Today, we’re starting the Vegas Zero Emissions Run. It’s a trek from Southern California to the bright lights of Las Vegas. We’ve gathered an incredible fleet of EVs. This includes everything from Cybertrucks to Lucids. We’re documenting the entire experience. We cover everything from charging infrastructure challenges to the best off-road-adjacent spots in Nevada.
I’m bringing the Model X Plaid for this run, starting at an 82% state of charge [00:28]. It’s a diverse crew today: we’ve got at least three Mustang Mach-Es, a Hummer EV, an F-150 Lightning, a Rivian R1T in that beautiful Canyon Red, and even a Chevy Bolt [11:45].
The Charging Logistics: Baker to Vegas
One of the biggest questions on a long-distance EV trip is the charging strategy. We stopped at the famous Eddie World in Yermo for some beef jerky but skipped the chargers there because they were slammed [12:04].
By the time we hit Baker, I was at 32% [12:54]. Baker is a massive hub with 90 Superchargers, but here’s a technical tip for Tesla owners: the ones in the front are V2 (150 kW), while the ones in the back are the newer V3 (250 kW) units [15:07].
For our non-Tesla friends, the struggle was real. We tried using a Tesla adapter on the V3 Superchargers for the Rivian and F-150 Lightning, but it was a no-go [14:02]. They ended up having to wait in a long line at the Electrify America station nearby [13:52]. It’s a stark reminder that while the infrastructure is growing, interoperability still has some hurdles to clear.
EV Hardware Spotlight: Roof Racks and Cyber-Coolers
While hanging out at the chargers, I got into the weeds on some hardware specs with the group:
- T-Slot Roof Racks: I checked out a Thule bike rack on a Model Y utilizing the Tesla crossbars. A key takeaway for those looking to add gear: always look for T-slot style accessories [26:45]. They slide into the channel on top of the bars and provide a much cleaner, more secure fit than clamp-on styles, especially with the curved glass roofs on Teslas.
- Cybertruck Accessories: One of the Cybertrucks in our group had a custom “Cyber-fridge” that fit perfectly in the frunk [10:46]. It’s a blue-wrapped beast that shows just how much utility owners are squeezing out of that front storage space.
- Silverado EV: We were joined by a Chevy Silverado EV in Nevada [28:33]. Its road presence is massive, and seeing it keep pace with the Plaids and Rivians was impressive.
Destination: Red Rock and Mount Charleston
After checking into the Delano at Mandalay Bay (and getting a sweet panoramic suite upgrade [21:03]), we headed out for some scenic driving.
We hit Red Rock for a quick top-off [24:32] before heading up to Mount Charleston [28:03]. The elevation change is a great test for EV efficiency. The climb up usually drains the battery fast, but the regenerative braking on the way down is a lifesaver, often putting 5-10% back into the pack by the time you reach the bottom.
Join the Adventure
This run proves that EV road tripping isn’t just possible—it’s a blast. The community is growing, the hardware is getting better, and the views from the top of Mount Charleston in a silent EV are unbeatable.
Watch the full Zero Emissions Vegas Run here
Make sure to Subscribe to the SherwinM YouTube channel to see the full efficiency breakdown and more EV off-roading content!
