did not have adaptive dampers and GLC had air suspension.

This pushes me more toward Macan, probably 4S

 

[ron_b]

Wanted to now update folks on the continuation of my cross country journey with the ‘26 Macan 4.

Do I still love the car? Yes

Flew into Knoxville to continue the fun a few weeks ago and had decided to take the opportunity to extend the trip to visit family in South Carolina and pickup 4 new National Parks.

Note that I did use Drive Assist for 99% of all freeway/highway driving. It was very useful to lighten the mental load and allow some enjoyment of the scenery. Some intense rain while driving and Drive Assist (previously Innodrive) did drop out in the worst of it but came back once things got less sketchy.

The continued journey was over 3650miles averaging only 350mi/day and a couple longer legs at the end to get home to our cat ‍.

Out of 10 Electrify America stations, only 2 were derailed and an attempted 11th was full at Cabazon causing me to use a Tesla Super Charger and two were down between Ozona TX and Van Horn Texas causing me to use a SWTCH which worked fine but cost $0.83/kWh.

As usual, the IONNA and Mercedes Benz chargers I could find worked great.

Here’s a summary of the DC Fast Charging:

• Total Charging Costs $473 for 1316kWh @ 360Wh/mi
• Figuring $4.86/gal National avg for premium gives 37.5mpg
• Note that pricing was helped by hotels that had free or economical charging.
• Omitting the 4 sessions marked ** as hotel DCFC and folding the two EA Breaux Bridge together as it was one stop it averages 14.2 min per stop on 18 road stops for 3650miles!

Details:
7/9/26 7:22 PM Parks Ford – 601 Duncan Hill Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792
3 min 6 sec • 5.12 kWh • 46–51% peak 120 kW slow charger • Avg 99kW • $0.54/kWh

7/9/26 9:16 AM EA Columbia – 360 Harbison Blvd, Columbia, SC 29212
5 min 26 sec • 22 kWh • 8–31% peak 254 kW • Avg 244kW • $0.48/kWh

7/10/26 5:53 PM Bluffton Hyundai** – 51 Auto Mall Blvd, Hardeeville, SC 29927
59 min • 55 kWh • 40–88% slow charger • Avg 56kW • Free
I found out when nearly done that the Porsche dealership next-door now has DCFC charging

7/11/26 11:59 AM MB Warner – 7001 Russell Pkwy, Fort Valley, GA 31030
8 min 31 sec • 36 kWh • 19–51% peak 266 kW • Avg 250kW • $0.51/kWh

7/11/26 1:15 PM MB Auburn – 2500 Buc-ee’s Boulevard, Auburn, AL 36832
11 min 21 sec • 46 kWh • $20.17
10 • 4–49% peak 283 kW • Avg 242kW • $0.44/kWh

7/11/26 6:33 PM EA Montgomery** – 1080 Eastern Blvd, Montgomery, AL 36117
20 min 28 sec • 60 kWh • 23–80% peak 198 kW no prep • Avg 175kW • $0.39/kWh

7/12/26 10:30 AM EA Saraland
1095 Industrial Pkwy, Saraland, Alabama 36571
0:12:26 • 51 kWh • 11–60% peak 280 kW • Avg 244kW • $0.39/kWh

7/12/26 1:30 PM BP Slidell TA
1682 GAUSE BLVD, Slidell LA 70458
0:19:17 • 67 kWh • 17–80% peak 281 kW • Avg 209kW • $0.42/kWh

7/13/26 9:41 AM EA Breaux Bridge
1932 Rees Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
0:12:45 • 31 kWh • 19–51% peak 153 kW (only 150 avail) • Avg 147kW • $0.46/kWh

7/13/26 9:57 AM EA Breaux Bridge
1932 Rees Street, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
0:15:46 • 37 kWh • 51–85% peak 192 kW (moved to 350) • Avg 142kW • $0.46/kWh

7/13/26 8:28 PM MB Baytown
4080 East Freeway, Baytown, TX 77521
0:08:20 • 36 kWh • 13–48% peak 283 kW • Avg 261kW •$0.49/kWh

7/15/26 10:47 AM EA Ozona
816 14TH St., Ozona, TX 76943
0:39:03 • 70 kWh • 27–93% peak 275 kW • Avg 107kW • $0.54/kWh

7/15/26 1:39 PM SWTCH Balmorhea
8686 TX-17, Balmorhea, TX 79718
0:07:37 • 19 kWh • 32–52% peak 179 kW • Avg 152kW • $0.83/kWh

7/15/26 2:46 PM EA Van Horn
600 E Broadway, Van Horn, TX 79855
0:18:01 • 60 kWh • 22–81% peak 279 kW • Avg 201kW • $0.55/kWh

7/15/26 6:14 PM Francis Carlsbad**
1305 W Pierce St, Carlsbad, NM 88220
0:20:57
45 kWh • 33–78% peak 137 kW • Avg 129kW • $0.46/kWh

7/16/26 9:24 PM Francis Carlsbad**
1305 W Pierce St, Carlsbad, NM 88220
0:37:51 • 52 kWh • 43–93% peak 135 kW • Avg 83kW • $0.46/kWh

7/17/26 9:56 AM Francis Alamogordo
880 Hwy 70 W, Alamogordo, NM 88310
0:05:11 • 12 kWh • 48–59% peak 150kW • Avg 141kW • $0.56/kWh

2/17/26 2:31 PM EA Deming
1021 E. Pine St, Deming, NM 88030
0:17:50 • 64 kWh • 6–66% peak 283 kW • Avg 216kW • $0.47/kWh

2/17/26 3:37 PM IONNA Wilcox
1190 W Rex Allen Dr, Wilcox, AZ 85643
0:07:06 • 32 kWh • 11–42% peak 285 kW • Avg 269kW • $0.43/kWh

2/18/26 11:50 AM EA Quartzsite*
760 S Quartzsite Blvd, Quartzsite, AZ 85346
0:19:03 • 51 kWh • 22–72% peak 178 kW
162kW • $0.42/kWh

2/18/26 1:28 PM TSC Cabazon
48540 Morongo Trail, Cabazon, CA 92230
0:07:00 • 15 kWh • 5–20% • Avg 133kW • $0.70/kWh

7/18/26 2:38 PM EA Highland Costco
28000 Greenspot St., Highland, CA 93246
0:29:04 • 81 kWh • 10–87% peak 283 kW • Avg 167kW • 0.61/kWh

7/18/26 6:01 PM EA Lost Hills*
21959 CA-46, Lost Hills, CA 93249
0:09:14 • 26 kWh • 17–43% peak 178 kW • Avg 168kW • $0.48/kWh

* = Derated Charging Performance
** = Treated as Hotel charging as spouse dropped and only a few miles from hotel

Love those 7min charging stops

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

White Sands National Park

#ElectrifyAmerica #ChargeOn #IONNA #MBHPC #Tesla #SWTCH #BPPulse #ChargePoint

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