BC2BC Mexico to Canada via Electric Highway June 12-20, 2012

[EVDrive]

It was exciting to see you zip through Oregon and Washington so fast. As soon as CA starts and completes the Northern I5 EV Corridor, I'll be cruising to Oregon in my Leaf. Looks like I'll have to take more breaks than i hoped to cool the battery, or I'll just push on like you did today and try not to worry about it.

Nice job so far.

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

Due to the lack of "spill hazard" you most certainly can pump your own electrons which simply illustrates another hidden benefit of EV driving

 

[eHelmholtz]

Everybody, I'm in Vancouver, WA, USA for the night.

My old stomping grounds! (where I went to high school)

 

[TonyWilliams]

Portland Electric Avenue

 

[TonyWilliams]

So easy, a ten year old can do it !!!

Eaton DC charger, Portland, Oregon, on Eletric Avenue:

 

[TonyWilliams]

The Oregon Department of Transportation team, plus PGE, and friends:

Electric Avenue, Portland, California, USA:

 

[saywatt]

I've pushed this event to 8PM as Tony is running a bit behind this morning.

By the way - FOR ALL PUGET SOUNDERS,

In case anyone here is not part of the Seattle Nissan Leaf Owners group on FB, there is a meet-up with Tony tomorrow after his epic venture, Wednesday at Tutta Bella Pizza at 2200 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA on top of Whole Foods, starting around 6PM.

There is underground parking under Whole Foods as well as street parking (max 2 hr) surrounding the adjacent SLU Discovery Center on 9th and St. John streets. The Discovery Center's parking lot off Westlake Ave. N has (1) L2 and hopefully, still operational, a test phase (1) L3. Also, PlugShare shows L2 charging in the high-rise building across the street to the West of Whole foods but I have not checked it out.

There is a great outdoor space on the top of the stairs next to Whole Foods. We can congregate there (weather permitting) then move into the restaurant/bar as we see fit.

This area is typical crowded downtown but hopefully Tony can park his car where it can get good exposure to the public and we can gawk (maybe take pictures) at the awesome graphics he put on his Leaf.

*** As a contingency, in case there is a change in Tony's plans, the date may change. *** But so far he is on track

 

[TonyWilliams]

Crossed the Oregon border at 10:05am, leaving Tumwater, WA now, Seattle next...

 

[LECTRFY]

Are you doing any radio interviews along the way? I know the Bob Rivers program in Seattle on KJR 95.7 has discussed electric vehicles on several occasions and you might be able to get an interview.

 

[Electric4Me]

Right now, I'm seriously abusing this poor battery by pumping it to 100% while at 9, then 10 temp bars (well over 120F / 50C). The DC charger stopped at 80% SOC, like it is programmed to do, but my first thought was an auto-shutdown. 10 temp bars, by the way, is at redline.

I'm at 87% Gid now, after the restart, hopefully on the way to 100%. That battery should have TONS of energy at this temp!!!

and:

I crossed the border of California (again) at 7:25am, and things are going smooth.

8:05 / 8:20am - Central Point - 34 miles - temps F/bars 45/6 - starting/stopping Gids ---/75%

9:11 / 9:37am - Wolf Creek - 44 miles - 52/6 - 21%/71%

10:09/10:24am - Canyonville - 23 miles - 60/6 - 45%/76%

11:00/11:07am - Roseburg - 27 miles - 58/7 - 40%/57%

11:48/11:57am - Rice Hill - 26 miles - 63/8 - 28%/72%

12:23/12:34pm - Cottage Grove - 26 miles - 63/9 - 42%/64%

1:09/2:20???? - Springfield/Eugene - 21 miles - 63/10 - 38%/100% ???

Tony,
I'm confused. You said in the first post that the battery was rockin' at 120F, but in the second post 63F...

There really shouldn't be that much confusion over it. It is essentially just a big sealed box and like any such box it gives off (or picks up) heat by a combination of radiation and conduction, mostly the former...

We know it eventually gets out...somehow.

Someone will be offering some add on cooling fins I bet.

I'd like to know what the air passage(s) are behind the plastic underbody tray past the battery. Maybe more ducts and 12V fans would be in order. I've run these for race track brake ducting, but if the ambient temps are moderate to low extra air flow would certainly help.

 

[foobert]

I'm confused. You said in the first post that the battery was rockin' at 120F, but in the second post 63F...

The 50's - 60's temps were the ambient air temp. The 120*F quote is the approximation from having 10 temperature bars lit up.

 

[saywatt]

Sorry folks, meet-up with Tony is cancelled due to his being behind schedule.  He is anxious to get to the border and complete his venture.  He is at SLU now and perhaps for 30 more minutes.  If you can make it come on down!

I've pushed this event to 8PM as Tony is running a bit behind this morning.

By the way - FOR ALL PUGET SOUNDERS,

In case anyone here is not part of the Seattle Nissan Leaf Owners group on FB, there is a meet-up with Tony tomorrow after his epic venture, Wednesday at Tutta Bella Pizza at 2200 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA on top of Whole Foods, starting around 6PM.

There is underground parking under Whole Foods as well as street parking (max 2 hr) surrounding the adjacent SLU Discovery Center on 9th and St. John streets. The Discovery Center's parking lot off Westlake Ave. N has (1) L2 and hopefully, still operational, a test phase (1) L3. Also, PlugShare shows L2 charging in the high-rise building across the street to the West of Whole foods but I have not checked it out.

There is a great outdoor space on the top of the stairs next to Whole Foods. We can congregate there (weather permitting) then move into the restaurant/bar as we see fit.

This area is typical crowded downtown but hopefully Tony can park his car where it can get good exposure to the public and we can gawk (maybe take pictures) at the awesome graphics he put on his Leaf.

*** As a contingency, in case there is a change in Tony's plans, the date may change. *** But so far he is on track

 

[Electric4Me]

I'm confused. You said in the first post that the battery was rockin' at 120F, but in the second post 63F...

The 50's - 60's temps were the ambient air temp. The 120*F quote is the approximation from having 10 temperature bars lit up.

Doh! Thanks!

 

[LEAFer]

It's a real race to the finish line now. Barring any delays at the border, it looks like he'll complete the Tour prior to midnight on this June 20, 2012 -- being the scheduled end-date.


23:45 Update:

Phew ! That was close.

Trip completed ! As planned !

Although it looks like Tony did not run to Iguana Beach Grill as planned ... he crossed the border, and now back again June 20, 2012, 11:40pm PDT. (+/- a minute or two, given update interval of LiveSpot)

Congratulations !

 

[TonyWilliams]

It's a real race to the finish line now. Barring any delays at the border, it looks like he'll complete the Tour prior to midnight on this June 20, 2012 -- being the scheduled end-date.


23:45 Update:

Phew ! That was close.

Trip completed ! As planned !

Although it looks like Tony did not run to Iguana Beach Grill as planned ... he crossed the border, and now back again June 20, 2012, 11:40pm PDT. (+/- a minute or two, given update interval of LiveSpot)

Congratulations !

Trip is over :arrow: A huge thank you to all who made it memorable :mrgreen:

The final tally for Washington state:

Oregon / Washington border: 10:05 am
Washington / British Columbia border : 11:16pm

13+11 hours enroute

******************

Totals, Mexico to Canada: 8 days, 5 hours

Total miles for the trip: 1887

Total gasoline burned: 0

 

[cwerdna]

Yay!

Too bad Tony didn't have a chance to do some sightseeing around Vancouver and was there on the wrong day for http://www.summernightmarket.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I used to spend a night at that market when I made trips up there.

If he was a BSG fan, he might've liked http://www.battlestarlocations.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (too bad this blog didn't exist when I was up there). There are other pages w/BSG filming locations though...

 

[Boomer23]

Congratulations Tony. What a trip it turned out to be. Well planned and well executed!

 

[foobert]

Nice work Tony, with credit to your trusty copilot!

So, what now? Turn around and drive it back to San Diego? Or, is this a one-way trip?

 

[cwerdna]

So, what now? Turn around and drive it back to San Diego? Or, is this a one-way trip?

Not sure, but it seems others are driving his car back per http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=9170&p=206191" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

 

[madhaus]

What a day! More hospitality than I can keep track of. I had a great time at the EAA /where meeting where I spoke. Unfortunately, I went WAY over the allotted time, so I apologize for that. I hope I spurred lots of interest that will result in action.

We had a great caravan of LEAF's to the 350green DC charger in the Stanford Mall, and I sold off the remaining two charges on the card. It only charged to 83-84% (probably 80% SOC), so we headed off to the Belmont Blink DC charger. Both ports were broken, but it did play some music and "how to" videos. I called the Blink hotline, and was told that it couldn't be remotely turned on, and that the San Ramon DC charger was also broken. I asked about the Seattle DC charger, and was told it was in testing. I then asked if there was a single Blink DC charger operating anywhere in the USA.

I met up with folks while my car charged in Novato, and Santa Rosa, before arriving at the hotel in Ukiah. The LEAF is charging now. Even with all the other activities, I drove 184 miles today.

I have a couple of pictures of the LEAF caravan that escorted Tony from his talk at Hewlett-Packard Cupertino (the EAA meeting) over to Stanford Mall, on Saturday June 16th. These were posted to the BayLEAFs group on Facebook as well.



Here is Tony on the way to Stanford Mall. We've just exited I-280 and this was taken on Alpine Road. The RAV-4 ahead of him is our lead car driven by Waidy, then Tony and Kendall, and the blue LEAF is Steve L's. So I am the third LEAF i the parade.



Here's some of the caravan following me. I believe this picture was taken in Cupertino, either on or very near the HP campus before entering 280.