Seattle to North Lake Tahoe-Guidance Needed

[WSea]

Planning a Tahoe trip for early July. Hope to hit Lassen NP on way down if the road gets cleared.
Has anyone traveled along this approx route? Checking plugshare there doesn't appear to be any DCFC so we'd have to rely on L2 which looks limited too. May need and extended stop at the Lassen visiter center to add some charge. Like to skip Sac but that's probably the better less interesting route.

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[jjswan33]

I was looking in this area because I'd like to do the Pacific Crest Overland Route but like you said there is basically nothing between Klamath Falls and Reno in that part of Cali. You could probably avoid SAC but you would have to charge up at the EA station in Anderson or Willows probably. Also I know there is some 50 kW charger near Shasta that could maybe do the job if you top up with L2 somewhere like you suggested or you know maybe you get lucky and the Shasta RAN station opens up.

 

[Runs_4_beer]

You would miss a lot of the scenery you're after, but you may have to come down I-5. You can cut over to the north of Sacramento through grass valley.

 

[mikehmb]

You may be best served by taking I5, charging in Redding, then day-tripping over to Lassen, back to Redding to charge, then heading south to Yuba City (EA) and across hwy20 to I80 to Truckee.

I’ve driven through that area before - with ICE. Never in an EV. It’s a fast-charging desert. You can probably find campgrounds with 30amp plugs along the way if you’re up for camping.

 

[Zorg]

We went through Lassen in our Tesla a few years back. Gorgeous road. Whether it will be open this early July remains to be seen

 

[docwhiz]

When you get to Truckee, there is a RAN station.

 

[Rob O]

You might miss some of the scenery, but you’d be well served staying on I-5 until Anderson and hitting the EA 350kW chargers at the Safeway there … then take 36 out of Red Bluff east to Lake Almanor and back onto your original route. There’s a RAN in Truckee, so you’re fine once you get to the Tahoe area.

 

[nothinglimited]

Have you tried putting the destination in the truck's nav, or using https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ ? Then use PlugShare to fill in gaps

 

[WSea]

Have you tried putting the destination in the truck's nav, or using https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ ? Then use PlugShare to fill in gaps

Not yet. Nav probably not helpful with a specific out of the way route unless they've added waypoints that I'm not aware of.
This route is dependant on 89 opening up thru Lassen which isn't looking good right now.
If it opens, we'll most likely spend a night at a ranch campground not far from the south NP visitor center that has 14-50s. So 2 150+/- legs between Redding and Tahoe. Probably get a 85-90 soc charge in Redding (62.5kw chargeoints) or probably the Anderson EA.

 

[Rob O]

Have you tried putting the destination in the truck's nav, or using https://abetterrouteplanner.com/ ? Then use PlugShare to fill in gaps

Having just done 3000 miles over the past 14 days, I can tell you the in-vehicle NAV route planner is worthless (in a practical sense). Best is to create a route in google maps, use PlugShare to determine primary stops (and “contingencies) then use the truck’s NAV to guide from one predetermined chargers to the next (so battery preconditions). I didn’t find ABRP worth the time, personally, but others swear by it.

 

[Mathme]

Sac isn't all that exciting, but there is a RAN charger near downtown between I80 & Hwy 50. Like others have said, you may be better served to stick to I5 and do Side trips on the way to/from.

 

[WSea]

Having just done 3000 miles over the past 14 days, I can tell you the in-vehicle NAV route planner is worthless (in a practical sense). Best is to create a route in google maps, use PlugShare to determine primary stops (and “contingencies) then use the truck’s NAV to guide from one predetermined chargers to the next (so battery preconditions). I didn’t find ABRP worth the time, personally, but others swear by it.

I tend to agree. We've done numerous road trips so far so have all that experience and don't really use ABRP. The difference this time is heading thru a DCFC charging desert that involves altitude.
Having never done this route we're hoping for something like hwy 212 beartooth highway out the NE area of Yellowstone Beartooth Highway: Things to Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips – Earth Trekkers which is the most amazing route I've ever been on. Only problem is these incredibly beautiful and remote routes can be extremely challenging in an EV with current infrastructure.
I wish the NPs would step up their game and add more charging plus something faster than L2.

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