chris1howell
Well-known member
The Leaf continues to surprise me...
I decided to take to LEAF from Lancaster to the SoCal Gathering in Cerritos. I did not have anything else planned so I had nothing to lose. I planned a route on Bouquet Canyon road through the mountains to Valencia. In Valencia I would hop on the 5 for about 50 miles to Cerritos. The route is 87.2 miles, I felt I could do it if I drove a reasonable speed. As a bonus I would start the trip at 2400' elevation and end at about 500'.
The morning of the trip was cold, rainy and a bit windy, not exactly what I was hoping for. I really did not think I could make it all the way, but I had a backup plan to charge for a little while and arrive to the gathering a little late if I needed to... I preheated the car and managed to get out the door a few minutes early.
The roads were empty in Lancaster so I started off really slow, gently stopping at each stop sign as regen was not yet available and timing a few lights to my advantage. Getting to Bouquet Canyon Road requires a climb over a few hills, enough to eat through the first bar and some of the second.
The rain was coming down and the roads were wet, I quickly lost the second bar. I really started to think I had no chance to make it, but I was having a nice drive...
2011-11-12_06-47-53_685 by chris1howell, on Flickr
2011-11-12_06-36-20_357 by chris1howell, on Flickr
After climbing the final hill at the Bouquet Reservoir with two bars gone, I had plenty of opportunities for some regen and coasting. I took my time and enjoyed the drive. With 3 bars and 32 miles down my trip average was 7.7 miles per kWh, I started to think I just might make it.
2011-11-12_07-17-37_372 by chris1howell, on Flickr
Now on I-5 I was driving with the flow of traffic at 60 - 65 past the 14, 210 and 405 splits then settled at 55 - 60 at a safe distance behind a English Muffin truck. Starting to get hungry now... By the time I hit the 60 mile mark in Glendale, I knew I had it made.
2011-11-12_07-49-49_772 by chris1howell, on Flickr
As I was approaching Cerritos Nissan I realized I also accomplish something else... I won the tree game. :lol:
2011-11-12_08-22-42_727 by chris1howell, on Flickr
87.2 miles down in 2 hours, 2 full bars left (3rd just disappeared) 21miles left on the Guessometer and I arrived 5 minutes early... Great trip
2011-11-12_08-23-57_689 by chris1howell, on Flickr
I decided to take to LEAF from Lancaster to the SoCal Gathering in Cerritos. I did not have anything else planned so I had nothing to lose. I planned a route on Bouquet Canyon road through the mountains to Valencia. In Valencia I would hop on the 5 for about 50 miles to Cerritos. The route is 87.2 miles, I felt I could do it if I drove a reasonable speed. As a bonus I would start the trip at 2400' elevation and end at about 500'.
The morning of the trip was cold, rainy and a bit windy, not exactly what I was hoping for. I really did not think I could make it all the way, but I had a backup plan to charge for a little while and arrive to the gathering a little late if I needed to... I preheated the car and managed to get out the door a few minutes early.
The roads were empty in Lancaster so I started off really slow, gently stopping at each stop sign as regen was not yet available and timing a few lights to my advantage. Getting to Bouquet Canyon Road requires a climb over a few hills, enough to eat through the first bar and some of the second.
The rain was coming down and the roads were wet, I quickly lost the second bar. I really started to think I had no chance to make it, but I was having a nice drive...
2011-11-12_06-47-53_685 by chris1howell, on Flickr
2011-11-12_06-36-20_357 by chris1howell, on Flickr
After climbing the final hill at the Bouquet Reservoir with two bars gone, I had plenty of opportunities for some regen and coasting. I took my time and enjoyed the drive. With 3 bars and 32 miles down my trip average was 7.7 miles per kWh, I started to think I just might make it.
2011-11-12_07-17-37_372 by chris1howell, on Flickr
Now on I-5 I was driving with the flow of traffic at 60 - 65 past the 14, 210 and 405 splits then settled at 55 - 60 at a safe distance behind a English Muffin truck. Starting to get hungry now... By the time I hit the 60 mile mark in Glendale, I knew I had it made.
2011-11-12_07-49-49_772 by chris1howell, on Flickr
As I was approaching Cerritos Nissan I realized I also accomplish something else... I won the tree game. :lol:
2011-11-12_08-22-42_727 by chris1howell, on Flickr
87.2 miles down in 2 hours, 2 full bars left (3rd just disappeared) 21miles left on the Guessometer and I arrived 5 minutes early... Great trip
2011-11-12_08-23-57_689 by chris1howell, on Flickr