Thanksgiving Travel 2023: DC Charging Thread

[Mark_AZR1T]

I'm encouraged by these reports! Great thread OP. Keep them coming.....Magic Dock is a significant assistance.

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[SteveInBend]

Traveled from Bend, OR to Tracy, CA yesterday.

About 500 miles. Left before sunrise, got coffee & bagel while charging at Klamath Falls RAN. Charged again at Mt. Shasta RAN when we made a pit stop. Short charge at EA in Willows, CA. Only 4 stalls, two of which were occupied. Had to back in to charge due to location of charging cable. Stopped again to charge at Sacramento RAN and grabbed hot dogs from Costco.

Other than a slow up on I-5 north of Dunnigan due to a lane closure, no other significant delays.

 

[seatosummit]

I'm honestly shocked as to how little frustration it sounds like there has been here.

I drove from Santa Barbara to Tahoe on Sunday without issue utilizing Kettleman City EA, Manteca RAN and Sac RAN without issue, but I was convinced the situation would devolve midweek.

Happy to hear that seems to have not been the case, at least according to the content here.

Though perhaps Sunday will be the real test...

 

[Budman]

Made a trip from Minneapolis, MN which is near the eastern border of the state out to the western boarder with South Dakota. Traveled 170 miles each way on rural highways with a lot of local but widespread rural driving at our destination. All went well except for a now very dusty R1T from driving on gravel roads.

Made the same trip a year ago when there was 1 ChargePoint 62 kW charger on the route about 1/3 of the way west. Now there are two ChargePoints in that town. Saw another Shell 180 kW charger literally being activated in a very small town near the border. Another as yet unmaked charger being installed in another. The motel we stayed in had three level 2 chargers available. In the last couple months the Circle K gas station chain has made a very large effort to begin installing and quickly activating 180 kW chargers in towns across Minnesota. Very rapid expansion of charging options over the last year across rural MN. Great to see!

 

[LL75]

We're going from Minneapolis to Fargo this week.....Temps aren't looking great. Not sure if my in-laws will move out of their heated garage so I can plug in the mobile charger or not, so I'm trying to arrive in Fargo with a decent charge. The DC charging situation in Fargo doesn't exist. I do have two magic docs in between which is great though.

I would request new in law if they dont' let you park in the garage

 

[Redline]

I would request new in law if they dont' let you park in the garage

I am parked and charging in the heated garage! ??

 

[LL75]

I am parked and charging in the heated garage! ??

haha. they better if they want to see their grandkids

 

[Redline]

Left Minneapolis with 90% charge. We did 20 mins at the magic dock in Alexandria, and 25 or so at a 180kwh free charging spot in Fergus Falls. Those seem to be throttled though, as the most I got was 80kWh.

Was pretty smooth all around.

 

[Killer95Stang]

Don't forget, EA charging is free with membership during most holidays, so expect a longer wait. Had to wait in line behind a few cars to charge. First 50kw's I was getting 156kwh (350kw chargers), but then it throttled down to 45kwh. So I stopped at 65% SOC, which was enough to make it home.

 

[BigSkies]

I’m grateful to see low-drama trips so far.

I’m not traveling for Thanksgiving, but am over-thinking my CO to CA trip for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

 

[WorldComposting]

Southwest VA to New England, ~700 miles with 0 issues. 3 charges (1 short 14kWh EA charge in Stephens City VA,, 90kWh RAN in Hagerstown MD, 88Kwh Tesla Magic Dock in Red Hook NY). I was very happy with the efficiency, 2.28 mi/kWh, with average speed of 66 mph (some long stins at 75-80 mph) over the 700 miles on the 20" AT tires. 75% conserve only on interstate rest was all purpose on secondary roads. Temps ranged from 29-42 F.

How low were you when you pulled into the Red Hook, NY after the Hagerstown RAN? That is quite impressive as the trip is over 300 miles!

 

[Redline]

Are most of you using Conserve on the highways for road trips? I am but using all-purpose at all other times.

I’m worried about front tire wear, but I figure if it’s only used on the highway for long road trips, I should be ok.

 

[LL75]

Are most of you using Conserve on the highways for road trips? I am but using all-purpose at all other times.

I’m worried about front tire wear, but I figure if it’s only used on the highway for long road trips, I should be ok.

My r1s currently has 11k miles. I used conserve on road trip mainly highway about 3k miles. Went to discount tires for rotation at 10k miles and they said all my tires are evenly wear with lots of threads left. I think if you use conserve in the city, you will definitely notice the fronts wearing out faster.

 

[izgoy]

Glad that no one has had issues so far. A lot of reports here mention RAN. It’s great if RAN actually alleviates the pain induced by EA.

I think the real stress test will be on Saturday and Sunday when most folks will be coming home. I don’t expect RAN to be over-utilized, but I think EA may buckle on Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Kärsti]

How low were you when you pulled into the Red Hook, NY after the Hagerstown RAN? That is quite impressive as the trip is over 300 miles!

9 miles .....

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