Randy3
Well-known member
First, I've go to thank High Sierra RV Park and Campground and give them a plug (phone 559-683-7662). They are very friendly and helpful.
I've been wanting to make it to Glacier Point since picking up my LEAF in January. Well, yesterday I made it. Barely. Here's my story.
Left home (elevation 200 feet) with 100% charge at 9:15am
Drove 10 miles to Lithia Nissan of Fresno, topped off to 100%, left at 10:00am
Drove 40 miles to Oakhurst (High Sierra RV, elevation 2,600 feet), had 3 bars remaining, charged 3 hours, left at 3pm with 11 bars showing.
Drove 50 miles to Yosemite, Glacier Point (elevation at highest point was ~7,600 feet). Left Glacier Point at 5:15pm. Had 1 bar remaining.
Arrived back at High Sierra RV park at 6:15pm with 0 bars and --- showing. It had been showing this for the past 15 miles downhill. Charged 3 hours again and left at 9:30pm.
Arrived home at 10:30pm with 1 bar remaining.
Total driven for the day: 197 miles, 5.5 avg m/kwh, 6.5 hours charge time in addition to starting with 100%.
Others have posted that there seems to be a 2:3 ratio for elevation gain. I agree. For instance, at 2,600 feet (Oakhurst), the car read 11 bars and 75 miles. Glacier Point is 50 miles further and ate almost all the miles (it was down to 3 miles).
When I arrived at the Yosemite Park South Entrance, I thought, "What the heck, I can always regen on the way back down, so who cares what the battery level is when I get to the top." Regen downhill is just not as robust as I had previously thought. The regen I gained was getting used up by the short uphills that came now and again. At the top of the hill, I had one bar and "3" miles remaining. The best it got on the way down was "12" miles and that was gone by the time I reached the park entrance. Shortly after leaving the park, I was at the "---" mark.
Doing this on a weekend day during the high season was a bad idea. Other drivers were very kind when I slowed down to get every bit of regen I could. But the roads were crowded and when I turned out to let them pass, the line of passing cars just never seemed to end.
So, if/when I do this again, I will charge to 100% at the RV park on the way up and go on a school day. I now know that Yosemite is do-able!
I've been wanting to make it to Glacier Point since picking up my LEAF in January. Well, yesterday I made it. Barely. Here's my story.
Left home (elevation 200 feet) with 100% charge at 9:15am
Drove 10 miles to Lithia Nissan of Fresno, topped off to 100%, left at 10:00am
Drove 40 miles to Oakhurst (High Sierra RV, elevation 2,600 feet), had 3 bars remaining, charged 3 hours, left at 3pm with 11 bars showing.
Drove 50 miles to Yosemite, Glacier Point (elevation at highest point was ~7,600 feet). Left Glacier Point at 5:15pm. Had 1 bar remaining.
Arrived back at High Sierra RV park at 6:15pm with 0 bars and --- showing. It had been showing this for the past 15 miles downhill. Charged 3 hours again and left at 9:30pm.
Arrived home at 10:30pm with 1 bar remaining.
Total driven for the day: 197 miles, 5.5 avg m/kwh, 6.5 hours charge time in addition to starting with 100%.
Others have posted that there seems to be a 2:3 ratio for elevation gain. I agree. For instance, at 2,600 feet (Oakhurst), the car read 11 bars and 75 miles. Glacier Point is 50 miles further and ate almost all the miles (it was down to 3 miles).
When I arrived at the Yosemite Park South Entrance, I thought, "What the heck, I can always regen on the way back down, so who cares what the battery level is when I get to the top." Regen downhill is just not as robust as I had previously thought. The regen I gained was getting used up by the short uphills that came now and again. At the top of the hill, I had one bar and "3" miles remaining. The best it got on the way down was "12" miles and that was gone by the time I reached the park entrance. Shortly after leaving the park, I was at the "---" mark.
Doing this on a weekend day during the high season was a bad idea. Other drivers were very kind when I slowed down to get every bit of regen I could. But the roads were crowded and when I turned out to let them pass, the line of passing cars just never seemed to end.
So, if/when I do this again, I will charge to 100% at the RV park on the way up and go on a school day. I now know that Yosemite is do-able!